Sydney Ross Mitchell, singer-songwriter from Texas, now based in Nashville, has quickly found a home for her indie-folk sound and Americana-influenced storytelling. She frequently teases snippets of new music, weeks and sometimes months in advance, leaving her dedicated fanbase chomping at the bit to hear the missing pieces of the puzzle. With her discography, she often posts in-depth storytime-like videos on her social channels about the meaning of her lyrics, shedding new light on her backstory and offering listeners valuable insight into her songwriting process and how her most intricate lyrics are born out of her emotional and physical experiences.
Mitchell’s authenticity shines through in her music as she fully surrenders to her artistry and uses the tools at her disposal, sensitive vocals with hints of an addictive southern twang, folk instrumentals, and picturesque lyricism, to bring her emotional conflicts to life with a haunting and memorable realism. “Olivia Newton-John” is the latest release in her catalogue, a song Mitchell has teased for months. The track’s release also accompanies the announcement of her 2027 headlining shows, which will see her tour across The United States and Canada. “THE VEIL IS THINNER ON TOUR” is sure to bring her fans together for an intimate and cathartic set of live performances.
Photo by Sabra Binder
Accompanied by the earthy and gentle strum of an isolated guitar, Mitchell’s soft vocals on “Olivia Newton-John” wrap listeners up in a warm hug. Like returning home after a frosty winter storm, Mitchell’s naturally delicate timbre brushes through nostalgia and longing before returning to familiarity. Mitchell relinquishes her power to the music as she escapes the hot and cold potential of a romantic relationship. The instrumental build of the song reflects Mitchell’s wave of emotions as she struggles to let go of what she desperately wants to believe could be the start of a healthy and loving relationship. Mitchell’s vocals in each verse are more direct and contemplative, while in the chorus she surrenders to the cinematic string instrumentals as a wave of emotion takes over the song, her vocals becoming wistful and hopeful.
Leading into each chorus, Mitchell remains self-assured and honest as she expresses how easily she can fall back into old habits: “One more night and I'm taking my clothes back / Pretty sure I'm gonna love you if you love me like that again / So this is the last time / Say it / like you mean it / I know it's a big lie.” While her gut is telling her something is off, she cannot help but let herself hope that her instincts are wrong: “Maybe you don't know what you're doing / Maybe I just love this music.”
A visually rich chorus lets listeners glimpse into Mitchell’s world as she reminisces on the ease she feels while in this relationship: “But you put another record on / I love Olivia Newton-John / Drinking red wine and Coca-Cola / Feels so lovely getting to know ya.” She beautifully captures the giddy excitement of liking someone and the first feelings of falling in love. String instrumentals reflect a sense of letting go and, even if for just a moment, believing little moments like this will last forever. The track remains grounded through Mitchell’s reassuring and heartwarming vocals, leaving listeners hopeful about love instead of in a constant state of questioning. Even if a relationship doesn’t work out, the love felt is still worth sharing and remembering.
Give “Olivia Newton-John” a listen and catch Mitchell on tour next year! She will also be supporting Lizzy McAlpine on “The Over Country Tour” next spring.
