liv. is an artist from Hudson Valley, NY. I first discovered her when she dropped her album Young, Dumb, and in Love back in 2022. Her spotlight kicks off a four-day run of artist spotlights. All four artists in this run are friends, and the last one will drop on Thanksgiving Day. I guess you could call this a Friendsgiving week of posts. So, let’s get into it. Who is liv.?
When did liv. first start playing music, and what drew her to it? She said, “The first time I was on stage singing in front of people was at a resort in Florida at the age of 7. My family took a trip to Disney, and the hotel had a karaoke hour that little liv. just couldn’t pass up. I grabbed the mic and sang a rendition of K.T. Tunstall’s “Black Horse and a Cherry Tree.” I didn’t start performing (for real, at least) until my junior year of high school. A local venue owner saw something special in me and invited me to open for a show. I’ve always loved music; my dad was a morning radio host, and my mom was always playing something on the iPod or in the car.”
How would liv. describe her sound to someone who’s never heard her music? She said, “I normally tell people my music is ‘floral angst.” I’m not too sure what it means, but it seems to make sense. I guess you could say it’s a mix of Americana and Alternative, vinegar, and twang!” Who or what inspired liv. to start making music? She said, “I didn’t start writing my own songs until my freshman year of college. I was in a Victorian Poetry class and figured I’d give it a go! I’ve found that writing’s been a really great outlet for me. When COVID hit, my mom secretly booked a recording session for me in our family’s barn. It’s been my favorite hobby ever since.”
Who are some artists that have influenced liv. the most? She said, “Grace Potter, Alanis Morissette, Miley Cyrus, Chris Stapleton, Tracy Chapman, Patty Griffin, Amos Lee, Credence Clearwater Revival.” What’s been her favorite venue to play so far? She said, “Bethel Woods! It’s the historic site of Woodstock.” What’s her dream venue to play at? She said, “I can’t think of any one specific venue, but someplace cozy with moody lighting, the smell of a campfire, and good company sounds like a dream to me! Even better if it’s by a body of water!”
Have there been any major turning points in her career so far? liv. said, “I think the process of creating my third album’s been a bit of a turning point for me! This next record’s going to be so different. It’s not about love, it’s not about heartbreak. I can feel how strong my vocal and written work has become, and that’s exciting because it’s documented on this next album.”
What’s something about liv. that people might not expect? I’m currently trying to collect cowboy boots in every color of the rainbow! So far, I have red, yellow, green, and blue. It is very difficult to find orange boots…” What does liv. hope people feel when they hear her music? She said, “I want people to feel whatever they feel! I think that’s important; I don’t want to impose my meaning onto someone else’s experience. I want people to laugh, or cry, or feel seen!”
What does success look like for liv. in music? She said, “If you can continue to hone your craft, and experiment, and not be afraid to do what you want… That’s success in my mind.” How does liv. balance music with the rest of her life? She said, “It’s honestly sometimes challenging. I have a very different relationship with my creative side than most people. I work a full-time job, and I have other hobbies, so occasionally my music falls to the back burner. I am constantly writing, but sometimes I have to set time aside to play with my ideas and hash them out. Life is busy, but music is never something to overlook. When The Muse visits, I try to sit down with her and make some space to get whatever’s sitting on my chest out. I tend to call those my song babies, and sometimes they hatch right away, and most times, they’re written on Post-It notes and hung on my wall so that I’m constantly looking at them, moving them, and changing them, until I have the frame of my song!”
What’s one piece of advice liv. would give to someone just starting out in music? She said, “The only thing that really sticks in music is honesty. If you stay close to who you are and make what feels real, people will connect with it.” Does liv. have any upcoming releases or projects? She said, “I’m currently working on my third record, ‘The Ruiner.” It’s a pretty picture of who I am and why I am, and I can wholeheartedly say this project is my best work yet. It’s so different from everything you’ll currently find on my discography; it’s very much about growth and change and family dynamics and identity. If I were to dedicate it to anyone, it would be to the parentified eldest daughters. The sounds on this record are going to be so different, and it’s been really fun to experiment with my writing and vocal style.”
Thank you for reading this week’s artist spotlight! I hope you enjoyed getting to know who liv. is behind her music. Go check her out, and go catch her at a show. As always, be good to yourself, stay western, and stay tuned!
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