At just 20 years old, Olivia Millin is already proving she’s not afraid to push boundaries in J-pop and dance-pop. With her new single, “Soul for the Taking,” she leans into her love of Halloween, crafting a darkly theatrical anthem that blends eerie atmospheres, horror-movie imagery, and pulsing dance beats. Inspired by classics like “Thriller” yet distinctly her own, the track positions Millin as a bold new voice capable of turning seasonal scares into perennial pop magic.
- Olivia, you’re just 20 years old and already carving out a unique lane in J-pop and dance-pop. How does it feel to be releasing such a bold, Halloween-inspired track at this stage in your career?
It definitely feels different than what I’m used to releasing, but I like that kind of difference. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I’m so happy to contribute to the screams and terrors of trick-or-treat season.
- Soul for the Taking” is spooky, theatrical, and full of vivid imagery. What first sparked the idea to create a Halloween anthem?
I love Halloween songs and I’m always on the lookout for them. I noticed that it’s actually tough to find Halloween songs, especially pop ones, besides Thriller. That’s when it came to me- that I should write one, the ideal Halloween song that I would listen to myself. I guess it was honesty for my own enjoyment and fun that I wrote this song.
- This song has been called a “perennial Halloween hit.” What makes you believe “Soul for the Taking” has that timeless quality, right alongside classics like “Thriller” and “Monster Mash”?
That last line I wrote, “No worries, there’s next year,” implies that it’ll be played every year, and I am personally most proud of that line in the song. There’s so much to unpack in this song, from the types of instruments used to the kinds of lyrics used. Honestly I think it’s just the vibe in general, from the spooky atmospheric sounds to the screams. It just screams Halloween.
- The lyrics play like a mini horror movie—zombies, demons, fog, and fear. Were you drawing from personal Halloween memories, or did you approach it more like storytelling for the big screen?
I honestly drew some inspiration from Thriller, and made my own story based on how Michael Jackson told his. It was completely fantasy, just came out of my head, no experience, which is pretty rare for me to do, since I usually write based on my own experience.
- You worked with Suite Dreams and Kevin Charge on production. How did that collaboration shape the final sound of this single?
Suite Dreams provided a great starter track and was super theatrical, and was the pivotal inspiration for the song. Kevin Charge, whom I work with regularly, provided a pop-sounding explosion throughout the song that was really needed. He also added the dance break, full of theremin and spooky sounds.
- Your fans know you as a J-pop/dance-pop artist. What excites you about blending those styles with a darker, seasonal theme like Halloween?
I love darker styles, and it’s actually how I first started writing music back in high school, before I got into Jpop. It feels nice to return to my roots like this, and it pays a little homage to my past self.
- At just 20, you’re already writing songs with a lot of vision and ambition. What drives you creatively, and how do you see yourself growing as an artist in the next few years?
I love music, and the inspiration of music itself just drives me to write. Visions just come in short spurts, and when I hat happens, I have to take advantage of it at that moment, otherwise it’s gone forever.
- Halloween is all about fun, scares, and community. When listeners put on “Soul for the Taking”, what do you most hope they feel, or even do, when that beat drops?
I hope they feel a little disturbed by the lyrics and vibe, while also loving and dancing to the track. It fills me with excitement to know that people may play my song in their Halloween playlists closer and closer to Halloween, because half the fun is the excitement leading up to it. I hope people scream in sync to the ones in the track!