Liv Nicholson
Photo credit: Logen Christopher
Styled by Payton Dale
Hair and makeup by Jill Pugh
I first interviewed Liv Nicholson in 2019 for her debut single “Sugarcoat”. I’m glad I kept following her because I believe she will keep on getting better and better. I was happy to know she co-wrote Clara Park’s single “In Control”, which was a smash to me. And her Christmas single “3 Decembers” was awesome (and I usually don’t love Christmas songs lol).
Her new single “Done” is proving how good she is as a songwriter and singer. I love those verse melodies. It’s a good pop record that introduces her as a promising writer, songwriter and artist. I’m really excited to hear what she’s going to offer us next.
“Done” is available now. Go check it out now :)
Photo credit: Logen Christopher
Styled by Payton Dale
Hair and makeup by Jill Pugh
Hi Liv, how are you? What have you been up to?
Hey Virginie! I’m doing great! As challenging as this last year has been, I’ve been working hard to continue creating and putting out new music. I spent a lot of time throughout quarantine doing zoom writes with friends, just to keep the juices flowing, and I actually wound up getting some of my favorite songs I’ve ever written in those writes. I released a holiday single back in November called “3 Decembers,” which was a great way to kick off releasing new music, while simultaneously saying goodbye to 2020.
"Done" is your new single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
Yes “Done,” is my newest single and it’s definitely my favorite of any song I’ve released so far. I wrote it with Autumn Buysse on an acoustic guitar in her living room, almost 2 years ago. The inspiration behind this song came from a deep-rooted fear that I was struggling with at the time, that I might not be done dating around, making mistakes and figuring out who I am. I think a lot of my generation worries about that kind of thing. We want to make the most of our young years and stay independent for as long as possible. My dilemma was that I had started dating someone who I felt very strongly for. I brought this fear into the writing room and essentially said “what if I met "the one" before I was done?
When did you start working on this song? Who helped you create it? Could you describe the songwriting/production process?
Well we wrote it in early 2019, went back in for a quick verse rewrite that Summer, and then we started production in early 2020 right round the time that the world shut down. Adam Baha and Tony Chetta co-produced and did such a killer job doing it.
What did you feel when writing this song?
I felt ashamed and very vulnerable! At one point during the write we almost crossed out everything and we were going to start something else because I told Autumn, “I’ll never be able to play this for my boyfriend!” and she said, “Oh, well then let’s write something else. I don’t wanna write something that no one will ever hear.” After that, I realized the only kind of songs that are worth writing are the ones that are the hardest to say, so we kept going, and I’m so glad we did! In the end, my boyfriend was really understanding. Sometimes it’s awkward doing what we do as writers, especially when we play our intimate songs about our feelings for the people they’re about, but I guess that’s just a part of it.
What's your favorite thing about this single?
My favorite thing about this single is that it’s the most honest thing I’ve ever put out in the world. Writing with your walls completely down is really scary, but I’m proud of myself (and happy to have had someone like Autumn Buysse) for pushing me to tell the truth and be vulnerable.
What made you want to release "Done" as a single?
There are some songs that you write and a week later you don’t really remember the lyrics in the second verse, or the melody of the bridge. There are other songs that you know by heart by the time you leave the session and you listen to the worktape over and over again on your way to work. “Done” was one of the latter. I knew from the day we wrote it that I wanted people to hear it.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
The cover photo was taken by an amazing Nashville based photographer, Logen Christopher. My outfit in the picture was styled by the fabulous Payton Dale and my hair and makeup was done by the very talented Jill Pugh! The moving canvas art was created by the wonderful Ali Renae who also killed it on the lyric video. My photoshoot with Payton, Jill, and Logen was one of the most fun days I’ve ever had. They took my ideas/visions and completely brought them to life.
As an artist, what are the biggest struggles?
I would say the most difficult thing as an artist is to continue to be authentic and relatable, while also being unique and standing apart from the crowd. It’s an insane career to pursue and you have to be absolutely nuts to do it, but knowing I might write something that someone out there will relate to, is the biggest and best reward.
What do you want to accomplish professionally and personally?
I just want to connect with people through my music. If I can write a song that helps someone get through a difficult time in their life, I will have done my job. Fame isn’t really the goal for me, but if it happens on a larger scale, that just means I’ve reached more people who may relate to what I have to say, which would mean everything.
What biggest life lessons have you learned in 2020?
As cliché as it sounds, 2020 taught me there are no guarantees. It’s easy as an artist to put off releasing music because it’s “not the right time,” or to organize elaborate release schedules that will inevitably not go as planned. 2020 taught me we’re not promised a “next year” or even next month or week.
What are your goals for 2021?
My goals for 2021 are to keep releasing and writing honest music, make a shit ton of TikToks, have fun with my friends, and see my family as much as possible to make up for the lost time that was 2020.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
The biggest message I hope my music can convey is that nobody is alone in what they’re feeling or going through. Although we come from different backgrounds and experiences, at the end of the day we’re all going through life together. Even though there’s a lot of hate out there, I truly believe there’s more love. I hope people can feel that in the words I write and the melodies I sing.
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