Page 5 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 104

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Not Ur Songs
Not Ur Songs

hen we stumbled upon Not Ur Girlfrenz, an all-girl trio from Texas featuring Liv Haynes, Gigi Haynes and Maren
WAlford, we were immediately impressed by their infectious, pop-punk tunes. ‘No One Asked You Anyway’ has a
spunky vibrancy, ‘Warped’ is addictive and fun and ‘Friends Or Memories’ is honest and real. Since releasing ‘Song About
You’ (a song inspired by an authority in vocalist/guitarist Liv Haynes’ life) in 2019, we felt it only right to get in touch
with the girls and ask more about their own songs, the effects they have on others and how they’d feel if someone
wrote a song about THEM in return. Liv reveals all below.

Black Velvet: In ‘Somehow’ you say ‘Gosh, BV: What have you learned about songwrit- sons for that is the instant feeling of home and
I’m so cheesy’ at one point. How does it feel ing from Jaret (Reddick - the band’s man- a family you don’t wanna leave behind when
revealing/letting out your emotions in a ager/producer/mentor)? you listen to it.
song? LH: He taught me the rules and that it’s okay to
Liv Haynes: I think with ‘Somehow’ being the break them in some instances, in regards to BV: How would you feel if someone wrote a
first love song I ever wrote it was a bit harder to song structure. But, mostly, he taught me to not song about you?
dive deep within myself to articulate my emo- worry about writing the perfect line in one try, LH: If I’m being honest, I would feel flattered that
tions I was feeling at the time, so the ‘Gosh, I’m and that songwriting takes time to perfect.
they took the time to think about me. No matter
so cheesy’ part just made sense to put in. You the subject. But hopefully it’s a positive one.
have to find a way, as a songwriter, to be fully BV: What effects would you like your songs Haha.
honest yourself and let your emotions take con- to have on people?
trol. Once you do that, your songwriting life will LH: I wanna give people an escape from their BV: How do you feel when fans sing along to
change. problems at home, work, or school. And let them your songs?
know they aren't the only ones out there feeling LH:
The first time I ever saw somebody singing
BV: How much time do you put into song- a certain way. I want to create a family of fans the words to our songs was probably on the
writing and which of your songs took the that help support each other and build each Vans Warped Tour in 2018 and the only way I
longest to write? other up. I mainly write for other people, not just could express how that felt was by crying when
LH: It really depends; some songs can take ten myself. And that's why it's so important to be I got back to our RV. You can’t really put the
very idea-filled passionate minutes, some five heard. Doing interviews, social media, etc., is so emotion into words, but if I could capture it and
hours, some I will write for an hour a day over important for art these days because you can sell it I would practically be a drug dealer and
the course of a month perfecting it, some I will only make a change if you are heard. Whether very rich. Haha.
write then forget about and come back to it a that be ten people or 10,000 people.
year later to change and clean up. You don’t BV: You’ve released an EP and individual
ever want to force the process or try to make BV: How powerful do you think songs can songs. When can we expect a full album of
something work that just isn’t working. The song be? And have songs by other artists helped songs?
that took me the longest to write was probably you in any way? LH: For now, we are gonna stick with singles so
‘Warped’. Funny story, when I first was playing LH: I believe music and just art in general is one that we can try to get music out faster to the
around with the chord progression and the main of the most powerful and important things in the fans. I would love to do an album, I am an album
riff notes I got really excited about this certain world. When you listen to your favorite song you kind of girl myself. We may decide to put all of
melody and played it for my parents (who are feel special and it builds self-esteem. When you the singles together with some other songs for
usually the first to hear all of my songs because listen to a sad song it helps you cope with and an album just so we can really capture this mo-
they are super honest and I love them for that) truly understand your feelings. Angry songs can ment in time. But for now, singles are the plan.
and they said ‘Isn’t that the riff to ‘Today’ by the get your anger out and cleanse you. Songs can
Smashing Pumpkins?’ which was one of the also take you back in time. Songs can be a love Visit www.noturgirlfrenz.com for more infor-
songs I had on shuffle at the time. So, I ended language when you send a song to a friend/sig- mation.
up trying to change it up a bit over the course of nificant other, etc. Music is a big part in other art Words by Shari Black Velvet
a couple of weeks and found something that I forms as well, movie soundtracks, dance, during
Photo By Will Von Bolton
really liked and immediately started writing photoshoots, on the runway, because it is so in-
lyrics. fluential. Music saves lives and one of the rea-
NOT UR GIRLFRENZ