OLI drops new single “Can’t Do It Right”

Born in New Jersey but raised in London from the age of two, Olivia Masek has grown into an artist that balances the openness of her American origins with the context of her British upbringing, operating under the moniker OLI. She writes music that lives in tension; intimate yet cinematic, quiet yet expansive, restrained but emotionally unguarded. It’s a style that runs through her work and has become her signature, resulting in songs that feel like the stillness before dawn, crafted for those moments when emotions converge all at once.

Since first stepping into view with her 2016 debut EP Fire, OLI has spent nearly a decade developing her artistic output and steadily earning a reputation as one of London’s most exciting voices in the alternative pop sphere. Her sound has struck a chord with listeners around the world, with millions of spins on Spotify and strong support across industry corners. Along the way, she’s secured coverage in Notion and Wonderland, landed spots on Spotify’s Jazz UK and Fresh Finds Jazz playlists and performed at the Isle of Wight Festival.

Last year her debut album, When It All Goes Quiet, marked an emphatic moment in her career, featuring collaborations with cellist Zara Hudson-Kozdoj. The vinyl edition also offered an exclusive duet with Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode, a collaboration that not only highlighted her credibility but also situated her firmly within a community of forward-thinking figure in pop.

Now, OLI opens a new chapter with her latest single titled “Can’t Do It Right,” described by OLI herself as “melancholic moody pop, more upbeat than usual for me.” It’s a late-night anthem that pulses with gentle rhythm and delicate melodic writing, framing the situation of stumbling through imperfection while striding forward regardless. Setting up a hazy scene with sweeping instrumentation textures and smokey vocal samples, the soft rattle of percussion ushers in OLI’s dreamy vocals to cast a spellbinding pop soundscape.

Gliding above warm piano chords and the smooth percussive groove, she spins alluring melodic leads as the arrangement drifts with immersive aesthetic and subtly upbeat rhythm. Cut with instantly catchy hooks carried by elegant vocal performance and wrapped in a misty sonic atmosphere, “Can’t Do It Right” presents an absorbing sound that’s poignant, memorable and mesmeric all at once.

Showcasing another side of her incredible musical world, the single sees OLI serve up a stunning jam that’s meaningful and truly impossible not to love. As she continues to shine on her enduring musical journey, we can’t wait to see what this captivating alternative pop artist has in store for the rest of 2025 and beyond.

Listen to Can’t Do It Right below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---