Street roots., April 12, 2013, Image 1

BY SUE ZALOKAR
C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R
ultry, smoky, soulful and smooth -
sentiments that flow effortlessly between the
tone and timber of Liv Warfield’s amazing
voice. She is a Portland original, albeit a transplant
from the Midwest, one who was not only inspired
by her Northwest contemporaries, but who
inspired others with her debut album, “Embrace
Me.”
In 2008, her rising star caught the attention of
Prince - yes, that Prince. Warfield sent Prince an
audition tape of her singing the Rolling Stones,
“Gimme Shelter.” By January of 2009 she was
invited to Paisley Park (Prince’s Studios) and
shortly after, one of her first performances with
Prince was on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.
She’s also embarked on two projects of her own:
One is The Liv Warfield Experience, featuring a
collage of stellar local musicians to back up her
signature sultry voice. Another is collaborating
with local Portland designer, Bianca Pettinari to
release her own line of women’s handbags. We
caught up with the singer to talk about her love of
music, performing and her adopted hometown of
Portland.
S
S u e Zalokar: Girl, you are a long way from your
hometown o f Peoria, III. The same drive and
determination that brought out that remarkable voice
you have, first led you to become an Olympic-caliber
sprinter and gymnast. Tell me about the journey to
Portland.
Liv Warfield: Oh wow. The journey to Portland
was interesting. I came to Portland for two things:
Love and a track scholarship. Both of those thing
were not good for me! They both went sour.
Meaning, he went one way, I went another, and so
did track and field. I felt as If I was doing sports all
of my life and I wanted to do something that was
secretly in my spirit and that was to perform and
sing! That indeed started my late-night karaoke
runs to the Galaxy and Ambassador in Portland.
of people — too shy! I do remember the first singer
I fell in love with and that was Etta James. When I
heard her voice in the movie “Rainman,” I lost it. I
wanted to sound like her and Whitney Houston.
Also, I would always sneak music into my tape
player too, or listen to the smooth jams on our
radio really low. That way my parents wouldn’t
hear me listen to secular music! My father was
very much into music as well, but he got “saved”
and he didn’t play all of his reel-to-reels he kept
from me until I got older.
I didn’t really find my voice until I moved out to
Portland. Portland was like the awakening for me!
It was a new place that I could be myself.
S.Z.: You grew up in a Pentecostal household, the
daughter o f a deacon o f the Pentecostal Church of
Jesus. As I understand it, music isn’t really a part of
the Pentecostal paradigm. How did you fin d that
sultry, strong, sexy voice?
L.W.: Well, Music was very much a part of my
upbringing. I grew up listening to the late Rev.
James Cleveland and The Hawkins family. My
mother’s side of the family was very, very strong in
the church. But I was too nervous to sing in front
"W riting is a
freedom. We
forget that.
I t ’s a luxury
that most of
my ancestors
fought for."
S.Z.: You released the single, “Freedom” last year
on CDBaby. You sing, “My voice I ’ll use to paint a
picture of peace again. ” How do you use your voice as
a tool for change?
L.W.: You know, I love to sing about love songs
and all that mushy stuff, but the song “Freedom”
was a message. It woke me in the middle of the
night. I love my rest and believe me I wanted to
stay sleep, but it was one of those nights that the
spirit pushed and pushed at my gut and told me to
See LIV WARFIELD, page 9
Inside
Lawmakers get
an earful on
housing
Stories from Capitol
visitors on housing,
homelessness
Page 3
Jesse Beason
Behind the
kitchen doors
A conversation with
the housing expert
about the fragility
o f Portland’s safety
net
How restaurants
are the latest front
in the fig h t for
food justice
Page 4
Page 8