ELISHA ANDRES
Local jazz artist returning to the ParisCat stage
Elisha Andres | First Published 04 Apr 2023 (The Swanston Gazette)
Melbourne jazz singer-songwriter and musician Olivia Chamoun-Canavan will be making a long-awaited return to the stage this month at The Paris Cat Jazz Club, April 16.
She released her highly anticipated debut album Still in November 2022, celebrating its launch with a night of jazz and wine at The Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne.
photo: Lois Vergel
The event was a successful sell-out. And for the unlucky ones who missed November’s show, Olivia will be back to
serenade us once again on April 16.
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More than a musician
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Olivia Chamoun-Canavan is a jazz performer, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She graduated from
Monash University with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz and Improv) in 2021. But the 24-year-old has travelled a life-
long journey with music and sees it as a “broad life practice”.
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Chamoun-Canavan finds it “challenging” to be a “small artist” and not “financially sustainable to fully pursue
performing and writing” full-time. But she has found “other ways” to make music in her life.
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One of these is studying her Master’s Degree in Music Therapy and teaching children’s piano lessons. Chamoun-
Canavan is able to use music in a “different way” that is still “so incredibly meaningful”.
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“I want to foster in them a genuine love of music and excitement by music at a young age. In my lessons we don’t
just play the piano, we play drums, we sing, we dance.” she said.
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“I’m aware it is a very non-traditional approach to music teaching, but I absolutely love the smiles on their faces as
they learn in this way.” she said.
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When she is not under the spotlight at a jazz club, Olivia shares her musical gifts with her local community every
week at church. Born and raised in a Catholic family, Chamoun-Canavan has been “doing that since she was a
young girl”.
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Singing at church keeps her “grounded” and gives her “spiritual perspective” to all of her achievements, she said.
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photo: Lois Vergel
Olivia Chamoun-Canavan: a hidden gem in the jazz scene.
Chamoun-Canavan pursued jazz after graduating from high school.
“I was inspired by its improvisational qualities”, she said.
She inevitably “developed a love” for the 20th century jazz greats, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Chet Bakerand Bill Evans to name a few.
Feeling inspired, Olivia “began exploring” vocal improvisation herself, and “gothooked”, she said.
photo: Ella Fitzgerald. AF Archive, Alamy Stock Photo
photo: Chet Baker 1962. Keystone, Hulton Archive, Getty Images.
Thanks to these jazz icons, Olivia’s passion for the renowned genre was born. And now Melbourne has its own localjazz icon to know and love.
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photo: Lois Vergel
“Melbourne is a beautiful place to be playing jazz” she said.
Whether you’re a jazz performer or simply enjoy listening, Melbourne is home to some of the best jazz bars.
“From the supportive venues and listeners to the incredible community of artists, there is so much going on in the Melbourne jazz scene” Chamoun-Canavan said.
Jazz is “evolving” and “expanding” in Melbourne, she said.
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Her debut album is ‘Still’ capturing hearts.
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On November 20 last year, Olivia launched into the original artists’ realm with her debut album ‘Still’.
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Recording the album was “a long and intense process” she said. But there is “definitely a sense of relief about
having my album out in the world”.
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Months after its release, Olivia’s friends and family still have it on repeat. Listeners can’t seem to get enough of
her lyrical depth and elegant melodies.
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“It is a blessing and so humbling to know that my songs have reached people in that way.” she said.
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“That’s what music is about to me, it carries emotion and meaning. It carries life.” she said.
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photo: Olivia Chamoun-Canavan SPOTIFY
Of the ten tracks on the album, ‘Heaven’s Whisper’ is her favourite.
“I wrote this song for my lovely husband Joseph, who was my boyfriend at the time” she said.
For Olivia, songs can be a “time stamp in hindsight”. And ‘Heaven’s Whisper’ is exactly that, capturing her journeywith her husband.“When I sing this song, it still feels as relevant and meaningful as ever.” she said.
“Whilst it is one sense a very personal song, music has a special way of affording us the opportunity to share theseparts of ourselves with others” she said.
Melbournians are compelled to get excited once again as Olivia Chamoun-Canavan takes the stage this-coming April 16, on an evening at The Paris Cat Jazz club.
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To support Olivia, check out:
Instagram: @oliviachamouncanavan