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Saturday Special: In Conversation With Kylie Olsson

Meet Kylie Olsson, the presenter, producer, and writer whose career both behind and front in front of both the mics and cameras started years ago back in 1999. Adam Humphries reports.

Since then she has gone from strength to strength and has seen many changed in the media industry on the whole. Ironically, she originally wanted to be a musician but then realized that she was much better at talking about music than producing it. Kylie has gone on to work for some of the big media brands in the UK such as the BBC, Sky, and Bauer Media. Also, she has something in the way of possible changes over the years but knows that more could be done. When she isn’t working on other material, she can be found producing her own on YouTube called Life in Six Strings.

“Don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t do it or you aren’t good enough”

Adam Humphries: You began your career just over 21 years ago back in 1999 and in that time, you’ve achieved a lot, are you surprised by it?

Kylie Olsson: God, was it that long ago! I’m not sure if I’m surprised by it as I’m not sure you are ever really aware of what you have achieved because you are always too busy looking forward and what’s next – which is something I need to work on as it’s good to just stop and look at what you’ve done with your life. Also, I think you can always wish that you were more successful than you are!

AH: So, what was it about a career in the media that first drew you towards it?

AO: When I was younger I wanted to be a saxophonist but when I realized that I was pretty rubbish I decided that I would like to talk about music instead. I’ve always loved music and I’ve always been surround by it as my parents were always playing music and every Saturday night the Motown records would come out… But I guess it was that element of loving music, wanting to have that sense of performance, and then being fascinated by how a TV show was made.

AH: You are a writer, presenter, and director, how did you manage to get your foot in the door with each of those roles?

AO: They are all tied together by music. I started out in TV, at the very bottom by making the tea, and then worked my way up through production before someone said I should try some presenting so that’s what I did. Almost everything I’ve presented I’ve produced myself and then when I was producing a show for Universal which was shot from Abbey Road, I started to direct the sessions there and I just fell in love with that side of things. It felt so much more creative than presenting. The writing side of things came about because I studied journalism and film at University so always had this in me and then a friend of mine, who is a fantastic writer called Malcolm Dome, said I should try some writing and that’s how the writing came about. I’d say the writing has probably been the only part of my job that fell into my lap.

AH: Now you’ve presented both on-screen as well as off-screen with radio presenting, would you say there’s much in the way of a difference bearing in mind with one you’re both seen and heard and the other you can only be heard. Unless the webcam’s on that is.

AO: There is so much more to think about when you are presenting on camera compared to radio… in TV you have to think about how you hold yourself, how you look etc where as in radio it’s a lot more insular but the skill with that is that essentially you are talking to yourself so you have to make it seem like you are talking to your best friend. I think I’m more natural in front of the camera than I am behind the mic but my dream job would be to do a late-night radio show where I can just talk about the stories behind the song and really nerd out.

AH: During your career, you have worked for various media outlets such as Sky, Bauer Media, and BBC, is there is much difference between any of them?

AO: Not really…For someone who wants to embark on a similar career to yours what advice would you give them?
Don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t do it or you aren’t good enough. You’ll need to have a selective hearing as you’ll be told things about yourself that you might not want to hear and NEVER take no for an answer. Also, I think sometimes you have to think outside of the box… just because you can’t get in the front door then be creative and figure out a way to get in through the back door. That’s how some of my biggest breaks have come because of that.

KylieOlsson 1

AH: And what advice would you give to your younger self before you embarked on your chosen choice of career?

I have a new YouTube show called ‘Life in Six Strings’ where I’m learning how to play the guitar and interview famous guitarists about their life in six strings. I’ve wanted to play the guitar and make this show for the last 6 years so I’d say to myself, do that show now!

AH: In regards to female representation within the sector itself would you say that there has been much in the way of change since the late ’90s?

AO: No… If I could only tell you the way I have been referred to by male bosses in the past you’d be shocked… there is still a little boys club and very few women in management roles which means we aren’t the ones making the big decisions.

AH: Do you think male attitudes towards women in the industry have changed much as well?

AO: I think the ‘me too’ movement helped a bit by making people aware of how they speak to women in the workplace but I’m not sure if in reality that has really helped change the situation.

AH: Also do you think there’s still some way to go in regards to attitude towards the female gender?

AO: I would like it to get to the point where it’s not about what gender or color you are but just the best person for the job… maybe I’m being fantastic when I say that but I’d like to think we can get there.

AH: As we all know 2021 has been a bumpy ride due to the current Covid 19 situation, has it affected the way you work?

AO: 100% it has. I’m usually working on festivals or going to gigs for work and all that has disappeared and doesn’t seem like it’s going to come back this year and maybe not next so I’ve really had to think of a way to take control of the situation so that’s why I’ve launched my own YouTube channel. And with everything being done on Zoom now it means I can travel the world via the internet and not have to pay flight or camera guy costs so that’s positive. Work is starting to pick up so I have a few shoots coming up later this month and am really looking forward to being on set again.

AH: And finally, what can we expect from you in the pipeline later this year?
AO: As much as zoom has been great, I want to start making some beautiful content for Life in Six Strings so you can expect more from that, I’m also in the process of directing my first music documentary – I can’t really reveal what it’s about yet – but that’s going to be really exciting. And then who knows….

https://www.instagram.com/kylieolsson/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/user/KylieOlsson

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