Last week legendary artist, Prince, took up residency at Chicago's United Center for three nights of concerts and three after-jam parties at the House of Blues. Over the last two decades, Prince has been known for developing new artists from within his own band (New Power Generation), and NPG's latest incarnation is no exception.
One of those artists is Peoria-raised Liv Warfield. Warfield is not only a member of New Power Generation but a talented singer/songwriter in her own right.
Warfield's entry into the music world, however, came vicariously. After moving to Portland, Oregon on a track scholarship, Warfield found pleasure in her spare time performing with friends at karaoke bars. Friends and mentors saw something in her and encouraged her to go further.
Through these performances she gained the confidence to form her own band and her first album, Embrace Me, charted on Billboard. Overtime, Liv found herself "learning a lot of lessons along the way" about the music industry requiring her to sit back and re-focus on what she truly wanted.
Around this time, she was invited by former NPG member, Marva King, to submit a demo tape to audition for Prince's band.
" A few months after submitting the tape I received a call to come to Paisley Park," she says. During her tenure with NPG, Liv has toured internationally, sung live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and lends her vocals to the 2009 3-CD Set, LotusFlow3r.
Liv is also excited about being able to work with the Rebuild The Dream foundation. "Chicago is the first program to role out" she offers. "Helping our communities become sustainable once again is important."
Liv believes her own recently released song, Freedom, embodies much of the same message. "Look at what has happened to our values from the past." "We have to stake our claim" she believes.
Getting the message out about empowerment and supporting one another (like those who came before us) is the message that Freedom delivers. Liv Warfield delivers it beautifully.
Listen to Liv Warfield discuss the making of the song Freedom here:
Purchase a copy of the single here.
Learn more about Liv Warfield's music at www.facebook.com/LivWarfieldMusic
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Liv Warfield Music
Video credit: Video courtesy of Liv Warfield Music
No comments:
Post a Comment