Olivia C. Dacal is drawn to the point in a love story when wanting someone and wondering how long it’ll last start to feel like the same thing, a tension that carries into her music. Atmospheric production gives her dark-tinged pop an unsettled quality, and her vocals, shaped by alternative R&B and soul, let a little doubt creep into even her most direct expressions of desire.
That nuanced approach to her craft took shape across several places. Born in Switzerland to a Mexican-Salvadoran mother and a Cuban father, Dacal spent parts of her childhood in Northern California and Australia. In Melbourne, she studied jazz and classical vocals at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School before continuing her education at Berklee College of Music in Boston. By 2024, she was putting that training to work on her own terms with I AM, an independent album she wrote and produced herself.
After releasing her Lady Love EP in March, Dacal made her Atlantic Records debut with “My Tragic Love Story” and followed it with “Just One.” By October, she was exploring a different kind of uncertainty on “Take A Video,” a single about falling in love while you’re still figuring out who you’re becoming. Its title captures the impulse at the center of the song. When you can already feel a moment slipping away, recording it can seem like a way to hold on a little longer.
“Take A Video” also lends its name to Dacal’s new EP, out November 13. Then, following an appearance at London’s All Points East festival, she’ll bring the new songs to the stage in December when she joins Niko Rubio for six California dates. Ahead of the release, we spoke with Dacal about how her musical training informs the choices she makes in the studio, what drew her to the stories on the EP, and how those songs feel when she takes them onstage.
You've described “Take A Video” as a song about wanting to hold onto a moment while everything around you feels uncertain. How did you initially want to capture that feeling musically?
Olivia C. Dacal: I really wanted to capture that feeling of freedom, the moments where you feel untouchable. It happens during the late-night rides, or when you feel the wind; it’s almost like peace, but a little more exciting, fun. The lyrics are personal, but I also feel they are relatable and gentle, and fit perfectly with the instrumental choices we made.
With your new EP arriving November 13, what can listeners expect from the rest of Take A Video? Are there any new sounds or creative directions you're particularly excited for them to hear?
Olivia C. Dacal: Yes! Every song on this EP is definitely very unique; all the songs are different genres but still live together in the same world. It’s very special. I was able to show many different sides of myself. There is some R&B, Dance, and Soul; there is a beautiful song with strings. I think there is truly a song for everyone on this EP.
Earlier this year, you released singles “My Tragic Love Story” and “Just One” before moving into your upcoming EP. How has your approach to songwriting evolved throughout this period, and have you noticed any changes in the themes you're drawn to or the way you explore them in your music?
Olivia C. Dacal: There was a period where I was writing songs every day with new producers or writers; this lasted for almost a year. During this time, I was really able to explore myself and my songwriting style; it developed so much. When I started working with my producer Stavros, I had a vision for what I wanted my music to be, the world I wanted to live in, and he understood exactly where I wanted to go. I want my listeners to feel the passion I put in; I want my music to give people space to let go and be free and just be in the moment.
You've written and produced much of your music independently, including your album I AM, and have since begun releasing music through Atlantic Records. How has your creative process evolved during that transition, and are there aspects of working independently that you still carry into your work today?
Olivia C. Dacal: I got older, and I got to learn more about myself, go deeper, and I am able to bring out things I wasn’t able to before. There are a lot of things I still do; I’m very hands-on in the studio and even bring in my own beats and songs I make on my own. “Bring me Closer” is a good example. I initially brought in the beat with just a top line draft of the chorus, and we turned it into what it is now.
You've experimented with different arrangements in your music, including the Omnichord version of “Lady Love.” Were there any tracks on Take A Video that changed significantly between the initial idea and the finished recording?
Olivia C. Dacal: Yes! “Every Night” has been through many phases; I think there are about four different versions of the song. The arrangement was completely different at the start, as well as the genre; I’m very happy about where it is now.
The music video for “Take A Video” was filmed in Los Angeles and directed by joesasylum. What was the creative process like when bringing the song into a visual format, and were there particular details you wanted the video to capture?
Olivia C. Dacal: I love the video. I feel like we executed exactly what I was going for. I wanted it to be filmed on a camcorder, and to feel very much like hanging out with your friends, enjoying the night. Jose had this amazing idea of getting a huge flag and putting my face on it. It was so fun; we drove down the LA River while I was holding the flag. It looks amazing in the video [laughs]. I mostly wanted to capture the essence of going out with your friends, the adventure of it.
Between your independent beginnings, signing to a label, and releasing new music throughout 2026, you've experienced quite a few milestones in a relatively short period. What has surprised you most about this stage of your career, and what are you hoping to explore next as an artist?
Olivia C. Dacal: One of my favorite moments was playing in London; people were singing my songs back to me. It was amazing and so beautiful. I love being on stage; it’s the reason I started in the first place. There’s an energy up there, and when you reach it, it’s like heaven. That’s where I want to go, and that’s where I want to bring people. I want to play at all the big festivals; I want to make an album; I want to keep expanding my world visually; there’s so much!
