Olivia Charlotte Waithe (born 31 May 1988), better known by her stage name Livvi Franc or Ei8ht, is a Barbadian British singer and songwriter.
Early life Franc, Ei8ht 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 was to finish her debut album. In a UStream session, Franc said she was delaying working on her own album and instead was focusing on writing for other acts.
In 2023, she went by the stage name "Ei8ht" and was featured in the soundtrack for the film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, with her song "Silk & Cologne", featuring Offset. https://music.apple.com/us/album/silk-and-cologne-spider-verse-remix/1690685331?i=1690685740
Since then, she has also released a single called "Rah" at the end of 2023. https://music.apple.com/us/album/rah/1710054150?i=1710054151
in 2024, she proceeded to release her follow-up single "SHINE!"https://music.apple.com/us/album/shine/1733753361?i=1733753362
Influences 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 debut album reflects her diverse musical influences; she said: |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 Extended plays
Title Album details Underground Sunshine – Album SamplerReleased: 2009 Label: RCA, Sony Formats: Promo CD Livvi FrancReleased: 2010 Label: RCA, Sony Formats: Promo CD
Singles Year Title Peak chart positionsUKNZUSUS Dance2008 "Free" — — — —2009 "Now I'm That Bitch"(featuring Pitbull) 40 24 114 12010 "Automatik" — — — 6 "Nobody Loves Me" — — — —2023 "Rah" — — — —2024 "Shine!' _ _ _ _ "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.
Notes signifies promotional single
Other appearances Year Title Appearance Notes2009"Overboard"(Marié Digby featuring Livvi Franc)Breathing UnderwaterAppears as featured vocalist and co-writer2012"Warning Shot"(MGK featuring Cassie)Lace UpAppears as a backing vocalist2014"Through the Blinds"(Simon Pipe featuring Livvi Franc)-Appears as a featured vocalist2015"I Could Do This Every Night"(Tinie Tempah featuring Livvi Franc)Junk FoodAppears as a featured vocalist2017"In the Dark"(Wilkinson featuring Livvi Franc)HypnoticAppears as a featured vocalist2026"How to Pray" (Dahi featuring Amber Mark and Kendrick Lamar)Black Boy (Alternative)Background vocals
Songwriting credits Year Artist Appearance Title2008Michael Jackson—"Give Me Your Love"2009Cheryl Cole3 Words"Rain on Me"Jordin SparksBattlefield"Walking on Snow"2011Britney SpearsFemme Fatale"Trouble for Me"DJ KhaledWe the Best Forever"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"Jason DeruloFuture History"Pick Up the Pieces"Kelly ClarksonStronger"The War Is Over"Cher LloydSticks + Stones"Dub on the Track""Love Me for Me"2012Melanie Amaro Truly"Don't Fail Me Now""Did I Ever"Gravity 5How to Rock (Soundtrack)"Hey Now"Delta GoodremChild of the Universe"When My Stars Come Out"Leona LewisGlassheart"Shake You Up"2AM ClubMoon Tower"Mary"CiaraShelved/Unreleased Ciara Sessions"Got Me Good""Insomniac""Standing Alone""Wash Away"Christina AguileraLotus"Red Hot Kinda Love"RihannaUnapologetic"What Now"Laza Morgan"Gimme Little"2013Demi LovatoDemi"Two Pieces"Jessica SanchezMe, You & the Music"Don't Come Around"CiaraCiara"Read My Lips""Overdose"Selena GomezStars Dance"Save the Day"ZendayaZendaya"Bottle You Up"Kelly ClarksonWrapped in Red"4 Carats"Luminites"Do Something"2014Tone Damli Heartkill"Perfect World"ShakiraShakira"That Way"Alexa Goddard"So There"2015 Ciara Jackie "One Woman Army"Demi LovatoConfident"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 BamBam Who Are You "Who Are You"2022Jackson WangMagic Man (Jackson Wang Album)"Dopamine"Jennifer Lopez & MalumaMarry Me (soundtrack)"Marry Me"2024Tyla"Tears"ColdplayMoon Music"Jupiter"2025Ellie Goulding"Destiny"2026Katseye"Internet Girl"AbsolutelyParacosm"Elevator"BTSArirang"Normal" Sean Paul and Stalk Ashley "Ready for the Ride" India Shawn Subject to Change "Rain on Me" Nia Archives Emotional Junglist "Around Tha Bend""Danger""Vertical""This Could Be...""Superlust"AdélaPrima"Fantasize"TinashePopstar"Cloud 9"
Music videos YearSingleDirector2008"Free"Laurent Briet2009"Now I'm That Bitch" (featuring Pitbull)Sarah Chatfield 2009"Now I'm That Chick" Sarah Chatfield2010"Automatik"Malcom Jones
References
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