As the first-ever jazz voice graduate student at the prestigious New York institution, The Juilliard School, jazz singer and performer Olivia Chindamo is a trailblazer Aussie musician, helping to pave the way for future vocalists in the city. Originally from Melbourne, Olivia moved to the United States (almost exactly!) seven years ago to pursue her musical passions (and find herself along the way), performing at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide (and alongside notable creatives like Jeff Goldblum!). AWNY spoke with Olivia ahead of the release of her album Portraits & Propagations on October 11 (created with friend and fellow Aussie-New-Yorker, Matthew Sheens). Read more about Olivia’s journey below!
What do you miss most about Aus/NZ?
Coles Hot Cross Buns.
What do you do to quell the homesickness while in New York?
I call home as often as I can, Facetime is a modern-day miracle.
What do you do in your ‘spare time’ in NYC?
I love to thrift. My favorite spots are Crossroads in Williamsburg and Beacon’s Closet in Greenpoint and Bushwick.
Have you kept connections with Aussies/NZers in NYC? If so, what does that community of Aussies mean to you (being so far from home)?
Yes! My partner and I have an amazing group of expat friends that we see all the time – we typically do the big holidays together.
What are some of your favorite places in NYC?
For pizza, Levante in Long Island City. For Thai, head to SriPraPhai in Woodside. If you’re looking for authentic Italian groceries, that would be Eataly or Savino’s Quality Pasta in East Williamsburg. For a ridiculous view of the city, the Brooklyn Promenade or Gantry Plaza State Park in Hunter’s Point. This last one is very touristy, but Little Island is kind of great. Try to catch a show there, both stages are magical.
Moving from Australia to the United States to pursue your passion for jazz was a significant step. What challenges did you face during this transition, and how did it impact your musical journey and personal growth?
This is a hard one to answer without writing a billion words because it was a challenging transition but a very worthy one that I would do ten times over. I was really scared, to be perfectly honest, and at first I told myself I only had to stay for six months. Here I am seven years later! Actually, almost seven years to the day, as I’m writing this – my New York anniversary is August 31st.
There are the obvious things that were challenging at first – like figuring out how to get a Social Security Card and finding a new place to live because the ceiling of your ridiculously overpriced East Village apartment caved in. Then there are the emotional challenges, like finding your people, making new friends, being away from family, starting your career from scratch – all in a new place where some things are done the same as home, and some things are done totally differently. Moving to the US really forced me to figure out who I am and what I want, and I’m still learning the answers.
As the first-ever jazz voice graduate student at Juilliard, you paved the way for future vocalists in the program. Can you share some insights about your experience and how it has shaped your career and musical approach?
I feel extremely grateful for my experience at Juilliard and I’m so glad I decided to apply and go back to school for my Masters. I went in with very clear goals, which were to dive in as deeply as possible into the history of Jazz as a Black American art form, and to figure out how to tell a really good story through song. I’m thankful to the many lecturers who made this possible. As for being the first jazz voice graduate, I feel very lucky to have been the person to go through it the first time. It was a really special time and an honor to be the guinea pig.
Your performances span prestigious venues and festivals worldwide. What has been your most memorable performance here so far?
A particularly memorable performance has to be my first show with Jeff Goldblum at Le Poisson Rouge. Jeff and the band were on fire, I’d been introduced on for a few guest songs and had returned to watch from the side when Jeff surprised the audience (and me, I had no idea this was going to happen) with a round of Australian-themed trivia-turned-stand-up that he and his manager had prepared. It was the funniest 10 minutes of my life and I remember that the sheer panic of being put on the spot melted away when he set me up to deliver the first big laugh. I have no idea how he did it, the man is a genius and a national treasure.
You’ve studied under some of America’s finest jazz musicians and performed alongside renowned artists like Paquito D’Rivera. How have these experiences enriched your understanding and practice of jazz, and what key lessons have you incorporated into your work?
My biggest takeaway is that intention is everything and be open to taking risks. Some of my most meaningful musical experiences have come from moments that were unplanned and unexpected.
An example I can think of was the time I ended up on stage with Chick Corea in Austria. He was giving a solo concert and after the interval he invited piano-playing audience members to join him on stage. He explained that he wanted to play two improvised duets, with two respective individuals, but after only one person participated, he asked the crowd again and nobody raised their hand. I don’t know what came over me because I am very much not a piano player. I raised my hand and he invited me up. I got on stage and explained that I was a singer, and he gave me his microphone and we improvised as a voice and piano duo. It became one of those rare out-of-body experiences that I’ll treasure forever, that never would have happened without taking an enormous (and possibly very public and very mortifying) risk.
Olivia and Matthew’s album, Portraits & Propagations, will be released on October 11 with their Album Release show at Birdland Jazz Club on Dec 5th!
You can sample a track or two before it’s out here, and here. You can also find Olivia and her music on Instagram at @oliviathevocalist.
AWNY | Australian Women in New York 