The following is a copy of my interview with Interscope Records artist Ivy Levan. I was able to sit down with Ivy in her hotel suite at The Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago before her performance during Lollapalooza weekend.
Ivy Levan is a lady of many talents including recording artist, model, and fashionista. She has recently made a splash on the music scene with her EP Introducing the Dame, which was released by Cherrytree/Interscope Records. In addition to her powerhouse voice, she possesses a truly unique personal style that is retro, yet fresh. She is beautiful; tall, blonde, porcelain- skinned, and dresses head to toe in black save for her bright red lips. We had the chance to sit down with Ivy at the Hard Rock Hotel to talk about being southern, making it in Hollywood, and where she finds her inspiration.
Your sound has been described as swamp hop. What does that mean?
Well I’m from the south, and obviously there are swamps in the South. Tons of nature and yummy things like that. It’s about the texture and the story that it paints .Its very raw, dirty, and eerie and a lot of that is in the music. And with hop, that’s obviously hip hop and that whole groovy vibe. It’s a mix of both worlds.
Where in the south did you grow up?
Bentonville, Arkansas. The home of Walmart.
What influenced your sound?
My southern roots didn’t influence me until recently actually. I tried really hard not to embrace my southern-ness when I first moved to LA. I was very rebellious and I cut all my hair off and dyed it black and I wanted to be someone totally different from where I came from. I was into goth music and stuff you don’t do in the south. Kind of a female Nine Inch Nails. I went back and forth trying to find out who I was and this EP is 110% me, really embracing my roots. Why fix it if it ain’t broke?
hat was it like for you when you left home and moved to LA to pursue a singing career?
I was so happy. I couldn’t wait. I was a bright-eyed dumb ass. I didn’t have a clue. I was stepped on and it made me a hard ass. I came in just dumb, I didn’t have a clue
Let’s talk about style. How would you describe your look?
I love Tina Turner and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Also, I’m not a fan of colors. I remember modeling and just hating color. They would put me in girl next- door stuff and bright blue. The only think I like is color on the lips, of course. I also love heels. I don’t wear anything less than 5.5 inches, it’s 5.5 and up!
Your makeup is gorgeous, do you do it yourself?
I can’t have other people touching my face. I’m a controlling person. I’m a painter as well, just a crazy artist. I have this big dumb head, I’m a canvas for days.
What’s the craziest outfit you’ve worn?
I wore this jacket by The Blonds that has actual butcher knives all over it. It’s insane looking. It looks like a straight jacket. We also have a fried egg that’s bedazzled that we put in my hair.
You recently toured with Fitz and the Tantrums. What was that like?
It was fun. It was definitely an experience. You have to win the audience over since people haven’t heard you before. You’re up there and it’s crickets or you’re tearing the house down. SO it was definitely nice to see that people were embracing it for sure and more so than what I thought. It felt like, “okay I’m doing something right. “ The first song, people are like what the f is that. My band comes out with executioner masks on and then they see me come out like “ hello fabulous!” and I sing and then people say, “okay, okay…”
What’s your favorite song on the EP?
That’s like asking who’s your favorite child. My favorite to sing is “Money”. The most fun as far as crowd participation is “Hang Forever” because people can really relate to that. People always mosh to “Hot Damn”.
The video for “Hot Damn” is awesome! What is the creative process like for your music videos?
It was pretty much my taste. I’m into black and white and horror films and that sort of visual aesthetic. I’m also into comic books and I wanted to portray that comedic value. I’m a huge fan of Lucille Ball, I really relate to her. I put every element that’s in my character into the videos. I talked to the director and everyone else on board, they loved it and everyone put in their ingredients and ideas and we just compiled it all together. It is so much fun making the videos because they’re all my best friends and we are just cracking up and laughing until 4 in the morning.