OLIVIA J. BENNETT

I’m an arts writer, researcher and critic based in Australia, open to commissions and collaborations.

I also work as a freelance communications specialist across brand, content and cultural strategy.

If you’d like to see my portfolio or chat about a project, feel free to get in touch.

Gertrude Contemporary Emerging Writers Program | 2020
Melbourne International Film Festival’s Critics Campus | 2019

OOH RAP I YA

George Clanton

Written by Olivia J. Bennett
Edited by Isabella Trimboli
Published in print by The Big Issue AU
Issue #694 | 1 September 2023

As vaporwave luminary George Clanton re-emerges in full force, his sound has undeniably evolved. This album - his fourth - introduces a new level of technical sophistication to the genre, firmly cementing Clanton as its spiritual leader. Boom-bap breaks and haunting synth underscore the track ‘Justify Your Life', which conveys a potent message: "Sometimes you've got to take your leave and start all over/Make believe it's right." The single ‘I Been Young’ casts youth in a spiritually omnipresent light, lamenting that "Growing up is never easy/Can't you see how life is blinding you?" as harmonious piano strains, and synths wall over rhythmic breaks. Surpassing the album's technical mastery is its lyricism, rich in imagery and emotion as it navigates listeners through the transformative realm of young adulthood. Ooh Rap I Ya is a rallying call for self-determination; a reminder that we all have the power to carve out our paths in life.