Liv Miraldi
I have been following Liv Miraldi for a while now and I always wanted to interview her. I’ve been listening to her music and to some of the songs she co-wrote, and I’ve been amazed by her talents. I am still amazed. A brilliant storyteller/writer with a beautiful voice and a true musical signature. No one has ever written a song like “Friend of the Family” and she did it. It’s poignant, and it’s emotional and honest.
Liv Miraldi is a true artist.
Go stream “Friend of the Family”, out now.
Photo credit: Rylan Talerico
Hi Liv, how are you?
Hi, I’m doing well, thanks! Appreciate you having me <3
What did you grow up listening to?
Everything from James Taylor to Britney Spears to Tupac. There was no shortage of good music in my house.
When did you know music was more than just a hobby?
I think in middle school I became fixated on pursuing it professionally. I’d go home after school and practice guitar and write in my journal regularly.
Do you remember a specific time in your life where music made a huge impact in your life?
In 2012, my grandma passed away while I was away at songwriting camp. I wrote a song about feeling guilty for not getting to say goodbye to her in person. I ended up using that song to apply to Belmont University’s songwriting program and it got me into the program. That song changed the trajectory of my life.
When did you start writing songs? What made you want to write in the first place?
My parents were amazing at reading to us every night and it was my favorite time of day. I fell in love with stories and storytelling. I remember writing poems in my diary at six or seven years old. I got lost in creative writing time at school. Around middle school I realized poems could be songs and I haven’t stopped making them since.
What does songwriting make you feel?
Songwriting makes me feel a myriad of emotions. From grief to bliss to everything in between, I never know what I’m walking into day to day. Having spent the last eight years writing for not only myself, but also others, I feel like I've lived so many lives. I’m an empath so when an artist tells me their story, it doesn’t take long for me to encompass their experience to the best of my ability. Sometimes I have to be careful I don’t take home those feelings and we leave it all in the studio.
"Friend of the Family" is your latest single - what's the inspiration/story behind this song?
“Friend of the Family” was about my grief around my parents divorce in 2019. It’s a raw glimpse into how I perceived things. I felt super alone during this time and wanted to write the song I so desperately needed to hear back then. There are many sides to a story, and this one chapter of mine.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process behind this song? Who helped you create it? When did you start working on it?
I was in a writing session a few years ago with a producer named Michael Blum and artist/writer OSTON. We spent the first hour just catching up and talking about our lives. Somehow we got on the topic of family. I really just opened up to them about what I was going through. I wasn’t even planning on writing for my artist project that day, but they asked if I’d be willing to. A lot of the lyrics were taken from real conversations we had in the writing room that day. Months later I took the song to my producer, Ella Boh, who helped me polish the record. She’s the one that really convinced me to honor my story by releasing the song.
What did you feel when writing/recording this song?
Agony.
What's your favorite lyric on "Friend of the Family"?
“My Mom got the house but she took the f*cking home”.
What message do you want to deliver through this song? What do you want people to feel when listening to it?
I know this song is polarizing. I know it can be uncomfortable to listen to, and that’s why I felt it was important to release it. For people who have been in my position, I guess I want them to feel seen. For parents, it serves as a reminder of the impact their actions have on their children, regardless of age. If someone listening has been the friend of the family, I hope this perspective helps them understand the ripple effect of their actions, the pain it creates in a family, but also recognize that it’s easier for the child to blame them than the parent they love. I do want to say that since writing this song, I have been working heavily on forgiveness and giving people the grace to grow. My parents are the most magnificent people I know, and I do not want anyone to be defined by one choice.
What made you want to release this particular song?
Truthfully, I didn’t want to release this song. I agonized over releasing this for years. It’s not a fun song to promote and while I’m proud of it, it’s incredibly painful for me, as well as my family. It came down to the fact that I’ve built a career encouraging other artists to write what they’re most afraid to say, and I’d feel like a fraud if I didn’t demand that in my own artistry. It was a lonely experience, and I really want it to reach people that feel that way, and help them feel less alone.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
As an artist the hardest part is not having enough time to do everything I’d like to do. The best part is getting to connect with so many different people from all over the world.
What does it mean for you to be an artist?
I love the quote, “Art is when a human tells another human what it is to be human.” This resonates so much with me. Songs should make the listener feel something, and I strive to do that in every song I write.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Oh man, there are SO many things I’d love to change about the music industry. If I had to choose just one, it would be how songwriters are valued - by labels, publishers, artists, streaming platforms, everyone. I don’t want to get on my soapbox, but since you asked, it is appalling what we’re asked to do for next to nothing, and the people who are asking us to do it would never agree to it if they were in our shoes. Don’t get me wrong, I know I am privileged to be able to pursue this career, and I am grateful for the opportunities, but that doesn’t mean I don’t deserve fair compensation for my life's work. Without writers, there’s no music, and without music there’s no product. We are the backbone of this industry yet we’re at the bottom of the food chain. It makes no sense, and too many people are complicit in allowing it to continue this way. Something has to shift ASAP.
Photo credit: Rylan Talerico
What advice would you give to young artists/songwriters out there?
Have thick skin, don’t take anything personally, keep your head down and keep going. If you can refrain from comparing your path to your peers, it will be a much more enjoyable experience. Find your community in music because you’re going to need people who understand what you’re pursuing and dealing with. Be good to others. People will always remember how you made them feel and that is more valuable than any song you could write.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
The biggest life lesson for me has been finding my inner peace when I’m in the thick of chaos. I imagine it’s something I’ll work at for the rest of my life.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
If everyone could speak their truth.
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