Liv Warfield and her amazing band just came off stage, I sat down with her to have a chat for Disorder Magazine.
"We’re excited to work on something new. I don’t think we can put it into any boxes. From 2006 to 2014, from that time span it was a journey for me to grow, so if you listen to Embrace Me, it’s really different to what The Unexpected is. I’ve picked up a lot of things, my ears have picked up a lot of things on the way. I wouldn’t expect a certain thing from me but I just know it’s gonna be good."
Payzee Malika: So first time we have seen you performing in London and you were all so amazing to watch. How does it feel to perform in London?
Liz Warfield: Incredible. I've been anxious and ready for this for quite some time, we've been waiting in anticipation to come here for a while so it's been exciting. I kind of didn't want it to end.
PM: How does it compare to other cities?
LW: Just the energy of the people really.
PM: Are there other cities or venues you would love to perform in?
LW: Of course, all over the world; Australia I feel will be the next spot, but I am welcoming and open to anything.
PM: So the most recent album we had from you was last year and prior to that 2006, what are we to expect from you next?
LW: We’re excited to work on something new. I don't think we can put it into any boxes. From 2006 to 2014, from that time span it was a journey for me to grow, so if you listen to Embrace Me, it's really different to what The Unexpected is. I’ve picked up a lot of things, my ears have picked up a lot of things on the way. I wouldn't expect a certain thing from me but I just know it's gonna be good.
PM: Okay so you mention growing as an artist, do you feel your personal style and musical style has changed in that time?
LW: Yes, I feel like my style has changed. Put it this way when I did Embrace Me, I was enthralled with Donny Hathaway and Sade. With The Unexpectedalbum I was in a Isaac Hayes, Tina Turner mood, all those things kind of came into play. I wanted The Unexpected to feel like a musical in some sense, where I could perform it and act it out on stage. But now I think the next album I want it to take me where it does take me, I'm trying to go with the wind.
History
PM: So where did the journey all begin, do you come from a musical family or have you always just wanted to sing?
LW: No musical family, I think I attributed to my mum putting me in front of the Diana Ross takes when I got into trouble as a kid, and after that I just knew I wanted to be a performer, I was an athlete most of my life and I knew I wanted to be a performer. In some sense I knew I could sing, until I got to Portland, thats when things started to develop and that's when I met Ryan along the way, it's crazy when I met him, I was at the beginning of my singing career, I was just starting. Ryan and I have been running full circle like 10 years now, at the time Ryan was playing with Sade. We just met and he was like “you wanna sing? Im gonna take you to a place where you wanna sing”. And I went to Portland and I saw my mentor Linda Hornbuckle, Ryan brought me to see her and after that, it just went from there. It was a process, and I was open to the process. I wanted to give up anything and everything just to be on stage.
To be with Prince is a blessing. He really taught me how to be a performer and to break out of being fearful.
PM: You've been named portland Best Soulful singer and of course you've joined Prince’s New generation, talk to us about that. How does it feel to work with a legend?
LW: I’m not the best soulful singer [laughs] amongst a lot of people. To be with Prince is a blessing. He really taught me how to be a performer and to break out of being fearful. He brought the fearless out of me. He taught me in every way to be myself, it took time. I thought I knew what I was doing before I got with him, but then I was like ‘I know nothing’. I knew nothing about being on the road, nothing about performing 50-60 shows and being on tour.
PM: Speaking of artists, is there anyone else you would love to work with?
LW: Tina Turner. Grace Jones. David Bowie. There's a whole host of artists, like James Blake, I like him. Alabama Shakes, I’m obsessed right now. There's a long list.
PM: Okay, lets have some fun with some flash questions.
LW: Uh oh.
PM: Are you a morning or evening person?
LW: Evening
PM: McDonalds or KFC?
LW: KFC depending on where you are, I’ve had Nandos here.
PM: If you had a million pounds what is the first thing you would spend it on?
LW: That’s a really good question, honestly I wouldn't even know what to do with that. (A member of the band shouts “a studio so you can record for the rest of your life?” Liv agrees.)
PM: And finally, are Londoners as rude as we are made out to be?
LW: No, they are friendly, if I could be here all the time I would be, can I move here? Does someone have a flat open I can stay in? I’m moving in tomorrow. Thank you.