OLIVIA LONGOTT
On her way to Superstardom

Jamaican born beauty, Olivia Longott, is not only an international singer/songwriter but also a composer, producer, arranger and much more. In her younger days, while most girls were playing with dolls, Olivia used her playtime to write music and poetry. Her first poetry work was published in the book Shadows and Light and was inducted into the National Library of Congress just four years later. Though she loved poetry, her passion was always music. Olivia knew that she wanted to be a vocalist and singing at her parents’ church on Sundays made her further appreciate the beauty of sound.

Her parents decided to allow her (then a pre-teen) to explore her musical abilities and signed her up for guitar, piano and vocal training lessons. It didn’t take them long to realize that she was a natural!

Olivia graduated from Bayside High School in Queens, New York, and immediately continued her education at Hofstra University. She then transferred to Five Towns College to pursue her passion for music. It took her no time to complete her very first album. It’s hits like Candy Shop and Best Friend that brought the versatile artist to radio around the world!

Wanting to expand her musical gifts, the now seasoned Olivia is more focused than ever, touring and creating her new album Show The World, which showcases her harmonious vocal and writing talents. The album includes collaborations with Missy Elliott, Neyo, Bryan Michael Cox, Rockwilder, the incomparable Miss Betty Wright and many others. She’s also in studio writing new hits for a variety of artists and creating a clothing line with Victoria's Secret.

Belle interviews R&B sensation Olivia Longott on the road to superstardom:

Belle: You were signed with Clive Davis records in 2000, at the age of nineteen; in fact you were the first artist signed to this label. Can you share with us how this all happened?

Olivia: I was a freshman in college and performing at local talent shows when a guy by the name of Ken Wilson took notice and brought me to J where I met Clive and became the first artist signed to J records.

Belle: Did you always want to be a singer or was it something you pursued because of your obvious talent?

Olivia: I definitely always wanted to be an artist. It was my dream since I was a little girl. I took guitar and piano at an early age and voice lessons came when I was eleven.

Belle: Who was your greatest inspiration as a child?

Olivia: I was a big Luther Vandross fan and he later became my mentor at J. I was also a huge Anita Baker fan! She just had the greatest voice I’d ever heard.

Belle: At what age did you perform for the first time in public and what song did you perform?

Olivia: I performed His Eye Is On The Sparrow (when I was twelve) for a school talent show. It was a great moment for me. I don’t even recall being nervous.

Belle: There is not much public information about your childhood. Can you tell us a bit about that part of your life?

Olivia: I had a pretty normal childhood. I was raised in New York by both parents who are of Jamaican/Cuban and Indian descent. I grew up in the church, and was definitely a tomboy, reveling in soccer and softball.

Belle: Growing up with a Jamaican mother, you must have acquired a taste for Caribbean food. What is your favorite Caribbean dish?

Olivia: I love spicy food. Jerked chicken is a favourite of mine, as well as shrimp roti and oxtails with black eyed peas and coconut bread...delicious! I’m getting fat just thinking about it.

Belle: You were also the first female signed to the G-Unit label. To what do you attribute such an accomplishment?

Olivia: Well I was the first artist signed to J and through some political things that happened there I left for Interscope and 50 Cent wanted to bring me into the Unit. I think a lot had to do with Murder Incorporated having Ashanti on their roster, but in any case I spoke with Jimmy Lovine and 50 Cent and they thought it would be a good look for me...so there I was, the ‘first lady’ of G-Unit.

Belle: You collaborated with Shaggy, a Caribbean son of the soil. What was it like working with him?

Olivia: I loved working with Shaggy. He is a great friend of mine and has been for years. I still use his studio in Long Island to record to this day - he is such a perfectionist, I learnt a lot from him.

Belle: Your attachment to G-Unit included some singles and collaborations with 50 Cent, including his number one hit Candy Shop. What caused you to part ways with the label in 2007?

Olivia: I asked to be released from G-Unit. I was always first and foremost a solo artist and there I felt like I was part of a group. Also we were doing a lot of touring and although I made a lot of money on the road, I wasn't able to make my music and put out an album for the people. I felt hindered from making progress as an artist. I wasn't able to create my own identity and that was counterproductive to what I was trying to do.

Belle: I see that you make your acting debut in the upcoming movie Conspiracy X. How does this experience compare to your experiences as a singer?

Olivia: Music is my first love but I really love to act. It takes me out of my comfort zone. I love being able to play someone that I’m not and put myself in different situations that I may never experience as Olivia.

Belle: Do you plan to delve deeper into acting?

Olivia: Yeah, I definitely plan to do a lot of acting. My manager Rich Dollaz and I are actually headed out west to sign with an agency and start really looking into some feature films. I also have a reality show coming out this summer on VH1, so I'm looking forward to that as well.

Belle: Can you give us more details on the reality show, like what is it based on?

Olivia: The reality show is married to hip hop. It shows me leaving G-Unit and going to new management and starting over my career as a solo artist, and the trials and tribulations (of me and two other women) in navigating the industry and overcoming personal and professional issues. We start shooting the episodes in two weeks.

Belle: I read somewhere that you are now signed with Universal Records. When can we look forward to an album release?

Olivia: I actually haven't signed with Universal Motown - they are just one of the labels we are looking at, as well as Capitol / Def Jam, Warner Bros and Atlantic Records.

Belle: What would you consider to be your greatest challenge in the music industry?

Olivia: In this industry it’s hard to deal with the politics and the hate. The blogs are really hard to deal with at times, when you just have people being mean for no reason. I often wonder what I did to that person for them to be so mean to me. I mean, I’m a good person and work really hard, but when you read things that aren't true and also things that are so vicious it hurts you. I think wow what did I do to deserve that!

Belle: What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter the music industry?

Olivia: The advice I would give to a young person is to be certain that this is what you want to do because it isn't easy and also just believe in yourself because if you don't have confidence, it'll be hard to get others to believe in you. It’s not all fun and games. There’s a lot of hard work and lonely nights so you have to be prepared for them.

Belle: Are there any final words that you want to say to the Olivia Longott fans out there?

Olivia: And finally I would just like to thank my true fans for standing with me through thick and thin and being so good to me over the years. You guys are the reason I do this and have persevered. Also make sure to log on to oliviaworldwide.com and also hit me up on twitter at olivialongott. I have a new mix tape out for you guys. You can download there and hit my manager also at richdollaz ‘cause I may be in your town and would love to see you guys.