‘Catch of the Day’ – Olivia Lane – “Make My Own Sunshine” [AUDIO]

It's Unsigned/Indy Artist Thursday, and today we feature a singer and songwriter from Houston, whose unbridled energy and passion for country music led her to leave home at age 16 and move to Los Angeles chasing her dream.

Olivia Lane can best be described as a "free spirit". Her musical influences: diverse and eclectic. Her musical style: pure gold. With influences that range from Frank Sinatra to Patsy Cline, from Elvis to Michael Jackson, her musical tastes defy her age. Her talent defies description.

Sometimes the story is the destination and sometimes, as with Lane, the story is the journey. That’s because her journey is a huge part of her story, and a true testament to her commitment to her art. At sixteen, she convinced her parents to let her move to Los Angeles, just so she could be in an environment that challenged her to push forward. She attended USC, worked in local theater while beginning her career as a songwriter. She started writing, and once she did, she was hooked, deciding its what she wanted to do with her life.

It was this love of song crafting, as well as her love for Country music, that pushed her to go to Nashville. She came to Tennessee on internships while in college, and then, right after her graduation, she packed her car and drove cross-country to make her relationship with the town official. Immediately, she started getting to know writers and spending time in writing rooms, composing songs with some of the best in the business, Ilya Toshinsky and Lee Thomas Miller.

Part of that essence is her vast ability and in-depth musical knowledge, which she takes huge pride in, referencing everything from Michael Jackson to classic country greats to Frank Sinatra. She’s often been compared to Jennifer Nettles and Sara Evans, which certainly are welcome, but her powerful voice and style speak for themselves. Lane’s sound is a combination of country elements: mandolin, banjo, lyrics sweetly laced with Texas twang blended with a pop energy and locomotive rhythms that capture her every-moving spirit.

Lane is an artist who will continue to do things her way. She has blazed her own path to Nashville, and her latest single promises that things wont change. Olivia Lane and "Make My Own Sunshine" is today's Unsigned/Indy Artist Thursday Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.