Skip to main content
Young Hollywood
MusicSxsw

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

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

6:37·By Gemma G
Share

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!

CHAPTERS

KEY MOMENTS

KEY TOPICS

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Read alongShow ↓
Young Hollywood

Obama follows you on Twitter.

Ivy Levan

Doesn't he follow everybody?

Young Hollywood

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."

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

Um, yeah, that's awesome. Did you notice, did somebody point it? I mean, that's I would be beyond. You're downplaying it.

Ivy Levan

I'm very I think I did DM him.

Young Hollywood

You did?

Ivy Levan

I did. Yeah. I was like, "Yo, what up, Obama?"

Young Hollywood

And what happened? Did he write back?

Ivy Levan

And I dropped the mic. So if that means you followed him back clearly.

Young Hollywood

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?

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

I'm not surprised, he loves you.

Ivy Levan

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."

Young Hollywood

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.

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

How do guys react to you? Are guys intimidated? I would think they might be.

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

That should be every girl's motto in life.

Ivy Levan

Yeah. But I just like talk to them and then they and Yeah. They're like, "Oh my God, she's jealous." So.

Young Hollywood

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.

Ivy Levan

I know. I don't tell nobody. Um,

Young Hollywood

So I wanted to ask you a couple little like of your sort of tips. I mean, I'm assuming no sun.

Ivy Levan

Absolutely no sun at all.

Young Hollywood

How do you get away with that in LA being in LA?

Ivy Levan

Um, I don't leave my house or I walk out with an umbrella.

Young Hollywood

You really are a vampire.

Ivy Levan

I know. I just don't run into it.

Young Hollywood

What is one makeup do and one makeup don't that you would say?

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

Okay, what's the do then?

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

How do you find the color?

Ivy Levan

I mix colors.

Young Hollywood

You do? That is a tip.

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

If so if you were to have your own fashion line.

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

I loved your makeup don't. Any fashion don'ts?

Ivy Levan

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.

Young Hollywood

Great chatting with you.

Ivy Levan

You too.

Young Hollywood

We love you.

Ivy Levan

Love you, love you.

Young Hollywood

And I'm gonna keep following Biscuit.

Ivy Levan

I love you guys too. You better watch my biscuit. Or kiss it.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

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?+
Barack Obama and Boy George both follow Ivy Levan on Twitter.
What song did Ivy Levan collaborate on with Sting?+
Sting collaborated with Ivy Levan on her song called "Killing You".
What is Ivy Levan's makeup don't?+
Ivy Levan advises against watching contour videos on YouTube and suggests lightly finding your cheekbone instead of heavy contouring.
What is Ivy Levan's makeup do?+
Ivy Levan recommends always having a good matte lip color, as it can complete a look even with minimal other makeup.
How does Ivy Levan create her signature lip color?+
Ivy Levan mixes different matte lip colors, often combining two that might be too pink and one that is too brown.
What are Ivy Levan's fashion preferences?+
Ivy Levan prefers black clothing, capes, and long coats, often inspired by evil villains in Disney movies, The Matrix, or Tomb Raider.

BEAUTY EDIT

THE SXSW BEAUTY EDIT

Related in Sxsw

View all →