ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: GIVĒON

When it comes to heartbreak, it’s inevitable, but American singer-songwriter GIVĒON takes that pain and creates beautiful artistry that is worth a listen. For every heartstring tug, GIVĒON has a soundtrack. Turning pain into melody, GIVĒON has created timeless R&B music that resonates deeply with listeners. Not to mention, his baritone is deep and smooth like butter. His success story is a powerful and inspirational one. 

Hailing from Long Beach, California, where it was easy to get lost in the streets, GIVĒON chose the music route. His love for music began early on. Growing up, his mom made him sing at birthday parties. She instantly recognized his talent, and although GIVĒON realized he could sing in elementary school, he did not take his artistry seriously until high school. GIVĒON was honored to be a part of a Grammy Museum education program that taught him a lot about songwriting and the history of music. Through this program, GIVĒON discovered his sound with inspiration from artists like Frank Sinatra. 

With music being a passion for GIVĒON at this point, making his debut in the music industry wasn’t as easy as some people have it. GIVĒON worked at restaurants, and it wasn’t until 2018 that he released his song “Garden Kisses” and slowly began to generate a fan base. "Garden Kisses" explores more of GIVĒON’s intimate side as he describes his excitement with a newfound love. The song highlights how simple gestures can feel big. “Garden Kisses” is the perfect vibe for a late-night drive, or the perfect song to play around a crush who has mutual feelings for you. 

In 2019, GIVĒON released “Like I Want You”, which many people say led them to discover his sound and continue to listen to his projects. “Like I Want You” was a big moment in GIVĒON’s career, and he saw much success from this track, appearing on Billboard’s Hot R&B songs as well as Billboard's Hot 100. “Like I Want You” is a song that describes uncertainty, the feeling of being confused, as he wants someone who he doesn’t know for sure feels the same. This is a common situation when it comes to love. This song is heartfelt, and the tone in GIVĒON’s voice allows you to relate to and feel this song deeply. His pain and confusion are perfectly conveyed. 

GIVĒON’s mainstream debut came about in 2020 after having the amazing opportunity to collaborate with Canadian actor, rapper, and singer Drake. In 2020, the two collaborated on the hit song “Chicago Freestyle”, which did numbers as it had an excellent chart performance. In the U.S., the song peaked at the Billboard Hot 100 spot #14. It also reached #11 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs. The song reached charts in other countries too, including France, Italy, New Zealand, and Sweden. “Chicago Freestyle” highlights wanting a true and real emotional connection and dives deeper into the struggles of fame -- specifically Drake’s difficulty with meeting genuine people. The song is great for a late-night drive and moments of reflection.

Following “Chicago Freestyle”, GIVĒON’s rise to fame was well-deserved. He continued to prove why his artistry is special and one-of-a-kind when he released his first EP shortly after his Drake collab. Take Time featured the song “Heartbreak Anniversary”, which did excellent numbers the following year. In 2021, TikTok caught on to the song and created trends that reflected users' experiences with heartbreak. “Heartbreak Anniversary” reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs as well as #16 on Billboard Hot 100. It was also nominated for many awards, including a Grammy for Best R&B song, MTV Video Music Awards, and an American Music Award for favorite R&B song. Despite only being nominated and not winning these awards. GIVĒON took a huge W as an artist.

GIVĒON has since collaborated with Justin Bieber on “Peaches” and performed across many stages globally. He has released two albums, Give or Take and his most recent one, BELOVED, which dropped last month (July 11). BELOVED comes after a 3-year break from releasing a full-length project. It features 14 songs that bring a '70s soul vibe. GIVĒON continues to demonstrate his ability to make relatable music that involves love, relationships, emotions, and much more. Fans of his music are currently obsessed with the new album and can’t stop playing it. The songs, “I CAN TELL”, “MUD”, and “TWENTIES” are among fan favorites.

GIVĒON’s career is flourishing, as is his music. GIVĒON creates R&B that taps into deep emotions and tells a story that hits home for listeners. Be sure to check out his music on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and YouTube.