All of life’s messiest moments should come with a soundtrack, and Olivia Prado’s brand new EP Dirty in the Sand is just the piece to help you roll up your sleeves and dive into self-reflection. In her most emotionally-honest piece yet, Prado descends into themes of love, connection and introspection through her signature blend of nostalgic pop and contemporary R&B.
Olivia Prado is the true embodiment of a self-made star, building her career from the ground up. Her heart and soul is evident through every step of the process from the songwriting and creative direction, all the way to the marketing and final release. Originally from the Bay Area and now residing in Los Angeles, Prado discovered her passion for music and performing at a very early age although it was not always the path she intended to take. After an impactful year abroad in Sydney and the loss of her father, she decided to fully commit and finally pursue the career she had dreamed about all along.
Dirty in the Sand isn’t just a silly innuendo, it’s a nod to a carefree childhood, getting messy in the best of ways and having the freedom to forge your own path in life without disturbance.
“The project starts off flirty, playful, and adventurous before becoming self-conscious, introspective, worried, yearning, and heart-wrenching,” said Prado, “By the end, it’s left asking one simple question: ‘Am I enough?’”
The entire piece is a vulnerable, contemplative exploration into opening up to new experiences and continuing to provide opportunities for unabashed self-discovery even through adulthood.
The project opens with “Temptation,” a flirty, teasing introduction to allowing feelings to take hold and the fresh beginnings of a new interest. “I get butterflies / And I hope that you don’t notice / Melt into your smile / See the goosebumps on the surface.” There’s no pressure of expectation yet, and there may never be; it is allowed to just be temptation. This creates a beautiful transition into the next track “Up n Down,” a strongly feminine anthem that bleeds empowerment and embraces sexuality. The smooth groove of her R&B inspired vocals bring about an effortless air of confidence that’s impossible to ignore and sets the perfect mood for dancing.
“A pretty sunset / And my hair’s a perfect mess / I know that we deserve it / take a break from all the stress.”
“Dirty in the Sand,” the title track, brings the mood even higher with a stronger 2000’s pop vibe and an unending air of freedom. Part of living is learning to let go, to embrace the softer moments and leave room for adventure. Getting dirty in the sand is all the best parts of figuring things out and expanding perspective to create a unique sense of self. Following perfectly in the upbeat flow, “Turn Me On” feeds right back into the feminine energy of “Up n Down,” taking an even more direct approach to sexual liberation and being able to feel confident in your own body.
Bringing the piece slowly to a close, “Ocean” starts to bring down the mood and steer the narrative in a more emotional direction. Rather than relying on raw attraction, the feelings start to bleed through and waves of longing wash over. The need for deeper connection shines and temptation is no longer enough to satisfy. The conclusion comes with the final track “Is It Enough,” although it doesn’t necessarily provide closure. Exploring relationships hardly ever ends wrapped up in a neat bow and it makes perfect sense that Prado leaves this story with an ambiguous ending. Asking “Is it enough?” slowly turns into wondering “Am I enough?” and the slippery slope of self-doubt can quickly turn destructive if left unchecked. Breaking the cycle is the first step in moving forward towards utmost fulfillment and a life brimming with new possibilities.
(L) Photo Credit: Jordan Naheesi
For only her second project — following her 2024 debut album LIV LAUGH LOVE — Dirty in the Sand is an incredible body of work and being able to create such a cohesive story with clear themes through a short tracklist is no small accomplishment. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for Olivia Prado’s future, it’s sure to be bright.
Keep up with Olivia Prado:
Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / TikTok / YouTube / SoundCloud
