Seattle-based artist LIV is a singer, rapper and director making noise with her blend of bars, catchy hooks, and soulful vocals.
Although it gave rise to the 90’s grunge/rock scene and acts like Nirvana, Peal Jam, and Soundgarden (and more recently acts like Aminé), when it comes to music, the Pacific Northwest is still in the shadow of entertainment hotbeds like New York and Los Angeles. Still, there are a number of artists and filmmakers who are making Seattle one of the most creative cities in America with the seventh highest concentration of creatives according to a recent Singulart poll.
One of those creatives is a singer, rapper, songwriter and director named LIV, sometimes stylized Livt. A product of her environment, the green yet rainy and overcast Tacoma/Lakewood area where the sun only shines two months out of the year, she describes her music as “laidback, sometimes dark, but always soulful”.
Watch: Interview with Livt
According to LIV, who values creativity, living freely, and being in service to others, her music is a reflection on love, what it means to be Black and outspoken, as well as what it takes to get out of your own way and be whoever you want to be.
She caught the music bug at an early age, both at home and while performing at school in a Kindergarten musical.
“My sister was really into music and obsessed with music”, she told SHIFTER in a recent interview. “She was 10 years older than me. I was little and she was always playing music for me and showing me stuff. She would make me set up a piano and match pitch. So it was through her and my parents who would play all kinds of records. My father had these huge tall speakers and he would blast 70’s, 80’s music.”
After singing for almost her whole life, she generated some buzz with her song “Sweat” that was featured by the YouTube channel Cut. In the video, a dancefloor is setup on the sidewalk with the song playing as people walking by are dared to dance in public.
Made in July 2020 during the pandemic, “Sweat” is a fun, upbeat, summertime song with a catchy hook which got our attention at SHIFTER.
“Summertime is when I love to release music…When it comes to Pacific Northwest music, I like to take over.”
We soon found the happy and colorful music video directed by her close friend Abdul Kassamali.
LIV describes the concept for the video as “Backyard disco barbecue”.
When asked why she thinks the song resonated so well, she said, “In all honesty, I think it’s a good song. Whether it’s me singing it or someone else, I just think it’s a good song.”
Shockingly, the song almost didn’t make it onto her latest album Pink and Orange inspired by the pink, orange and sometimes purple Pacific Northwest skies which inspire her music.
“I want to make songs that feel like that.”
Her project, which will include an upcoming expansion pack, includes everything from soulful vocals to bars, as she draws inspiration from hip-hop artists and emcees like Nipsey Hussle, Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, Rapsody Meg Thee Stallion and Cardy B.
She followed up the album with a brand new single this week titled “WHO?!” alongside fellow Pacific Northwest artists Dave Shanaé and Jaywop. It features a laid back West Coast beat with a lot of bounce and funk. LIV lends her vocals to the hook while all three artists take turns flowing on the track.
Despite her still growing buzz, LIV doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. After receiving a grant from Eddie Bauer, she recently made her directorial debut with the short film Street Lights winning Best Local Film at the Seattle Black Film Festival
Shot in her home town of Lakewood, the film is about two friends the day before their graduation and one of them has to return home before the street lights come on, but first they want to take one last ride around their neighbourhood.
The premise is, “Can Black kids sometimes just have a day, living free and happy without something happening?” and the juxtaposition of how a good day can turn into a bad day in just one moment.”
For LIV, it was a chance to not only showcase local talent, but to highlight where she’s from.
“I love where I’m from. I think it’s important to continue to highlight that, which I always do.”
SHIFTER editor, Kevin Bourne, is a Toronto-based entertainment journalist focusing on music and film & TV. He was recently named a Golden Globe Awards international voter by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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