We were lucky to catch up with Liv Nicholson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Liv, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I love this question because I feel like it doesn’t get asked a lot. The overall answer is yes, I’m happy, but that definitely doesn’t mean I don’t have plenty of moments of self-doubt and start to wonder what it would be like to have a “regular” job. Sometimes it’s easy to spiral into “what-if’s,” and convince myself I’d be happy doing something else, but the truth is, I wake up every day and choose this because it fuels my soul. I’ve worked so many day jobs in offices, restaurants, childcare, etc., but nothing has ever felt more like my purpose than when I write a song, or perform on stage. I always say, there are handful of jobs in this world I think I could do, but this is the only one I need to do. And that’s what I come back to every time.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’ve been performing for as long as I can remember, I used to sing for my family at the beach when I was 3 years old. Then when I was 9 I started writing music in my bedroom, and I never stopped. Something a lot of people don’t know about me is I actually almost went to college for musical theatre. I thought of myself as an actress, and songwriting was just something personal I did in my free time as an escape. But when I was 17 and starting to look at colleges, I was writing alone in my room and I realized that this was the only process where I felt most comfortable, and the most sure of myself. I told my family I was going to be a professional songwriter that night, and then 6 months later I got into the songwriting program at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. I always knew I was going to perform in some capacity. It just took me a minute to realize I wasn’t supposed to sing show tunes. It was always supposed to be my own words.
Now I’m 25 and I’ve lived in Nashville since I came to college in 2016. It definitely took a while to find my sound, and it’s still ever-changing, but I consider myself a pop/rock artist. I pull a lot of inspiration from artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Gayle, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato. I love a powerhouse vocal mixed with anthemic production. I always say to my producers, I want the ending of my songs to sound like the ending of a coming of age film. That is my bread and butter!!! My dad is an actor and my mom was a talent agent, so I grew up watching a lot of tv/film. For me, it was always about the music that was placed in the scenes. There’s just something so magical about those two art forms joining together, and I always want my music to have the ability to do that for a viewer/listener.
I came out with my debut EP “Talk It Out,” in September of 2021, 3 singles since, and I’m actually gearing up for another big release this coming October, so keep an eye out for that. My music is on all streaming platforms, and you can also find me on TikTok and Instagram, where sometimes, (very often) I tease new songs before they’re released!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
This is the easiest question to answer, because it’s truly the reason for everything I do. The biggest reward as a songwriter and performer, is bringing people together and spreading joy. You know when you’re watching a comedy special, and the comedian says something so unbelievably relatable…you’re laughing, not even necessarily because it was hysterical, but because you had no idea other people had the same experiences you do or think that same weird/painful/human thought? Songs do that too. All I’ve ever wanted is to write words that make people feel seen. If I can help the heartbroken girl in her room looking for a song that will express what she’s feeling, or make someone roll the windows down on a 75 degree day, I feel like it was all worth it.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I grew up in a really really small town. Like went to public high school, graduated with 75 kids, small. Naturally, there weren’t that many singers or songwriters, so I got used to being one of the few who were expressing a real interest in that path. That definitely set me up for the difficult feeling of assuming there was only room for one of us. Then I moved to Nashville and I had to get on board REAL fast with the fact that every single one of my friends were more talented than anyone I ever knew, and I had to realize that was not a bad thing! I think it’s so easy as a creative to feel like anyone who’s doing what you’re doing is your competition, but what I’ve had to learn is you’re nothing without a community here. The only way to succeed is if we all succeed. It’s hard to remember 24/7 because jealousy and comparison are words this generation knows all too well, but it’s something I try to remind myself the most out of anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/LivNicholsonMusic?fbclid=PAAaZN9_khg1UZcqcpH8FhLG2woMeBQmb5e1UMIB-lZHIqTG9Vz95tHj1Tm24_aem_AY5Hoidj09FeoeswJdh2Wjrv8mXv5oKyJF2OfIdagAWk4zRUin8ei3WIcuQ9WI-gBTQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livnicholsonmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxMESD8mqk9Ky_Ks3slP-DQ
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@livnicholsonmusic?_t=8ewkzzDpgi6&_r=1 https://open.spotify.com/artist/3U3l1irHfrhSarY3UXd2af?si=arepfX_MRbaGRIEnSiByVg
Image Credits
Matt Blum Know Show /Clayton Corners