Livvi Franc

“Hi, my name is . . . / You won’t remember, wait ’til December.” So goes the prescient opening line of the first single, “Now I’m That Bitch,” off of Livvi Franc’s self-titled debut album (Jive). If the 21-year-old singer has her way, she’ll be a full-fledged pop star by the end of this year. Franc is an amalgam of record-label fantasies: She’s got Rihanna’s Caribbean beauty and musical flavor (both Rihanna and Franc hail from Barbados), Lady Gaga’s futuristic club grooves (they share a producer, RedOne), and the outspoken Brit wit of Lily Allen (Franc was born in England). Nevertheless, Franc flexes a sexy, understated swagger all her own. “When I was growing up, I thought singing was about sounding like Mariah and Whitney,” she says. “But then I realized it’s about having a unique voice. That’s why artists like Etta James and Eva Cassidy have influenced me. I love sultry music. It puts me in a different state of mind, so I try to put that feeling into my songs.” Which brings about the question: Is she really that bitch? “I’m actually introverted and shy, but I have a naughty side,” she explains. “For me, bitch stands for ‘babe in total control of herself.’”

 Listen to the first single off the debut album:

Photo above: Livvi Franc in New York, July 2009. Bustier: Staerk. Dress: Tucker by Gaby Basora. Briefs: D&G. Earrings: stylist’s own. Sneakers: Y-3. Cosmetics: Dolce & Gabbana the makeup, including the lipstick in shocking. Fragrance: l’impératrice by D&G Anthology. Styling: Sarah Ellison/Streeters. Hair: Bok-Hee/Streeters. Makeup: Mariel Barrera/Joe. Special Thanks: Fast Ashleys.