LIV.E
Making expressive R&B music that bends the genre's conventions into complex and warped shapes, Los Angeles-based artists Liv.e combines electronic noise and diaristic honesty, through her pure charisma.
The horror-movie vibes of Liv.e's latest seven-song EP, PAST FUTUR.e were dazzling.
The Los Angeles-based artist draws us into a haunted universe of throbbing basslines, dark atmospheres and distorted vocals.
It came as something of a curveball from an artist whose discography has showcased an ability to fuse the sounds of neo-soul and alt-R&B, most notably on Girl in the Half Pearl, her sophomore album, which was hailed by critics as one of the best albums of 2023.
The reason for this diversity is apparent once you get to know Liv.e, real name is Olivia Williams. Both records come from a grounded, radically free artist who regards music as a vast space to explore and who has no intention of being limited by herself or anyone else.
It crystallizes an agile, plastic mind, capable of soliciting a wide range of references and sonic grains to build singular tracks imbued with her own subjectivity. Liv.e doesn't let her success distract her and she retains the same passion as when she first started out; “I try my best to keep my work in unison with spirit evenly” she explains, foreshadowing a future full of twists and turns, but always true to herself.
MARTIN SIGLER
It was with your 2018 seven-song EP ::hoopdreams::, made in collaboration with producer 10.4 ROG that you started to really get some recognition, especially from fellow Dallas-born R&B icon Erykah Badu. What's the story behind this EP?
LIV.E
10.4 ROG. I gotta shout him out. He's the fucking best. How did it happen? Oh, my gosh. I just put something out on Twitter—and this was before people were so annoying on Twitter—asking to be sent beats or shit, low key. I put email address on that and ROG sent me a pack, like the biggest fucking pack of beats. The biggest folder I had ever received in my life. It was heat top to bottom. I wish I still had it. So I just started selecting the ones I thought were the best. I was really vibing.
MS
It was a lot to play with.
L
I spent like the whole night on Ableton, I was running that shit up all fucking night. That shit was great. That was literally it. I did it all in one night, worked all night until the morning. It was crazy.
MS
You kept that same made it in 24 hours approach and format for PAST FUTUR.e, the record you dropped this year?
L
I mean, this time I just kinda made all this shit though so. It was a little bit more than 24 hours, but you feel me, you get the gist.
MS
Do you like the adrenaline? The necessity to be focused and be immersed?
L
It just felt like I was sitting down and I started making beats and then I was like OK, it’s done, let’s put this shit out. I really just want to make an experience. I really don't care. It’s like all my people can pull up and we just be weird for a few hours, like it's cool, that's the goal. You know, we don't need all the extras.
MS
When did your synth wave obsession start?
L
Maybe it’s not an obsession, but I do love it, and it’s just not that, it’s anything with electronic music for real. I think it started with house music, and I’ve been around house music my whole life. But then you get into that Detroit techno shit, and from there the real electronic shit. And where do you go from there? But you’ve got the YouTube algorithm working for you, choosing what you want to hear, showing us what we need to hear for ourselves. It’s like a digital subconscious.
MS
So, producing this EP was kind of like being proactive about making something that you felt was missing, making the sounds you wanted to listen to.
L
I'm sure Prince said this, but I also feel like when you can't find the music that you're looking for, you gotta make it. If I’m listening to music I'm trying to find the perfect song, one that is exactly like the actual one that I want to hear. And if they don’t exist I have to make them.
MS
Synthwave is rooted in movie culture, and video games. Have you binged watched any movies while making this EP?
L
I haven’t actually been binging anything recently. I just love the way that it sounds. And I love like, I love how Prince visited that. I love how David Bowie visited that. I love Sonic. The youth version. You know what I'm saying? I love everybody's version of that shit. You feel me? Suicide, I really got into them. I don't totally fuck with them, but yeah, I'm just like, OK, like, vibing, you guys don’t give a fuck.
MS
I feel like there is a form of freedom for you when you drop an EP and it’s style surprises your audience. It shows an ability to detach yourself from expectations and just keep making music.
L
I mean, I'm not gonna say that my lifestyle is normal. Cause, it's not and I really have to, like honor that to be honest. But I think the thing that makes me feel more connected though is that I’m on the ground. It's not like I'm living in a way where there’s a big gap between me and a person that's coming to my show. Probably people coming to my show probably got more bread than me. You feel me. I'll be observing the world overall. I'll be observing everything. I mean, just taking it all in. And I'm just being quiet or I'll be all honest when you're talking about shit. I'll be on, jus like you. Feel me? I'll be trying to get it off. I'll be trying to spread the word.
MS
Your album Girl in the Half Pearl was included on several 2023 best of lists, how do you feel about it?
L
I shouldn't fuck my head up, bro. 'Cause, honestly, I'm still processing that shit. Like, what the fuck is going on? I'm kind of moving fast and I'm just trying to figure it out. You feel me? It's a lot, but that's just fire. We went on a world tour with that shit and it was lit.
MS
It is also a very personal album: what was it like to express such deep feelings?
L
It was shocking for me too, though. I had never written something that open before. It was a great exercise for a person like me who usually doesn’t open up much, and even having been made to feel ashamed for opening up. It was kind of necessary for me to do that shit, and tell my truth, free my soul.
MS
How was it going on a world tour?
L
I feel like that's not as crazy to me. I've done a lot of shows. I’ve had a lot of practice. If it was playing in front of 100,000 people it might be different, but also, we’re all just human beings, if it that’s a lot of human beings.
MS
You're a producer, singer and songwriter, and your music is multi-layered, with crossovers between neo-soul, experimental electronics and R&B. Do you work in stages or is everything done intuitively?
L
I feel like it's all kind of the same thing. So it's not like I'm using a different part of my brain when I'm doing different elements of the music. There's times where I think too much and then I can't really do anything. But then there's times where I get in my flow. I love collaborating with people, it opens something up.
But mainly I like working by myself, even if I’m pulling up on people. It can take me a while to get in the mood to want to record with somebody. But I think I'm opening up a little bit more to it now because you know, I wanna work smarter, not harder.
MS
So contrary to what I read in an interview with Pitchfork, you do have peers?
L
Listen, I'm growing every day, OK? It's not that I don't have peers, I've come up with a lot of excellent artists. But I think right now I just wanna maximize out on my own inner limits every day. That's the goal. Even collaboration is particular for me. I think I'm just choosy. To be honest, but that's what makes me myself even that's what also kind of what builds my taste. It's like I kinda have to be specific in what I'm consuming in life in general. I admire people from a distance. And I'll give my salutes when I see people. But like we do not have to hang out, we don't have to.
MS
Is it because of disillusionment? It is a recurring theme in your work.
L
Like, I have been disillusioned. For a long time now. I've been just losing for a long time. Once you get disappointed, like by one of any type of heroes, kind of just like alright bro, What's the shit? Is this is a sham? We're all human.
