WVN (pronounced /wæn/) cannot be put in any one particular box. Her artistry upholds authenticity in high regard and runs off of her willpower to curate her craft.
On the epic cipher track with Ali and Smoke, “92 Barcelona,” she describes herself as a “she king;” and that truly pins down the illustrious trajectory of WVN’s efforts. She’s as much a fierce lioness, she-king of those she prides, as she is the goat you may not have known about yet…but step into WVN’s music and you will find a heart, mind, and soul on display.
Coupled with sheer wit and exuberant lyricism, WVN is one of the next unstoppable forces sweeping through the Upstate of South Carolina and beyond. When I think of WVN and her course, one word immediately comes to mind:
Impact.
Her aptitude and willingness to speak to people, and speak with them directly, lands her in the wheelhouse of pure inspiration when it comes to representing some of Carolina’s finest.
Now, without further windedness from my fingertips…here is the Moved by Music spotlight on the one and only…WVN!
MBM: Welcome WVN! To start…where did the WVN name and your style come from?
WVN: The name WVN came from college. It was a nickname given to me because I didn’t like to be called a “stud” or “lesbian.” Someone, I can’t remember specifically who, was like, “You’re just like a man but with a ‘W.’” From there, I started calling myself WVN.
My style of music comes from me just being myself. I’ve always been very original and never really fit in. When I was younger, it was hard to embrace. As I got older, it became my swag, my identity.
MBM: You’ve got a quickly budding discography, but when did you first realize you were as moved by music as you are? What made you want to pursue it?
WVN: I think I realized I was first moved by music when I performed a song in front of a crowd for the first time. I went to my hometown, Anderson, for an open mic competition. I hadn’t ever performed in front of a crowd that big. I didn’t even have a stage name yet! After I got done with my performance, the feedback that I got was overwhelming. I had a lot of people coming up to me, telling me to keep pursuing music. Telling me how talented I was. I made the music for me, but the response is definitely what pushed me to keep going.
MBM: What does your music library look like? Highlight some of your favorite artists!
WVN: My music library is literally all over the place. I think my parents made me that way. I have a little bit of everything, and I’ll listen to different genres depending on the mood I’m in. Like, early mornings or when I’m cleaning, I might listen to Sade, Mary J Blige, or Partynextdoor. When I need to get some work or reading done I might turn on some Kenny G. I also have to shout out Missy Elliot, she’s such a big inspiration to me. I love Kodak Black, Johnny Cinco, and T Pain too! I even have Hall & Oates in there.
MBM: Are there any producers or artists from the Upstate (or surrounding regions) you’d want to work with but haven’t yet?
WVN: I am open to working with any artists or producers from the Carolinas, honestly. I feel like we have to stick together in order for us to get out there, so I think as I grow I’ll be more likely to work with producers and artists from around here to make sure I always shed light. To date, anyone that I’ve met at an event and wanted to work with we’ve always made it happen! I don’t want to give away too much but I have a lot of collaborations coming soon!
MBM: To take a bit of a silly turn…what are your absolute ultimate pizza toppings? Also, name a place you would picnic with this ultimate pizza (whether it's your own backyard or the Ozarks!)
WVN: My absolute favorite pizza toppings are definitely pepperoni, sausage, and bacon! I love meat-lovers pizza, especially thin crust. I also like BBQ chicken pizza, but a lot of people think that’s weird so I’d take the meat-lovers one to the picnic lol. I would definitely do my picnic at the beach, Daytona Beach specifically!
MBM: What advice would you give yourself now that you maybe didn’t have when you first started pursuing music more consistently?
WVN: I would just tell myself to always stay true to me. My voice, my ideas, and my music are what make me stand out from others and that’s what makes me original. I think towards the beginning of this journey, I wanted to sound more like someone else...but when you are in your own lane, you have no competition.
If this feature didn’t inspire you or make ya’ feel all warm and ready to maximize the grind in your own life/creative endeavors…by all means reread it or just keep WVN in your ears and on your radar! This she king is here to meet people where they’re at, but head-on. As they are.
Be sure to follow WVN on Instagram and also keep up with her on Spotify and YouTube. Listen how you must, but I will advise…the better the sound system the easier you’ll be able to feel WVN’s music, and just simply hear it. Until next time, folks! Stay moved!
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