Singer-songwriter, born and based in Monaco
Some artists carry the light of where they come from. Olivia Dorato carries Monaco’s. A Monégasque singer-songwriter, she writes music that sounds like the place that raised her: warm, open, and quietly convinced that anything is possible.
The work
Olivia Dorato is an auteure-compositeure-interprète in the fullest sense. She writes, composes, and performs her own music. Her beginnings were in pop-rock, but Olivia constantly keeps her sound contemporary and alive by experimenting with styles. What ties the eras together, in her own words, is a restless curiosity about where her voice can go next.
Her song “Love the Ocean” became an anthem for marine conservation, born of a collaboration between the sailor Yvan Griboval and Dorato herself. For Olivia, this is what music is for. She sees it as a universal language, a medium capable of gathering people from every walk of life around a shared message. “Love the Ocean” became her proof that a song can carry a cause further than a speech ever could.
Monaco connection
“I think growing up in Monaco brings a lot of sunshine to my music,” she says about her connection to the Principality. Born and raised here, Olivia believes that Monaco’s quality of life, weather, people, and opportunities truly enrich her as an artist.
“Growing up in a place where there’s hope, where anything seems possible, really helps you believe in your dreams, be creative, and develop your projects,” she adds.
In conversation with Olivia Dorato
– Your song “Love the Ocean” became an anthem for conservation. How do you view the relationship between art and environmentalism?
Olivia: Art, and music in particular, in my case, is an excellent medium for conveying messages. It is a universal form of communication that can bring people from all walks of life together around a common cause. Music is a powerful tool for raising awareness about important issues such as the environment and ocean conservation.
– Monaco has a very tight-knit artistic community. How has the local ecosystem supported your growth as a creator?
Olivia: Monaco offers a unique setting for a creative professional because everything is on a human scale, yet with exceptional international reach. The advantage here is that we can easily run into each other.
In my view, local art is supported (through events, the press, grants), but it could still grow even more! It would be even better if there were an event specifically designed to bring together all the artists in the Principality.
– When you are writing a new piece of music, what is your creative process?
Olivia: First and foremost, I need to live life fully to have something meaningful to share. To do that, I draw inspiration from everything I see, everything I do, and every conversation I have. I first compose the music, then create a topline (the vocal melody), and finally write the lyrics.
– Do you have favorite locations in the Principality that inspire you?
Olivia: I really enjoy spending time at the Jardin Japonais. I find it very soothing. Otherwise, I’m a woman of the sea, so as soon as I’m on the beach near the water, I feel good. I feel at peace.
– Your recent music explores different genres and rhythms compared to your debut. How would you describe the evolution of your sound over the past five years?
Olivia: For me, the most interesting thing about being an artist is our ability to constantly reinvent ourselves. Exploring different genres helps develop your skills and artistic creativity. As I mentioned earlier, I draw inspiration from everything, and I love trying new things and going where people don’t necessarily expect me to go.
However, I think it’s essential to find your identity, but it’s also very important to stay current and have a contemporary sound. I started out doing pop/rock, then moved toward urban pop, Afro sounds, and R&B. What ties all the eras of my music together is pop.
– What’s next for Olivia Dorato? What is the next big musical milestone you are chasing right now?
Olivia: Right now, I’m writing and composing a new album. And I’m actually shifting my artistic direction once again. I want to reconnect a little more with who the real Olivia Dorato is. To return to something that better reflects the person and artist I am today. My goal after this album is to go on tour to bring my music to life in yet another way.
Olivia’s Top Three Monaco Things
Le Jardin Japonais. Her place of calm in the Principality, and a recurring source of inspiration when she writes.
Le Marché de la Condamine. For Roger and Julien’s socca, the barbajuans, and the ice cream from Santo Gelato, the everyday pleasures of Monaco at its most genuine.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix. An atmosphere like nothing else she has experienced, when all of Monaco comes together to cheer for its national champion, Charles Leclerc.
Discover more of the artists shaping the Principality’s cultural life in the Monaco Art Excellence Guide.
Listen to Olivia Dorato: oliviadorato.com · Instagram · YouTube · Spotify