# Livvi Franc

Olivia Charlotte Waithe (born 31 May 1988), better known by her stage name Livvi Franc, is a British Barbadian singer-songwriter.

## Early life

Franc was born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England to an English mother and a Bajan father. Franc's stage name was inspired by her late maternal grandfather, Frank Wilson, she explained to Flavour Magazine that he had "noticed me playing the piano and predicted I was going to be a musician. Sadly he’s no longer here. So, in honour of him, I called myself Livvi Franc; Livvi because it’s my nickname, and Franc because it’s a funkier version of Frank." When Franc was five, the family moved to Barbados, because her parents decided that their daughters, Franc and her elder sister, should experience their Barbadian heritage. They would return to England during the summer holidays. Franc wrote her first song at age eleven and learned the guitar at fifteen and sang in school talent shows and pageants growing up.

## Career

Franc's first manager discovered her when a friend of Franc's who babysitted for her gave her one of Franc's cassette tape demos. Franc then went on to record proper demos in studio in Barbados and Miami, where she met her next manager. Soon after, she was in New York meeting label heads and auditioning. She finally signed with Jive Records, after months of negotiations, after singing an Etta James song for them. Prior to signing with Jive, Franc had gone through three years of artist development and attended workshops on it. She had attended Queens College in Barbados. Jordin Sparks recorded a song written by Livvi Franc, "Walking on Snow", Franc has also written for Cheryl Cole, Kelly Clarkson, Marié Digby, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Rihanna and Cher Lloyd.
Franc's debut single, "Now I'm That Bitch" was released in the summer of 2009. The song topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart and became a top 40 hit in New Zealand and the UK. Another song, "This Is a Raid" appeared on the reboot of Melrose Place. Franc released her second single named "Automatik". Produced by RedOne, the single peaked at #6 on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. During the end of 2010, the album was eventually shelved by Jive and so Livvi left Jive Records, however quickly signed to Beluga Heights/Warner Bros., where she is currently finishing her debut album. In a UStream session, Franc said she is delaying working on her own album and instead is focusing on writing for other acts.
In 2023, she went by the stage name "Ei8ht" and was featured in the soundtrack from the film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, with her song "Silk & Cologne", featuring Offset.
Since then, she has also released a new single called "Rah" at the end of 2023.

## Artistry

Franc has listed Nelly Furtado, Alicia Keys, Alanis Morissette as her influences and System of a Down as one of her favourite bands saying 'I listen to everything. On my iPod I have Santigold, La Roux, Nelly Furtado, some soca, and some reggae and some country music.’ Her love for such broad and diverse music is said to be reflected in her debut self-titled album. 'It’s all the different sides of me come together… There are a couple of tracks with a little reggae vibe, some with more of a UK or retro vibe. It’s different and it all falls into place.

## Discography
### Singles

| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Year | Title | UK | NZ | US | US Dance |
| 2008 | "Free" | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | "Now I'm That Bitch" (featuring Pitbull) | 40 | 24 | 114 | 1 |
| 2010 | "Automatik" | — | — | — | 6 |
| 2010 | "Nobody Loves Me" | — | — | — | — |
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released. ||||||

#### Notes

* signifies promotional single

### Other appearances

| Year | Title | Appearance | Notes |
| 2009 | "Overboard" (Marié Digby featuring Livvi Franc) | Breathing Underwater | Appears as featured vocalist and co-writer |
| 2012 | "Warning Shot" (MGK featuring Cassie) | Lace Up | Appears as a backing vocalist |
| 2014 | "Through The Blinds" (Simon Pipe featuring Livvi Franc) | - | Appears as a featured vocalist |
| 2015 | "I Could Do This Every Night" (Tinie Tempah featuring Livvi Franc) | Junk Food | Appears as a featured vocalist |
| 2017 | "In The Dark" (Wilkinson featuring Livvi Franc) | Hypnotic | Appears as a featured vocalist |

### Songwriting credits

| Year | Artist | Appearance | Title |
| 2008 | Michael Jackson | — | Unknown |
| 2009 | Cheryl Cole | 3 Words | "Rain on Me" |
| 2009 | Jordin Sparks | Battlefield | "Walking on Snow" |
| 2011 | Britney Spears | Femme Fatale | "Trouble for Me" |
| 2011 | DJ Khaled | We the Best Forever | "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" |
| 2011 | Jason Derulo | Future History | "Pick Up the Pieces" |
| 2011 | Kelly Clarkson | Stronger | "The War Is Over" |
| 2011 | Cher Lloyd | Sticks + Stones | "Dub on the Track" |
| 2011 | Cher Lloyd | Sticks + Stones | "Love Me for Me" |
| 2012 | Melanie Amaro | Truly | "Don't Fail Me Now" |
| 2012 | Melanie Amaro | Truly | "Did I Ever" |
| 2012 | Gravity 5 | How to Rock (Soundtrack) | "Hey Now" |
| 2012 | Delta Goodrem | Child of the Universe | "When My Stars Come Out" |
| 2012 | Leona Lewis | Glassheart | "Shake You Up" |
| 2012 | 2AM Club | Moon Tower | "Mary" |
| 2012 | Ciara | — | "Got Me Good" |
| 2012 | Ciara | — | "Insomniac" |
| 2012 | Ciara | — | "Standing Alone" |
| 2012 | Ciara | — | "Wash Away" |
| 2012 | Christina Aguilera | Lotus | "Red Hot Kinda Love" |
| 2012 | Rihanna | Unapologetic | "What Now" |
| 2012 | Laza Morgan | — | "Gimme Little" |
| 2013 | Demi Lovato | Demi | "Two Pieces" |
| 2013 | Jessica Sanchez | Me, You & the Music | "Don't Come Around" |
| 2013 | Ciara | Ciara | "Read My Lips" |
| 2013 | Ciara | Ciara | "Overdose" |
| 2013 | Selena Gomez | Stars Dance | "Save the Day" |
| 2013 | Zendaya | Zendaya | "Bottle You Up" |
| 2013 | Kelly Clarkson | Wrapped in Red | "4 Carats" |
| 2013 | Luminites | — | "Do Something" |
| 2014 | Tone Damli | Heartkill | "Perfect World" |
| 2014 | Shakira | Shakira | "That Way" |
| 2014 | Alexa Goddard | — | "So There" |
| 2015 | Ciara | Jackie | "One Woman Army" |
| 2015 | Demi Lovato | Confident | "Old Ways" |
| 2016 | Brooke Candy | Daddy Issues | "Happy Days" |
| 2017 | Zara Larsson | So Good | "What They Say" |
| 2021 | Coldplay | Music of the Spheres | “Let Somebody Go” with Selena Gomez |
| 2021 | BamBam | Who Are You (feat. Seulgi of Red Velvet) | "Who Are You" |
| 2022 | Jackson Wang | Magic Man (Jackson Wang Album) | "Dopamine" |

## Videography
### Music videos

| Year | Single | Director |
| 2008 | "Free" | Laurent Briet |
| 2009 | "Now I'm That Bitch" (featuring Pitbull) | Sarah Chatfield |
| 2009 | "Now I'm That Chick" | Sarah Chatfield |
| 2010 | "Automatik" | Malcom Jones |