Mix together a soulful voice, a fearless pursuit of artistic evolution, and a touch of Southern charm, and you get livinthemomnt. Hailing from Statesville, North Carolina, livinthemomnt’s musical journey has been as vibrant and dynamic as her voice, and her latest release, let me liv, promises to elevate her artistry to new heights.
After captivating listeners with her debut album, ready to liv, in 2023, livinthemomnt returns with an album that is both a continuation and a bold step forward. let me liv reflects livinthemomntās ability to combine alternative soul with deeply personal storytelling. Her voice, known for its remarkable range and emotional depth, guides listeners through a landscape of raw and unfiltered emotion.
In our conversation, livinthemomnt shares insights into her musical journey, from her early days of performing and her pivotal decision to forge her own path after leaving music college to her inspirations drawn from artists like Etta James and Teena Marie. She describes her music as a deeply immersive experience, a quality that shines through in let me liv, a sequel in her ongoing trilogy.
Read the full interview below:
Where did your artist name come from?
Well, my name is Olivia, & I wanted a stage name that represented me well & also aligned with my music. livinthemomnt was the perfect balance of both.
When did you first realise you wanted to pursue a career in music, and what motivated you to start singing?
I have been singing since I had a voice. As a child, I always loved performing, & that continued throughout my adolescence. I always knew I wanted a career in music in some capacity. It wasnāt until I was in college for music that I realized the path I was headed down didnāt align with my desires. So I left and sought to forge my own path in music, which has led me here.
Are there any artists you take inspiration from or look up to?
Iād like to think that my ideas are original, but in reality, all art is inspired by something. My art is inspired by my experiences, & I draw inspiration from that primarily. I look up to a lot of artists; some of my favorites are Etta James, Teena Marie, George Condo, & Patrick Nagel.
To those who havenāt yet been fortunate enough to hear your music, how would you describe your sound?
I would describe my music as alternative soul. Itās a very immersive experience.
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of let me liv, and how did it evolve into the final album?
‘Let me liv’ is the sequel to my debut project, ‘Ready to liv.’ Both are apart of the trilogy liv series. The concept was a continuation of the initial story line from ‘Ready to liv’ & the theme is based around what happens after a traumatic tragedy. This album somewhat took a life of its own in the recording process & was cultivated a lot differently from ‘Ready to liv.’ We had live instruments played on some songs. We payed a lot more attention to the small details that added to the overall experience of the album to deliver what you hear today.
Comparing let me liv to your debut album ready to liv, what are some of the most notable changes in your musical style or personal growth as an artist?
Definitely my confidence. ‘Ready to liv’ was my first time making my own body of work, so it was really trial & error a lot of the time. Stepping into ‘Let me liv ‘ I was so much more prepared for the process as a whole, & I feel that my confidence translates into the music. I also experimented a lot more with this project because there was a lot less pressure to create it. It was a very organic process.
Among the tracks on let me liv, is there one that particularly stands out to you, and if so, what makes it special?
I feel that all the tracks are unique in their own right & can be enjoyed individually as well as consecutively. I feel that āno tmrwā musically is very futuristic & has a beautiful message; if I had to pick one song, Iād choose that one.
In terms of production, what were some of the key decisions you made to shape the sound of let me liv, and how did they impact the final album?
We really saw an opportunity while creating to make this an immersive experience, & in doing so we brought in live musicians to play on certain songs. During the process, the album took on a life of its own,own, & we just wanted to help shape it so that it would flow beautifully for the listener. We didnāt try to rush the process at all we had serval songs mixed multiple times by different engineers until we felt we had the best iteration. We really wanted to make sure the quality of the music was there, & I am ecstatic how it turned out.
Looking forward, are there any new themes, genres, or concepts youāre excited to explore in your future work? How do you envision your sound evolving in the coming years?
Looking forward Iām not sure just yet I like to livinthemomnt š. Iām always jotting down concepts & ideas, but i really like to create based on my energy & mood at that particular time. I do want to place a thumbtack in the final installment of the liv series & see where my sound takes me. I love experimenting with different ideas so it will be fun to see where that leads.
