📓 reconciling my notebook habit
MUSIC AND NOTEBOOKS UNITE
In 2018, I was getting sent stickers and sellotape in the mail.
It was, what I thought, the peak of my internet fame — I, Olivia Rafferty, was a bullet journal instagram influencer! Oh the dizzy heights of eight thousand followers!
What is bullet journaling? Glorified timekeeping, basically. I used to doodle in my Leuchtturm 1917 and organise my week in the most visually-pleasing way, to the delight of many. It felt good to be making something and have people love it. I worked with small brands, I even sold some products on Etsy (didn’t make much money, but hey, ✨girlboss✨).
Eventually my enthusiasm lagged and I took a step back to focus on my music more, so it was goodbye to my very small stationery queendom.
As I started to work on my Hurricane EP, part of me half-hoped I would bring my journaling audience along for the ride. But only a handful had an appetite for Olivia, the songwriter. It kind of sucked, because I thought if people liked my notebooks, they would maybe like my music.
For years I kept the two things mostly separate. I didn’t know how to reconcile my music and my visual work, to make the audience I’d built like both. So I walked away and just started making music, forgetting about the piles of tape, magazine cuttings and pencils I’d amassed over the months.
But I can never stay away for long. Whether it was brainstorming single artwork or trying not to go insane in 2020, I’ve always had something on the go. I still like making little papery things. And people like my little papery things. So how can I use it as a gateway to my music?
If there was a job in the world where I could just write songs and fill notebooks all day (and ideally traveling to a mountain range every other month), I want that job.
The other day I was struck with a vision — a notebook filled with collages and illustrations which had my lyrics on every page, so you flip through along with a song.
Cue me buying the cutest notebook in the world:
And starting by doing the opening verse to my song, Seashell (from Home Songs EP on Bandcamp).
When I complete the whole song, I’ll make a little video of it.
Going forward with this newsletter I think I wanna include a section which is like “sketchbook page of the week,” just to keep this going. Sounds good?
things i liked
✶ My collaborator and pal James Li released a single this week with his new band, Kowloon Cowboy. I sing on this (if you listen closely), and the video for this is so great. TRUST THE VOID.
✶ I’ve started watching Neon Genesis Evangelion and I can already feel that this isn’t going to end well for anyone. But the theme music bangs
✶ Some good tweets:
✶ Also mad that a Muppets Knives Out can’t happen:
✶ Finally I quite liked this song:
So that’s yer lot!!! Hope you’ve had a good Christmas break and are ready to hit the ground running. I for sure am.
Don’t forget to keep listening to Happy New Year! And add it to your January playlists.
And if you like this post consider clicking the “heart” icon or sending it to a friend who you know loves music and notebooky things. If you do, here is your prize.
Olivia 🌈