Liv Warfield - The Unexpected 2014

LiV Warfield, a native to Peoria, IL, has one of the most distinct and promisingvoices in R&B/Soul. Her singing career can be traced back to her college years in Portland, Oregon, a city that holds her up as “Portland’s most soulful singer” (Portland Monthly). Some of her musical heroines are Nina Simone, Etta James, Tina Turner, Sade, and Mary J. Blige. With her idols in mind, the local musicians with whom she collaborated with in these early years offered her the opportunity to dabble in a variety of genres. With her newly found platform to express herself musically, the singer started performing within Portland’s vibrant music scene often. After LiV spent years cultivating her unique sound, categorized as “alternative R&B Soul with a little bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll” by the singer herself, Liv took the ardent support she received locally to the next level.

LiV’s performed alongside a host of legendary artists such as Al Green, B.B. King, Dave Matthews Band, The Roots, among others. In 2006, LiV self-released her first album Embrace Me, a collection of finely polished ballads that gave the world an initial taste of her talent. It showcased her prowess as a lyricist, but the sultry singer didn’t have the technical tools she acquired later in her career. The most pivotal moment happened a few years after her debut release. LiV earned a spot in Prince’s backing vocal group the New Power Generation. After the legendary performer watched her YouTube audition tape she sent him, he became one of her greatest celebrity supporters, proven with an offer to sing on his 2010 album Lotusflow3r. Since becoming a member of the New Power Generation, Liv credits Prince as her ultimate music mentor. He’s taught her how to be great both on stage and in the studio. The greatest gift he gave her was the skill of studio arrangement, which she took with her into a studio in Portland where she recorded her sophomore album The Unexpected (released early 2014).

LiV had the support of Prince as her Executive Producer of the new album, but wanted her to take full control of its production. Her goal was to preserve the spontaneity and excitement that live music offers. Even in her first music video for album’s first single “Why Do You Lie”?” LiV shares the spotlight with a full horn section with minimalist white backdrop. After a long hiatus, Vh1 Soul reintroduced its popular “You Oughta Know” promo campaign with LiV as their first featured artist of 2014. Her second single is the title-track “The Unexpected,” which Prince wrote on her behalf.