▲ This image, provided by MPLIFY, shows singer-songwriter Olivia Marsh, the elder sister of Danielle of K-pop girl group NewJeans. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
SEOUL,
Feb. 13 (Yonhap) — “Am I burdened by being mentioned alongside Dani (NewJeans’ Danielle’s nickname)? Not at all. I’m happy to be her sister. Dani and I support each other, so there’s no pressure.”
Singer Olivia Marsh is often introduced as “NewJeans’ Danielle’s older sister.” Having worked as a composer in Korea since 2023, she gained public attention last year when she announced her debut as a singer. The two sisters were born to an Australian father and a Korean mother.
For a rookie singer trying to establish her own musical identity, such attention could be overwhelming, but Olivia Marsh embraces it naturally.
▲ This image, provided by MPLIFY, shows singer-songwriter Olivia Marsh, the elder sister of Danielle of K-pop girl group NewJeans. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In a recent interview at Warner Music Korea’s office in Gangnam, Seoul, Marsh shared, “Dani is a senior in the music industry who inspires me, and I wholeheartedly support her. She even gives me advice sometimes, and we encourage each other,” she said with a smile.
After debuting last October with her single 42, Marsh is set to release her first mini-album, “Meanwhile,” on Thursday. The album features five tracks, including the double title tracks “STRATEGY” and “BACKSEAT.”
STRATEGY is an upbeat song reminiscent of 1980s dance music, contrasting with 42, which features an acoustic guitar accompaniment. “I wanted to choose a title track that people could easily enjoy and dance to,” Marsh explained. “I’m not a great dancer yet, so I won’t be showing a full performance on stage, but I’m practicing a lot and would love to perform one day.”
The album reflects her experiences and emotions over the past three years as a composer. She hopes that listeners will find comfort and energy through its diverse genres. “Whenever I hear that my music has been healing for someone, I feel deeply grateful and honored. It makes me happy to be able to provide even a small sense of comfort.”
Marsh studied composition at the University of Melbourne before starting her career in Korea. She originally pursued songwriting but changed her path when a label executive she met during a music project suggested she become a singer.
“I had a lot of concerns, but the desire to share my voice and bring happiness to people was stronger,” she recalled. “I initially moved to Korea because I missed my sister, but naturally, I ended up making music here and even debuted as a singer.”
Her younger sister, Danielle, offered her invaluable advice, telling her to “trust her instincts.” As an idol with experience on major stages, Danielle’s words were a great source of encouragement for the rookie singer.
“I tend to feel shy in front of cameras, so my sister taught me how to pose,” Marsh said. “When she listened to my debut song 42, she told me it reminded her of our old house in Australia, which made me really happy.”
▲ This image, provided by MPLIFY, shows singer-songwriter Olivia Marsh, the elder sister of Danielle of K-pop girl group NewJeans. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Marsh refrained from directly commenting on the ongoing contract dispute between NewJeans members and their agency, ADOR, but made it clear that she fully supports her sister. “I’m always rooting for Dani and her friends,” she said. “I just want good things to happen for her and hope she doesn’t have to go through anything difficult.”
Throughout the interview, Marsh repeatedly described her feelings as “nervous but excited.” Her ultimate goal is to carve out her own path as an artist.
“I still feel like I’m in the process of discovering my charm as a singer. I want to create songs that deeply move people and convey emotions in a meaningful way.”
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