Ivy Levan on "Biscuit", Sting, and Makeup Dos & Don'ts

Ivy Levan on "Biscuit", Sting, and Makeup Dos & Don'ts
About this video
YH sits down with pop's Lady in Black, Ivy Levan, at SXSW in Austin, Texas, where she dishes on her image and the Southern inspiration behind her hit single, "Biscuit"! She also talks about being followed by none other than Barack Obama on Twitter, her collaboration with Sting, and the secret behind her signature lip color. Plus, she offers some makeup dos and don'ts!
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Obama follows you on Twitter.
Doesn't he follow everybody?
No. I know some other people that they're like, "Oh my God, Obama follows me." I was like, "Well then I'm not That was a special."
That was a very good LA girl impression. That was like South Park mixed with LA, I guess. Oh my God, like like is he the president? Like, who is he again? Yes, keep writing this country.
Um, yeah, that's awesome. Did you notice, did somebody point it? I mean, that's I would be beyond. You're downplaying it.
I'm very I think I did DM him.
You did?
I did. Yeah. I was like, "Yo, what up, Obama?"
And what happened? Did he write back?
And I dropped the mic. So if that means you followed him back clearly.
Yeah, of course. Be like, "Nah, I don't think I'll follow him." That's the boss of our nation. Pretty cool job. Anybody else that could follow you that would blow your mind?
You know, actually Boy George followed me and tweeted me and I about pissed in my pants, fell off my chair and died of again and then came back to life. Yeah, who else follows me? That That's amazing. Yeah, well, he's a old fan. I love him. He's a Southern boy too.
I'm not surprised, he loves you.
We're Southerners, we we like stick together. It's like we find each other in weird situations and we're like, "You're Southern, yeah? Me too. Oh my God."
And you're collaborating with Sting. You collaborated with Sting on this album that you have. So tell me about the collaboration, how it came about.
He and I were doing a cherry tree house kind of showcase and he heard me sing and he fell in love with my voice and just said that I was amazing and loved all my songs and fell in love with this one song in particular called Killing You. And he's like, "Oh, I would love to be a part of it." So I was like, "Yeah, sure, whatever." "Where do you need me?" So, um, I flew out to New York and he cut the track and it was amazing.
How do guys react to you? Are guys intimidated? I would think they might be.
Yeah, a lot of. Some, you know what's funny? A lot of guys are very intimidated but then some of them are kind of a-holes because they think that if they are a-holes, it'll do the opposite, which that doesn't work with me because if you want a you want a a-hole, I'll give you a-hole.
That should be every girl's motto in life.
Yeah. But I just like talk to them and then they and Yeah. They're like, "Oh my God, she's jealous." So.
So, I looked at your Facebook page and there was a lot of female fans that ask you questions and a lot of them have to do with makeup and your style.
I know. I don't tell nobody. Um,
So I wanted to ask you a couple little like of your sort of tips. I mean, I'm assuming no sun.
Absolutely no sun at all.
How do you get away with that in LA being in LA?
Um, I don't leave my house or I walk out with an umbrella.
You really are a vampire.
I know. I just don't run into it.
What is one makeup do and one makeup don't that you would say?
Oh my God. I okay. Ladies, please stop watching the contour videos on YouTube. Please. Stop. It doesn't work that way. I'm gonna go like this right now. It doesn't work that way. Just find your cheekbone and just lightly do it. You don't need all that because you can see it and it's unless you're on camera, right doing that type of thing. Right. Stop it. Stop the contour. It doesn't look good and it's doesn't make your face look any different in real life.
Okay, what's the do then?
I would always say, keep a good matte lip with you, obviously because it's it you could literally have nothing on and a good lip and you're good to go. Yeah.
How do you find the color?
I mix colors.
You do? That is a tip.
I take That's a great tip actually. Two that are like maybe two pink and one's two brown and then I make them have fornication on my lips.
If so if you were to have your own fashion line.
Oh, of course, black. Yeah. Probably a lot to do with the character, the evil villains in Disney movies. Capes. Yeah, long coats. Yeah, or from the Matrix or from Tomb Raider.
I loved your makeup don't. Any fashion don'ts?
I think Chanel said it best, take one accessory off before you leave the house. That's what I would do. I don't like a lot of stuff.
Great chatting with you.
You too.
We love you.
Love you, love you.
And I'm gonna keep following Biscuit.
I love you guys too. You better watch my biscuit. Or kiss it.
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PEOPLE MENTIONED
- Ivy Levan
Featured artist and interviewee
- Barack Obama
Follows her on Twitter
- Boy George
Followed her on Twitter
- Sting
Collaborated with her on a song
- Chanel
Cited for a fashion quote
FAQ
Who follows Ivy Levan on Twitter?+
What song did Ivy Levan collaborate on with Sting?+
What is Ivy Levan's makeup don't?+
What is Ivy Levan's makeup do?+
How does Ivy Levan create her signature lip color?+
What are Ivy Levan's fashion preferences?+
BEAUTY EDIT






