Basics
Hometown: Nicosia, Cyprus
Current town: New York City, NY, USA
Genre: Alternative pop
Track highlights: “In your bed” & “never changing?”
Birthday: August 12
You can also read this interview, and other articles, in a digital format HERE
- What inspired you to start making music? Where and/or when did your musical journey start?
Music has always been part of my life. I started playing the piano when I was three years old, but I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally when I was in sixth grade. From that point on, there was never really a Plan B. I immersed myself in piano, guitar, music theory, singing, and choir, and songwriting eventually became the way I expressed myself most. What started as a childhood passion has grown into a career that has taken me from Berklee College of Music to New York University, and now to releasing my own music as an independent artist.
- What songs have inspired your sound? Is there any one song that has shaped you?
I’ve always been drawn to artists who make people feel something. There are definitely a few songs and artists that have had a lasting impact on my songwriting and production. Novo Amor, especially “Anchor,” inspired me with its atmospheric production, emotional vulnerability, and the way it creates such an immersive world. That balance between intimacy, layered harmonies, and cinematic production is something I continue to strive for in my own music.
“Bloom” by The Paper Kites showed me how simplicity and space can be just as powerful as complexity, and that not every moment needs to be filled for a song to have an emotional impact. Adele has always inspired me through her honest storytelling and ability to make even the simplest lyrics feel incredibly powerful. And Ariana Grande has influenced me vocally through her beautiful harmonies, understated production, and attention to detail. It showed me how powerful it can be to let emotion lead a song.
I think each of those influences has shaped a different part of who I am as an artist. Together, they’ve inspired my love for honest storytelling, atmospheric production, and rich vocal harmonies, all of which have become defining elements of my own sound.
- Who are some artists or cultural icons who have inspired you, and how have they shaped your sound?
Similarly to the previous answer, I’ve been inspired by artists who aren’t afraid to be emotionally honest and who have built distinctive sonic identities. Novo Amor has had a huge influence on my love for atmospheric production and creating immersive emotional worlds. Adele has inspired me as a songwriter because of her ability to tell deeply personal stories in a way that feels universally relatable. Ariana Grande has shaped the way I approach vocal production, her harmonies, vocal arrangements, and attention to detail have definitely influenced my own work in the studio.
Billie Eilish has inspired me to embrace subtlety and intimacy in both songwriting and production. I admire how she creates entire worlds through minimal yet intentional production choices and isn’t afraid to let emotion take center stage. Michael Jackson has been a huge inspiration because of his artistry, innovation, and ability to blend incredible songwriting, production, performance, and storytelling into one complete vision.
Growing up in Cyprus also gave me a deep appreciation for Mediterranean music and storytelling. That influence inspires me to weave subtle Mediterranean melodies and musical elements into my own work, creating music that feels contemporary while still honoring my heritage.
More than anything, I’m inspired by artists who stay authentic to who they are. That’s something I always strive for in my own music, no matter how my sound evolves.
- What is your favorite album of all time?
Novo Amor’s “Birthplace”. It’s an album I’ve returned to countless times because of its lush, atmospheric indie-folk soundscapes, intimate vocal performances, and beautifully understated production. I also love its thematic depth, songs explore everything from nostalgia and the natural world to deeply personal struggles, and they’re written with so much honesty and sensitivity. That album taught me that music can create an emotional world without saying too much, and it’s had a huge influence on the way I approach storytelling, layered harmonies, and atmospheric production in my own music.
- One notable moment in my career so far is…
Releasing my debut EP independently. Watching songs that lived in my notes app and voice memos become something people could connect with was incredibly rewarding.
- If you could give one message to the music industry on how to better support equity, what would it be?
I would love to see more investment in music education and creative opportunities in countries like Cyprus. We have so many talented artists, songwriters, and producers, but there aren’t always enough opportunities to connect, collaborate, or learn from people working internationally. More songwriting camps, production workshops, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities would help artists build meaningful careers without feeling like they have to leave home to grow. Creating those spaces would not only support individual artists but also strengthen Cyprus’ music industry as a whole.
Serving as the Events Manager for the Women’s Musician Network at Berklee showed me how important community and mentorship are. Being surrounded by so many talented women who were writing, producing, performing, and leading was incredibly inspiring, and it reinforced how much we can accomplish when we support one another.
I’d also love to see more women represented in music production, audio engineering, and other technical roles. We are just as capable of excelling in those fields, and it’s important that more women feel empowered to step into those spaces with confidence. We belong in every room where music is being created.
My advice to other women in music is to never stop learning and never be afraid to take up space. Learn the creative side, but also learn production, technology, and the business behind the music. The more knowledge you have, the more freedom and control you’ll have over your own career. Most importantly, find people who genuinely support and believe in you, because having that community can make all the difference.
- What’s one career milestone you’re proud of?
Graduating from Berklee College of Music, earning my master’s degree in Music Business from New York University, and releasing my debut EP independently all represent different chapters of the same journey. Berklee helped shape me as an artist, NYU taught me how to navigate the industry, and my EP gave me the opportunity to apply everything I’d learned while sharing my own story with the world.
- Your first single release was in 2023, with the cover of sombr’s single ‘caroline’. How did you end up choosing that? And how was it different to record and release ‘caroline’ compared to ‘sober’ in 2025?
Caroline was actually a song I connected with immediately. I loved the emotion behind it, and I felt inspired to interpret it in my own way. At that point, I was just beginning to share my music publicly, so releasing a cover felt like a natural first step. It allowed me to introduce myself as an artist while paying tribute to a song that meant something to me.
Releasing Sober was a completely different experience. It was my own story, my own lyrics, and my own emotions. There was a much greater sense of vulnerability because I wasn’t interpreting someone else’s work anymore, I was inviting people into my own experiences. By then, I’d also grown significantly as both a songwriter and producer, so I had a much clearer artistic vision for the sound, the visuals, and the overall message. Looking back, Caroline gave me the confidence to take that first step, while Sober felt like the moment I truly found my own voice as an artist.
- You were born in the United States and grew up both in the United States and in Cyprus. How has your Cypriot heritage and your American & Cypriot upbringing influenced your sound, and how do you blend them?
Growing up between the United States and Cyprus has shaped every part of who I am, both as a person and as an artist. My American upbringing exposed me to pop, indie, and alternative music from an early age, while Cyprus gave me a deep appreciation for melody, storytelling, and tradition. I’ve never felt like I had to choose one over the other. Instead, I’ve always wanted my music to reflect both sides of my identity. I want my work to feel modern while still carrying a piece of where I come from. I think that’s what makes my sound uniquely mine.
- What does Meraklina mean to you? Tell us more about how that song came to be.
Meraklina is incredibly special to me because it’s my way of honoring where I come from. The song is inspired by a traditional Cretan folk song, but instead of simply recreating it, I wanted to reimagine it through my own lens. It became a bridge between tradition and contemporary music, and that’s something I’m really proud of. To me, Meraklina is also about finding someone who matches your passion and energy, someone who loves as deeply and lives with the same meraki that you do. I think that’s something everyone hopes to find.
- Can you tell us about your debut EP? What inspired it, and how have fans received it so far, with two singles released?
My debut EP, If I Was Someone Else, is a very personal project about love, heartbreak, self-worth, and identity. Every song comes from a real place in my life, and together they tell the story of losing yourself in someone else before learning how to find your way back.
The first two singles, Make Me Drown and Never Changing, introduce that journey. Make Me Drown is about loving someone so deeply that you keep sacrificing yourself, even when they’re hurting you. It’s about feeling like you’re the only one fighting to keep the relationship afloat while the other person lets you sink. Never Changing picks up where that leaves off, it’s about waiting for someone to become the person you keep hoping they’ll be, while questioning whether, if you were somehow different, things would have turned out differently.
The response to both singles has been incredibly meaningful. I’ve had people tell me they saw themselves in the lyrics, and that’s the biggest compliment I could ever receive. As painful as these songs were to write, it’s comforting to know they can make someone else feel understood and a little less alone.
- I understand that this EP comes from personal experiences. Could you share the story behind one of the songs that best symbolizes you, at the time of writing?
I think Never Changing best symbolizes who I was while writing this EP. On one level, it’s about questioning whether, if I had been different, the person I loved would have wanted me more. It’s that internal dialogue so many of us have after a relationship ends, wondering if we weren’t enough or if changing ourselves could have changed the outcome.
But there’s another layer to it. Looking back, I realized the problem wasn’t that I wasn’t enough. It was that I kept choosing people who simply weren’t capable of giving me the kind of love, effort, and commitment I deserved. The song captures that turning point between blaming yourself and recognizing that not every relationship is meant to be saved.
It’s the most vulnerable song I’ve ever written because I allowed myself to say things I’d never admitted out loud before. Releasing it was terrifying, but I also believe the most meaningful music comes from honesty, and if someone hears this song and feels less alone in those thoughts, then sharing it was worth it.
- What were some of the challenges you had to take on/tackle while making this EP?
One of the biggest challenges was allowing myself to be vulnerable. These songs are incredibly personal and come from real experiences, so releasing them meant sharing parts of myself that I’d kept private for a long time. It was scary knowing that the people who inspired some of these songs might hear them, but I also knew that honesty is what allows people to truly connect with music.
Another challenge was wearing so many different hats as an independent artist. Beyond writing and recording the songs, I was involved in the creative direction, visuals, release strategy, marketing, and every decision that brought the project to life. It was a lot to balance, but it also made the EP feel completely authentic to who I am and the story I wanted to tell.
- Who do you envision as your primary audience for your debut EP? And how do you hope that they will connect with it?
I think this EP will resonate most with people who have experienced heartbreak, self-doubt, or periods of personal growth. If I Was Someone Else asks questions that many of us have asked ourselves at one point or another, whether we were enough, whether things would have been different if we had changed, and how to find ourselves again after losing someone.
My hope is that listeners connect with those emotions and realize they aren’t alone. Music has always made me feel understood during difficult moments in my life, and if this EP can do that for even one person, if someone listens and feels seen, comforted, or a little more hopeful, then that’s the greatest compliment I could receive as an artist.
- The EP is a bit of a departure from your previous sound, if we compare never changing to Somebody Else for example, never changing is a bit more ‘moody’ while somebody else (and sober) were nodding slightly toward more pop/dance sounds. Could you tell us about the process and what made you make that choice?
I think the shift happened very naturally. Somebody Else and Sober came from a different chapter of my life and reflected where I was creatively at the time. As I continued writing, I found myself gravitating toward more atmospheric, introspective production that gave the lyrics room to breathe. Since If I Was Someone Else is such a personal project, I wanted the production to mirror the emotions behind the songs. A brighter, more pop-driven sound just didn’t feel authentic to the stories I was telling.
I also think I’ve grown a lot as both a songwriter and producer. I became more confident in letting the songs be vulnerable instead of feeling like they had to fit into a particular sound or style. I found myself drawn to moodier alternative pop, layered vocal harmonies, electronic textures, and cinematic soundscapes that allow listeners to fully immerse themselves in the emotion of each song.
For me, production should always serve the story. Every harmony, synth, and production choice is there to support the lyrics and the feeling behind them. I don’t see this EP as moving away from my previous sound, but rather as discovering a sound that feels even more authentic to who I am as an artist today.
- Continuing on that thought, how do you plan to evolve your current sound/genre, or do you have plans to venture into entirely new genres or influences as your musical journey evolves?
I don’t think I’ll ever limit myself to one genre. Storytelling will always be at the heart of my music, but I love experimenting with new sounds and pushing myself creatively. We’re already working on new music that explores more R&B influences while still keeping the atmospheric alternative pop sound, layered harmonies, and emotional storytelling that have become such an important part of my music. I also want to continue weaving in subtle Mediterranean influences through melodies, instrumentation, and vocal arrangements. More than anything, I want each project to reflect where I am creatively at that point in my life, so I hope listeners can grow alongside me as my sound continues to evolve.
- What advice would you give to someone who wants to start making music?
Don’t wait until you feel “ready” because you’ll probably never feel completely ready. Start creating with what you have, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Not every song you write is going to be released, and that’s okay. So many songs never see the light of day, but you have to write the bad ones to get to the good ones. Growth doesn’t happen overnight, and every song teaches you something. Most importantly, stay true to yourself and make the kind of music that feels honest to you, not what you think people want to hear.
- For a brief moment, however, looking back, you have just finished studies at New York University (a M.A. in Music Business) and previously at Berklee College of Music (a B.M. in Professional Music). What have these, more structured, learning experiences given you moving forward? And what has been the most fun and the hardest during these degrees?
Berklee and NYU gave me two very different, but equally valuable, perspectives on the music industry. Berklee challenged me creatively and helped me grow as a songwriter, performer, producer, and collaborator. NYU gave me a deeper understanding of the business side of music, from publishing and copyright to licensing, marketing, and artist development. At the same time, I was fortunate enough to be working in the industry through internships and professional roles, so I was able to apply what I was learning in the classroom to real-world experiences. Together, those experiences gave me the confidence to pursue both the creative and business sides of my career.
The most rewarding part was being surrounded by people who shared the same passion for music. I met incredible classmates, collaborated with talented musicians, and learned from professors who are actively shaping the industry.
The biggest challenge was balancing everything. Between classes, internships, leadership roles, working in the music industry, and continuing to write and release my own music, there were definitely moments when it felt overwhelming. I also found myself comparing my journey to some of my classmates’, especially in such a competitive environment. Over time, though, I realized that everyone has a different path, and that success isn’t something you can measure against someone else’s timeline. That mindset has been one of the most valuable lessons I’ve taken with me.
- Which track is your favorite on the EP?
Never Changing. It’s the most vulnerable song I’ve ever written, and I don’t think I’ve ever been that honest in my songwriting before. It explores the quiet insecurities that can creep in when you’re holding onto someone who’s emotionally slipping away, and the questions you start asking yourself about whether you were ever enough. It felt like I was letting people read pages from my diary. Writing it was incredibly emotional, and releasing it was even scarier because I knew I was sharing such a personal part of myself with the world. But I also believe that the most meaningful music comes from honesty, and seeing listeners connect with it has made that vulnerability completely worth it.
- For those just discovering your music, how would you describe yourself and your musical style?
I’m a Greek-Cypriot independent singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist creating alternative pop with electronic influences. My music combines honest, emotional storytelling with atmospheric production, lush vocal harmonies, and cinematic soundscapes. I love experimenting with layered harmonies and textures that become an extension of the emotion in each song. I also draw inspiration from my Mediterranean roots, weaving elements of Greek and Cypriot music into my melodies, instrumentation, and musical sensibility in a way that feels contemporary while still honoring where I come from.
- And what do you hope that people take away from your music?
I hope people feel seen. If someone listens to one of my songs and realizes they’re not alone in what they’re feeling, then I’ve done what I set out to do. Music has always helped me process my own emotions, and I hope mine can do the same for someone else. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, I want my music to make people feel understood.
Olga also co-curated EQUAL Cyprus for the July edition
And told us about two of the songs Prepis added, and why:
- Ivi Adamou – “La La Love“: I remember watching Cyprus at Eurovision and feeling so proud seeing a Cypriot artist on such a huge international stage. It’s one of those songs that immediately brings back memories of growing up and made me dream a little bigger as a young musician.
- Anna Vissi – “Dodeka“: This song instantly reminds me of nights out with my friends in Cyprus, driving around with the windows down, screaming every lyric at the top of our lungs. It’s one of those songs that everyone knows, and no matter how many times I hear it, it always brings me back to those memories.
You can listen to EQUAL Cyprus – for a more EQUAL music industry, on Spotify and YouTube