Classically-trained singer / pianist Olivia Chaney graduated from England’s Royal Academy of Music, before teaching herself guitar, Indian harmonium and carving out her own sound. She has since built a loyal and growing following as a songwriter, arranger and interpreter, both in the UK and internationally, through her acclaimed and eclectic live performances and much lauded recorded works.
Olivia self-released an eponymous EP before signing to Nonesuch Records worldwide and releasing her critically-acclaimed 2015 full-length debut, The Longest River. The latter, which The Guardian hailed as 'an enchanting and stately creation', was noted in a number of 'Best Of 2015' lists, (Uncut, Mojo, PopMatters, Chicago Reader and more); whilst The Independent featured it in their Top 5 Albums of the Year, calling it 'A landmark release'.
In 2017 Olivia featured on two collaborative albums: the first - Folk Songs - with fellow Nonesuch artists; Natalie Merchant, Rhiannon Giddens, Sam Amidon and Kronos Quartet; and the second - The Queen of Hearts - by Offa Rex, an album by a new band formed between Olivia and The Decemberists, which was nominated for a Grammy at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in the ‘'Best Folk Album' category.
June 2018 saw the release of Olivia's second solo album on Nonesuch - Shelter - which was produced by Thomas Bartlett (Sufjan Stevens, St.Vincent, Father John Misty, Martha Wainwright). Applauded as a sophomore triumph, media have said: 'even the simplest arrangements seem to ooze with an inherently fluid musicality. From the deathless serenity of the opening title track to the neo-classical closer "House On The Hill", here is transcendent refuge from the storm.’ – Uncut; ‘A finely wrought piece of work, with Chaney’s swooping delivery turning songs into dramas. An elegant, luminous album.’ – Observer; ‘A beautifully haunting meditation on the human condition.’ – Sun; ‘The ravishing follow-up to the Chaney's acclaimed debut is an exercise in bejewelled simplicity. Chaney's clear resonating voice is a superlative means to convey this eagle-eyed observer's tender intimations like Dragonfly and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. A triumph.' – Daily Mirror.
After another extensive Summer tour of the US, Olivia came home to play a sell-out London show before being invited to perform songs from her latest album Shelter on Later...with Jools Holland on BBC2 at the close of last year. She also played a live sesssion with Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2, and has more recently been touring the UK including her debut in Dublin at the National Concert Hall and beginning writing her next album. Olivia was recently nominated Folk Singer of the Year (2019) at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Olivia has collaborated and shared the stage with a diverse range of artists including Bruce Hornsby, Bryce Dessner, Oliver Coates, Robert Plant, Eliza and Martin Carthy, Vessel aka Seb Gainsborough, Shirley Collins, The Decemberists, Patty Griffin, Alasdair Roberts, Kronos Quartet, Zero 7 and the Labèque Sisters.