You’d be surprised to discover that amazon singer, LiV Warfield, who rocks a short, platinum do with perfectly winged eye liner, was once a shy and ashamed. But the Illinois native has come out of her shell. Mr. Purple Rain himself, Prince, validated Warfield by hand-picking the former track star from a powerful YouTube clip. An artist who embodies a fusion of R&B with a splash of soul, sprinkled with rock-n-roll, Warfield’s fearless lyrics and dominating voice reign supreme.
Warfield’s inspiring story of chasing her dream to her rising stardom includes her debut at this year’s Essence Festival and her induction into Prince’s world-class super band New Power Generation. Her talent is explosive, with her captivating performances complete with raging horns and aggressive guitars. Warfield takes full flight with her second release, The Unexpected, produced by her musical mentor Prince. With her straight-no-chaser style, reeking of passion and dripping vulnerability, even her imperfections are perfect. Warfield confidently shatters her cocoon, commanding audiences nationwide, with a living legend co-signing her along the way.
Check out the former gymnast’s interview on how she and Prince hooked up, her new album, and her incredibly inspiring words for any frustrated dream chaser.
UPTOWN: Tell us all about Essence Fest, how was it?
LiV Warfield: Essence was incredible! It was my first Essence Fest, so I really didn’t know what to expect, but it was everything beyond my expectations. It was really cool to see people come together on a positive note celebrating the music. The coming together of it was incredible.
U: Did you perform?
LW: Yes, I did! I performed with Prince, then we performed at the House of Blues later that night at three in the morning. Then turned around and performed at the Super Lounge the next day, so it was a super busy weekend.
U: How has performing at such a huge musical event helped your career?
LW: Honestly, it’s really cool to see my music out to the masses of the people. It’s really hard to get played on the radio just because of the songs they play now, so it’s good to see people watch it live and listen to what I do and what my band do.
U: How did you and Prince hook up together? He discovered you on YouTube, right?
LW: He saw a YouTube clip of me singing “Gimme Shelter.” What’s funny about it is, good friend of mine Rick Curt told me Prince was looking for some singers and that I should send it. I was like “Yeah right, I know I’m not going to hear anything from him, like that’s crazy!” I had forgot about it, but three to four months later I got a call back when he told me to come to Paisley Park and the rest is history.
I wouldn’t think it would be me. It shows you how life can really change on you. I kind of wanted to take a break from singing because as an independent artist it’s so hard. So many things go against you just to get your music heard. When I got on with Prince it changed my life. It changed the way I thought and looked at music. I’m thinking about it now and I still can’t believe I’m with New Power Generation.
U: Your story is so dope! It proves dreams really can come true!
LW: Yes! I never wanted to give up. I really had faith in the situation. I never gave up on it. I had to put fear aside for a second. You have to know that there’s something on the other side.
U: You’re from Illinois and attended college on a track scholarship. How did you discover your passion for music when you were heavily involved in athletics?
LW: The wonderful part is my parents put me on to music early. The first instrument I picked up was a violin, so my ear was accustomed to playing a violin for about 11 to 12 years although I was also running track. I knew I could sing at 7, but I was too scared and too ashamed. I wouldn’t sing in front of my family. They never knew until I left for college when I was about 20. I let them know what I was doing. I would sing around my high school friends a little bit and they were like “I didn’t know you could do that!” I was so shy with it but as soon as I got to Portland, Oregon on my scholarship I said, “I don’t have anybody telling me what I should do with my life plans. I want to do something for me!” I started singing karaoke and I placed myself around others musically, because I knew that’s what completed me.
U: Tell us about your new album The Unexpected. This is actually your second release. What makes this album different than your first?
LW: Growth. The first album was really discovering who I was as a songwriter, learning how to be comfortable in my own voice, telling a story and entering this journey of singing. Now, six years later, it’s a different side.
I love Tina Turner, Sade, and Al Green. [The Unexpected] is a gumbo of sounds of these amazing artists. So The Unexpected has a lot of alternative R&B soul with a little bit of rock and roll. I wanted this album to be musical. I wanted it to be recorded live with my band and it was. Also, some of the horn section of New Power Generation wrote the horn part. It’s an incredible project. Prince wrote the title track and we co-wrote a song. I really opened up this time.
U: What would you say are the components to the perfect song?
LW: The lyrics, the arrangement, and the movement. That’s a good question, although it’s a hard question because of course it’s to each its own on what they consider a perfect song. But the soul and the feel of that element in a song will make people feel it, not pretending the lyrics or the sound. As long as you make the people feel the emotion you’re trying to display that’s the component you need. I wasn’t trying to have a perfect vocal; I want people to feel. For instance with my song “Soul Lifted,” I wanted you to feel every lyric. I wanted it to feel real. Even if there were mistakes, I wanted you to feel them because they were real.
U: What was the best piece of advice you received and actually followed?
LW: That’s a good question. The one that sticks out in my mind is to be fearless. Go into your life situation fearless. Fear is the one thing that can hold people back. You can’t be afraid to fall, you just can’t. I’ve fallen many times with scrapes and cuts — even peroxide won’t heal that up. But I got back up and I’m glad I went through being fearless. Be fearless. Take chances. You have one life, just one, and you’re not getting it back.
U: What’s on your bucket list?
LW: I’ve never really thought about that, but to sing with Tina Turner.
U: What do you want to be remembered for? What legacy do you want to leave behind?
LW: That she was passionate in everything. That she was thankful for everything and passionate about her gift with every person she came into contact with. I’m very simple in that way.
U: You’re related to Richard Pryor … How does that feel?
LW: That’s quite crazy to be attached to someone who was an innovator. He was fearless in his own right. He pushed the boundaries; that’s what I love about him. And I also didn’t know he could sing, too! And he was quite an amazing singer, too. I saw a video clip of him and he was actually really, really good. Richard Pryor was someone who really gave of himself. He always told a true story that the general people can relate to. If I can somehow relate to people and do it in a genuine way, I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.
Check out the video for LiV Warfield’s “Why Do You Lie?” on LiVWarfieldMusic.com. And follow her on Twitter.