Some musical partnerships are built on shared influences; others are shaped by a lifetime of connection. For harpist and composer Isabelle Olivier and her son, composer, guitarist, producer, and songwriter Raphaël Olivier, music is both a family bond and a space for discovery. On OPEN, the duo brings together harp and guitar in an intimate, genre-crossing journey that invites listeners to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with what matters most.
For 13 years, the pair have woven their distinct musical identities into a shared sonic language, drawing inspiration from travels, encounters, and moments of everyday life. Their latest project reflects that ongoing dialogue, embracing openness not only as a musical philosophy but also as an invitation to approach the world with greater curiosity and sensitivity.
Moving fluidly between jazz standards, contemporary improvisation, folk, swing, and British pop, OPEN resists easy categorization. Its appeal lies in the contrast between the two musicians: Isabelle’s sound can be melancholic, reflective, and introspective, while Raphaël brings a playful, adventurous energy. Rather than competing, these sensibilities complement one another, creating a musical conversation full of unexpected turns, delicate exchanges, and moments of spontaneous discovery.
The album opens with “Bird in the Forest,” a gentle invitation into a landscape awakened by the first rays of sunlight and birdsong. The harp and electric guitar establish a dialogue that feels almost organic, as though the instruments are responding to the natural world around them. In “Shapes,” that exchange becomes a vivid interplay of textures and ideas, while “Looking for Dad” transforms it into a musical chase, playful and unpredictable.
Elsewhere, the atmosphere grows more contemplative. “How Many Miles” and “On the Edge” explore more pensive, melancholic territory, while “Yarrow” builds into something majestic and stormy. Across the record, rhythmic exchanges give way to unexpected melodic shifts and moments of silence, allowing each instrument room to breathe. The result is music that feels less like a sequence of carefully separated compositions than a continuous journey through changing emotional landscapes.
Jazz provides the album’s foundation, but the duo’s curiosity carries them far beyond it. “Woman Farmer” introduces folk influences, while “Bread Blues” brings a swing-inflected energy to the collection. These stylistic shifts never feel forced; instead, they reflect the musicians’ willingness to follow an idea wherever it leads.
Two covers offer a particularly intimate dimension to the record. Raphaël’s vocals come to the forefront in interpretations of Radiohead’s “No Surprises” and “Moon River,” revealing a softer, more personal side of the project. His cello playing on “Yarrow” adds another layer of expression, broadening the album’s instrumental palette. By the final track, Isabelle’s harp once again takes center stage, bringing the listening experience full circle.
What distinguishes OPEN is the sense of movement that runs through it. The musicians move between intimacy and exuberance, stillness and momentum, familiarity and experimentation. Each piece offers a different perspective on the relationship between two artists who share a family history but maintain their own creative identities. Their connection gives the music its warmth, while their differences keep it alive with possibility.
Isabelle Olivier has spent much of her career expanding perceptions of the harp, an instrument she approaches with a distinctive voice that bridges jazz, Celtic traditions, and contemporary music. An accomplished performer and composer, she has composed, arranged, and recorded 13 albums and toured in 25 countries. Her work extends beyond the concert stage into film and live performance, including music for 11 films, four of them directed by Agnès Varda. A recipient of the Villa Albertine award, Olivier traveled to Washington to develop a film-concert paying tribute to women filmmakers from racial minorities. Her collaborations have included musicians Peter Erskine, Didier Lockwood, Ernie Adams, Mitch Haupers, and Paul Wertico.
Raphaël Olivier brings an equally wide-ranging background to their collaboration. A composer, producer, guitarist, and songwriter, he has built a catalog of more than 300 tracks that has accumulated over two billion views and 15 million streams worldwide. Born in Paris into a musical family, he began studying cello at the age of three and was performing professionally by eight, appearing with classical ensembles in Italy, England, and France. His musical education later took him between Europe and the United States, encompassing jazz and film composition at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris.
His subsequent career has included recording at Studio Davout and touring Europe with artists such as Étienne Daho, Yael Naim, and the Orchestre National de Jazz. Now working between Paris and Los Angeles, Raphaël continues to explore connections across musical and literary forms. His first novel, La Mélodie d’Oklahoma, winner of the Paris FoRTE Prize, is scheduled for publication in 2026 and is set to be adapted into a one-man show combining readings and music. A residency at the Rinzai-Ji Zen temple, following in the footsteps of Leonard Cohen, has also informed his interest in the relationship between monastic introspection and musical storytelling.
These individual paths converge naturally on OPEN, where technical experience and artistic ambition serve a more personal purpose. The album is a testament to the possibilities that emerge when musicians remain receptive to one another, allowing different perspectives to coexist without losing their individuality.
Ultimately, OPEN asks little of its listeners beyond a willingness to be present. Its music offers room for reflection, moments of playfulness, and the pleasure of hearing familiar genres approached from unexpected angles. As the final notes fade, the experience leaves behind the impression of having traveled somewhere new—not necessarily to a distant place, but to a different state of mind. For Isabelle and Raphaël Olivier, openness becomes both the subject of the music and the way it is made: a shared invitation to listen more closely, embrace discovery, and find connection in the spaces between sounds.
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