Watch List: Bernie Levv's 'Signs' Are Ones You Don't Want To Miss

20-year-old singer, songwriter, model and writer, Chicago native Bernie Levv ushered her way onto the music scene earlier in the year with the artfully shot video for 'Time', which was followed recently by her 'Signs' project, the dreamy, jazzy allure of her intimately inviting, soul-brushed vocal tone articulating a sagely reflective maturity as Levv contemplates the vicissitudes of life and love, parsing the complexities of her emotions with an introspective honesty that is informed by a thoughtfully measured capacity for making insightful observations as to her own motivations, hopes and dreams.

 

 

Articulate, confident, sultry and sensual, and tempered with a heartfelt sensitivity that acknowledges her desires and vulnerabilities, 'Signs' sees a jazzily soulful sensibility infuse r&b and hip hop influenced production from the likes of Mike Wavvs, Such N Such, Smoko Ono and Zen Zan, the obvious maturity and sophistication of the project marking Levv out as one to watch  - the cry motif, floating, haunting background vocals and inching bassline of 'Watching' sees Levv casting an observant eye as she looks to find her way in her city; handclaps, subtle keys and muted percussion blend with a jazzy refrain to create a sultry mood on 'Everything' as Levv ruminates on her belief that 'the sweetest thing I know, is the sound of lovin' everywhere'; 'you are everything and more, 'cause you make me forget I've had my heart broken before', Levv confesses on the swirling, dreamily hued vulnerability and longingly plaintive desire of 'Without', the confessional, slow burning poignance of her voice laid bare as she admits 'I can't be without you baby'.

 

 

Raised on Chicago's Northside, Levv's musical and artistic instincts are evident in the fact that her capacity as a multi-instrumentalist, including the saxophone and piano, is complemented by her having studied classical ballet, modern, jazz and tap dance for over ten years. Graduating from Whitney H. Young High School, she went on for a time to study English at the University of Illinois, before moving on to pursue her musical career. As well as founding an empowerment blog for women, BLUSH Blog, Levv has also modeled, including being a featured model for Coal & Terry Vintage and EDM DJ's Flosstradamus.