Livvi Franc
Livvi Franc |
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Olivia Charlotte Waithe (born April 2, 1988)[citation needed] better known by her stage name Livvi Franc, is an English-Barbadian singer-songwriter. Her debut single, "Now I'm That Bitch" was released in the summer of 2009.
Life and career
Franc was born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire,[1] England to an English mother and a Bajan father.[2] Franc's stage name was inspired by her late maternal grandfather, Frank Wilson, she explained to Flavour Magazine that he had "noticed me playing the piano and predicted I was going to be a musician. Sadly he’s no longer here. So, in honour of him, I called myself Livvi Franc; Livvi because it’s my nickname, and Franc because it’s a funkier version of Frank." [3] When Franc was five, the family moved to Barbados, because her parents decided that their daughters, Franc and her elder sister, should experience their Barbadian heritage.[1] They would return to England during the summer holidays.[3] Franc wrote her first song at age eleven and learned the guitar at fifteen[1] and sang in school talent shows and pagaents growing up.[4]
Franc's first manager discovered her when a friend of Franc's who babysitted for her gave her one of Franc's cassette tape demos.[1] Franc then went on to record proper demos in studio in Barbados and Miami, where she met her next manager. Soon after, she was in New York meeting label heads and auditioning.[1] She finally signed with Jive Records, after months of negotiations,[2] after singing an Etta James song for them.[3] Prior to signing with Jive, Franc had gone through three years of artist development[2] and attended workshops on it.[5] She had attended Queens College in Barbados.[5] Jordin Sparks recorded a song written by Livvi Franc, "Walking On Snow",[6] Franc has also written for Cheryl Cole, Marie Digby and Michael Jackson.[3]
Franc's debut single, "Now I'm That Bitch" was released to radio on June 15, 2009 and was digitally on June 23, 2009. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[7] Another song, "This is a Raid" appeared on the reboot of Melrose Place.[7]
Artistry
Influences
Franc has listed Nelly Furtado, Rachel Stevens, Alicia Keys, Alanis Morissette as her biggest musical inspirations.[3]
Discography
Albums
- 2010: Livvi Franc
Singles
- 2009: "Now I'm That Bitch"
- 2010: "Automatik"
Music videos
| Year | Single | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Free" | Laurent Briet[8] |
| 2009 | "Now I'm That Bitch" | Sarah Chatfield[9] |
| 2010 | "Automatik" | Malcom Jones |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Lewis, Pete, Livvi Franc: Franc exchange, Blues and Soul Music Magazine, retrieved 2010-01-03
- ^ a b c Livvi Franc Bio, StarShine Magazine, 12 July 2009, retrieved 2010-01-03
- ^ a b c d e Foster, Leonard (19 October 2009), Livvi Franc: She’s a babe in total control, Flavour Magazine, retrieved 2010-01-03
- ^ Limelight Spotlight: Livvi Franc, Neon Limelight, 25 May 2009, retrieved 2010-01-03
- ^ a b Springer, Michelle (2009-07-12), "Livving it up!", Nation Newspaper, Nation Publishing Company Limited, retrieved 2009-08-16
- ^ Let’s Be Franc, Honey Magazine, 16 November 2009, retrieved 2010-01-03
- ^ a b "Coffee Shop: with Livvi Franc", Ocean Style Magazine, Blue Wolf Media Inc., retrieved 2010-01-03
- ^ Gottlieb, Steven (8 September 2008), SHOT: Livvi Franc - Laurent Briet, director, Video Static, retrieved 2010-01-04
- ^ Gottlieb, Steven (26 August 2009), WATCH IT: Livvi Franc f/ Pitbull "Now I'm That Bitch", Video Static, retrieved 2010-01-04