“I’ve learned to love sore abs and studio sessions that end at 7:00 a.m.”, this ineffable young woman says with eyes shining bright. If you haven’t yet heard of Livvi Franc, you will very soon. Livvi is destined for stardom! When she isn’t struggling through a gruelling training session with her fitness trainer, Ray Armstrong, or allowing her vocal coach, Marissa Lindsay, to further train her vocals she is working on tracks with her local producers, Classic Soul Productions.

“There’s just something about Livvi”, seems the agreed sentiment expressed by all who know and work with this talented young songbird. She exudes that ‘it’ factor described by music industry executives as the elusive ‘thing’ that makes or breaks the career of many an artist. This soulful island beauty possesses a quiet confidence and determination that belies her mere eighteen years. Livvi Franc strikes one as an old soul reincarnated in a very fresh and hip exterior.

Perhaps most well-known as the voice behind the infectious hook on local artist J-Co’s popular track, ‘Pon Fire’, which she performed alongside him at this year’s Barbados Music Awards, Livvi is however the first to declare that this song is not really the truest representation of her style. Livvi’s own sound is as eclectic as her taste in music, which varies from Etta James to Nelly Furtado. It is a fusion of neo-soul, pop, R&B, and alternative rock, and even features some Country & Western influence, as in her song ‘Free’. And she does a mean yodel to boot!

But just how did this talented lass go from singing at the occasional school pageant to writing songs with Angela Hunte (songwriter to stars such as Britney Spears and Danity Kane). “I knew I wanted to be a singer from the first time I performed”, she confides. She was a tender fourteen. “I haven’t had much experience performing…but when I do perform I come alive, I know that’s where I’m supposed to be”, she shares.

Her manager, Kerrie Thomas, who spent two years developing the songstress, fully endorses this sentiment. Immediately following this process, Livvi asked her parents if she could defer her enrolment at the University of the West Indies (UWI) for one year to further explore her musical aspirations. With their blessing but also with a stern caution that if she did not fully focus on her music, she would have to immediately attend university to study psychology, Livvi set her eyes on the prize.

Livvi’s year has been filled with performances, songwriting sessions, recording sessions, fitness training, vocal training, meetings with entertainment attorneys, illustrious international producers, stylists, make-up artists, photo shoots and the list goes on. “While the music is the most crucial element to this whole process, there is so much else that must work with the music to increase the likelihood of long-term success,” Livvi explains. “It’s been very enlightening”, Livvi says of her experience to date.

Livvi penned her first song at age fourteen; the R&B influenced ‘Tap, Tap’. “I love nature,” she muses, as she shares that she draws a lot of the creative inspiration for her songs from her natural surroundings, as well as her own personal and life experiences and those of people she knows. “At first songwriting was just an emotional outlet, but now it also has a purpose”, she says of her writing. “You can never have too many songs if you are serious about having a music career, so I am constantly writing songs for myself and possibly other
artists, since what I write does not always fit (just) my sound.”

The teen is encouraged by the acceptance and popularity of a wider base of bands on the local music scene. “I find recently more bands and singers are getting exposure for different types of music. It’s not just reggae and soca anymore”, she acknowledges. “I think it is a sign people are becoming more open to hearing different genres of music so I hope I will be accepted not only internationally but locally”, she says of her unique sound. “When I listen to music I don’t have a favourite genre. Anything that sounds good I will have a liking for and include in my own style”, she explains. “Making music, everything just falls into place”, she shares.

So, just what does the future hold for Livvi Franc? “I want this”, she states simply. “I want to travel the world. I see myself sharing my talent; that would make me immensely happy.” And what of the allure of possible fame and fortune? “I can’t imagine it. People ask how can I not seem excited but I just can’t imagine the whole world knowing who I am and enjoying my music” she says with a faraway look in her eyes. “I don’t want to do this because of fame and money”, she asserts. “I just want to share a part of me that makes me proud…I hope that through my music I can maybe change people’s lives and make their greys turn blue.”

By Renée Taylor

Photography: Dave Cox Makeup: Solaz