Was It Even Real?

Was It Even Real? is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Olivia O'Brien, released on April 26, 2019, through Island Records.[1][2] The album was preceded by four singles; "I Don't Exist", "Care Less More", "Love Myself" and "Just a Boy" as well as two promotional singles; "UDK" and "Just Friends"

Was It Even Real?
Studio album by
Olivia O'Brien
ReleasedApril 26, 2019 (2019-04-26)
GenrePop
Length32:39
LabelIsland
Olivia O'Brien chronology
It's Not That Deep
(2017)		 Was It Even Real?
(2019)		 It Was A Sad Fucking Summer
(2019)
Singles from Was It Even Real?
  1. "I Don't Exist"
    Released: September 14, 2018
  2. "Care Less More"
    Released: November 9, 2018
  3. "Love Myself"
    Released: February 1, 2019
  4. "Just a Boy"
    Released: April 19, 2019

Singles

On August 3, 2018, "UDK" was released as the first promotional single from the album.[3] In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, O'Brien said the song is to "tell those people that they only see what I want them to see and assumptions will get them nowhere. I think we can all agree that judging people before you’ve even met them or given them a real chance is wrong."[4]

On September 14, 2018, "I Don't Exist" was released as the first single from the album. Nicole Engelman of Billboard said "with deep, soulful vocals, O'Brien sings of being disillusioned with Hollywood’s perfect facade and wonders. "I Don’t Exist" is a poignant depiction of what it feels like to be an outcast in a world that’s too busy to care."[5] A music video accompanied the release, with O'Brien saying "I tried to capture the feeling I had when writing the song... feeling like no one acknowledges your existence, or cares that you are there, even when you are surrounded by people."[5]

"Care Less More" was released as the second single from Was It Even Real? on November 9, 2018.[6] This was followed by "Love Myself" on February 1, 2019 and "Just a Boy" on April 19, 2019.[7][8][9]

Reception

Emma Turney of WRBB began her review of the album by stating that the "imagery on Was It Even Real? is perfectly executed and delightfully detailed", noting the album cover. Turney stated that despite O'Brien's "underwhelming voice, the album succeeds with its bop-worthy production and poetic lyrics". Turney stated that "Care Less More" was "painfully unlistenable, seeming like her producer called out sick the day of recording and left O'Brien to use GarageBand to finish the song." She proceeded to state that O'Brien has the "becoming the next teen idol", and finished the review by saying that she was "continually surprised at the diversity of sound O’Brien is capable of".[10]

Alyssa Yung of Ones to Watch wrote that on every song on the album, "the sun shines through", and that O'Brien's "unique blend of shimmering pop, with hints of soulful R&B, demonstrate the advanced maturity of the 19-year old". Yung described "I Don't Exist" as "hard-hitting", and noted the irony between the messages of "Just Friends" and "We Lied To Each Other". Speaking of the album as a whole, she described it as "superb", describing it as a "thrilling emotional rollercoaster".[11]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Purpleworld"
3:08
2."I Don't Exist"
  • O'Brien
  • Segerstad
  • MacDonald
  • Frelin
  • Anton Hård
3:23
3."Inhibition (omw)"
  • O'Brien
  • Segerstad
  • MacDonald
  • Frelin
  • Anton Hård
3:25
4."Just Friends"
  • O'Brien
  • Segerstad
  • Frelin
  • Anton Hård
2:13
5."We Lied To Each Other"
3:35
6."UDK"
  • O'Brien
  • Segerstad
  • Frelin
  • Anton Hård
3:08
7."Care Less More"
  • O'Brien
  • Segerstad
  • MacDonald
  • Frelin
  • Anton Hård
2:56
8."Just a Boy"
  • Oak
  • Downtown Trevor Brown
  • Keith Sorrells
  • Anton Hård
3:38
9."Call Me!!!"
  • O'Brien
  • Matt Parad
  • Geiger
  • Geiger
  • Matt Parad
3:35
10."Love Myself"
3:33
Total length:32:39

Notes:

"Purpleworld" is stylized in all lowercase.

References
  1. Desk, TV News. "Olivia O'Brien Releases Debut Album, 'Was It Even Real?'". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  2. "Olivia O'Brien's Track-by-Track Guide to 'Was It Even Real?'". Paper. April 26, 2019. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  3. "Olivia O'Brien presenta su nuevo single, "UDK"". Fotoconciertos (in Spanish). August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  4. Gonzales, Erica (August 3, 2018). "Olivia O'Brien Puts Haters in Their Place with "UDK"". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  5. "Olivia O'Brien Unveils Stunning 'I Don't Exist' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  6. "Olivia O'Brien's Quirky "Care Less More" Video: Premiere". Idolator. November 16, 2018. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  7. "Olivia O'Brien is Part of the Simulation". V. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  8. "Olivia O'Brien Dishes on Her New Album 'Was It Even Real?' | ExtraTV.com". Extra. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  9. "Olivia O'Brien Releases Track "Just a Boy" ahead of "Was It Even Real" debut album". Vents Magazine. April 19, 2019. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  10. Turney, Emma. "Olivia O'Brien's 'Was It Even Real?' – Was it even good?". WRBB. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  11. Yung=first=Alyssa. "Ride the Emotional Rollercoaster of Olivia O'Brien's Debut Album, 'Was It Even Real?'". Ones to Watch. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
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