Meet Olivia Schlichting | Music Supervisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Schlichting and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It’s surprising to me how many people out there don’t like their jobs. You spend a majority of your waking hours in this society working, so for me, it was important to find something that felt fulfilling to me. Creativity was not just a comfort, but a need for me as a kid. I had to have that outlet. I tried to find creative ways to work in the many jobs I’ve had throughout my life, but music supervising for film and TV is the first time I feel fulfilled. Finding the perfect song for a story moment, it’s like a rush. I get to spend hours of my day analyzing feeling and emotion, and I don’t know, it just suits me and what I want out of a day of life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m so eager to continue learning the complexities of filmmaking through music. I feel lucky to have found my way into this niche community of extremely hardworking and passionate creators, however I must say that it is not an easy career. Without a union, music supervisors are very much overworked and underpaid. There’s so much burn out, and I see even the most awarded music supervisors struggling to stay afloat. I hope to push for better conditions as I continue in my career. It’s a crazy time for the industry right now with the strikes. I don’t want to forget the importance of keeping the integrity of this medium intact at such a turbulent yet exciting time in history.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Showing off Los Angeles is one of my favorite things to do, and I think the city always surprises people. I like to start with getting into the unexpected nature, like mountain views of the city and the ocean, or drive or bike along the coast. Getting into the music scene, there’s so much to explore, from swing dancing at the Cicada Club to random DIY backyard shows. I’m so excited that Echo Park Rising is back this year. One of my favorite things to do is people watch at the Farmer’s Market at 3rd & Fairfax, really just people watch anywhere. Inspiration is everywhere!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Guild of Music Supervisors values education and the recognition of the craft, and if it wasn’t for finding their YouTube channel and attending their panels they put on, I wouldn’t have met the folks that inspired me to chase this career. Through them I met my mentor, boss, and friend Thomas Golubić and I’m so grateful to him for giving me a chance and appreciating my weird taste in music. We push each other everyday to find the meanings in story, and in a way, life.

Website: https://supermusicvision.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supermusicvision/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smvcrew

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supermusicvision

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuildOfMusicSupervisors

Other: To find out more about music supervisors unionizing: https://linktr.ee/musicneedssupervision

Image Credits
Sara Jackson