Livvy English on Her Anthem "Change The World"

Artwork Photo Credit- Katie Foxley

Brighton-based pop rock artist Livvy English has captivated audiences with her soulful vocals and commanding stage presence. Once a vocals student with dreams of breaking into the session industry, a masterclass with Will Young inspired her to pursue artistry. English and her 4-piece band have performed at iconic venues like the O2 Academy Islington and Dingwalls, collaborated with War Child, and reached the live rounds of Isle Of Wight Festival’s New Blood competition. Her latest single, "Change The World," released in early 2024, is a powerful call to arms for women everywhere, blending roaring guitars with potent lyrics. In this interview, Livvy discusses the inspiration behind her new single, her experiences as a woman in music, and her hopes for the future.

1. Your song "Change The World" has been described as a powerful anthem for women's empowerment. Can you share more about the specific experiences or moments that inspired you to write this song?

I wrote 'Change The World' as a direct response to an online feminism lecture I attended during lockdown that descended into chaos when some male students decided to use the chat to spout sexist and anti-feminist rhetoric. I was completely taken aback and just started singing and writing exactly what I was feeling: anger, shock and disappointment. It’s a difficult moment to realise that a lot of your male peers still have sexist views, whether they realise it or not. 'Change The World' is an open letter to these people, intended to grab their attention and educate them for the sake of current and future generations of women.   

2. In "Change The World," you discuss the importance of educating men about the struggles women face. How do you hope your music can contribute to this educational process and foster greater understanding?

Music is such a powerful force; it has been used to invoke change, mobilise groups, to protest, and it has also been used to foster societal harmony, to bring joy and comfort to those that need it, and to unite people through their shared experiences. In an ideal world I would like 'Change The World' to do all of the above, but, I'm a realist, and I know that I'm not at that stage in my career (yet). All I can hope is that the people that do hear this song resonate with it in some way. I hope that women realise their strength and power, and that this song helps them feel more confident and willing to speak up against sexism. I hope that men realise that we are not asking them to give up their rights, but to simply share them so that we are able to exist equally. I hope that they hear this song and think about their mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. I hope that this song makes them think twice about commenting on and judging a woman's appearance, about giving their two cents on issues that they are not qualified to speak on, and about getting too close for comfort. I hope that they listen and learn that even through small gestures, they can make a difference too.

3. The lyrics of "Change The World" reflect a sense of frustration and determination. How do you channel your emotions into your music, and what message do you hope your listeners take away from this song?

Songwriting has always acted as an emotional outlet for me, so channeling my emotions into my music comes very naturally. Actually, I write most of my music as a means of processing and understanding different experiences I've faced in my life, both negative and positive. My mother was a blues singer, and as you probably know, the blues is all about singing about your troubles and pain, so growing up it was very normal for me to express my own feelings in the same way. For my male listeners, I want them to listen to and to try and understand the world from a female perspective. I want them to hear our anger and frustration and to not just dismiss it. I want them to think more carefully about what they say and do, and how their actions and words, whether they mean them or not, can affect women. For my female listeners, I want them to know that they have the right to be angry and to let that anger be known. Womanhood is amazing and magical and so special, but it is also tough and exhausting and challenging in ways that men wouldn’t even begin to understand. I want women to know that we no longer need to hold our tongues and be passive and silenced; this is our time.

4. You mention that "Change The World" was written in response to a negative experience during an online feminism lecture. How do you think the pandemic and lockdowns have impacted the feminist movement and the way we discuss gender issues?

I think that because everyone was locked away and isolated, people felt they were able to make sexist and anti-feminist comments from the safety of their own homes, and from behind a screen, without facing the usual repercussions. During lockdown, it was also easy for a lot of people to forget about feminist issues or push them to the side in favour of arguably more pressing and unprecedented issues like COVID. It was also during this time that controversial and divisive male influencers like Andrew Tate began to gain traction and rise to prominence, taking advantage of young, impressionable male audiences who had suddenly found themselves unemployed, bored and looking for entertainment and camaraderie. As a young woman, it was genuinely terrifying to witness such a cruel and dangerous misogynist, who is now facing criminal charges including rape and human trafficking, move into the mainstream. It feels as though in the last few years we've seen a trend towards the return of more traditional and conservative ideals and expectations of women, maybe because we were confined to our homes like we were in past centuries, so we can only hope that this fades away, and that more progress towards equality will be made soon.

5. As a woman in the music industry, you’ve faced underestimation and patronization. Can you share some specific challenges you've encountered and how you've overcome them?

I think it's tough for women in any male-dominated industry to really feel valued, but the music industry especially is known to be quite a toxic environment for female and non-binary artists and songwriters. I have experienced, on more than one occasion, male audience members at gigs asking my male guitarists who writes my music, assuming it couldn't possibly be me, even though as a band we play under my name. I have worked with male musicians and producers that have assumed that I have no theoretical knowledge of music, and who were shocked when I revealed that I had studied music theory to a high level. I feel that I, and many other female musicians, are constantly having to prove ourselves in ways that male musicians don't; we not only have to prove our skill, we are constantly fighting to be heard and to be taken seriously in an industry that historically puts female artists in a box and pushes us to the side. In terms of overcoming these challenges, I think I still have a way to go, but I am very lucky to have a band and producer that completely value and are proud to work with me, which just goes to prove that there are good men out there. As far as I'm concerned, I know my worth, I know my talents, and I know how much hard work I have put in to get to where I am now, and that's good enough for me for now.

6. Your music combines soulful vocals with catchy beats and funky melodies. How do you balance delivering powerful messages with creating music that is engaging and enjoyable for your audience?

I realised a long time ago that in order for people to listen to what you have to say, it needs to be interesting and engaging for them not only lyrically, but sonically as well. For me, I'm very lucky that a lot of my music seems to be entertaining, pleasurable and fun for my audience as well as educational. I also have a band of truly incredible musicians, all with differing musical backgrounds, who help me to arrange the songs and really make sure they're the best they can be. I grew up listening to artists like Aretha Franklin, who were getting people up and dancing to their music while also using it to protest and make a difference to the world and from a very young age I have dreamed of being able to do the same. As much as I write music as an emotional outlet for myself, it is my joy to write music that will resonate with audiences, and that will make them feel and sing and shout and dance.