LVNMUZIQ

Artist Information

Biography

Liz Snavely, aka LVNMUZIQ, drifts somewhere between the dusty road lyrics of Tracy Chapman, with the soulful luster of Toni Childs.

She has a distinct vocal sound that can warm up the chilliest spring morning and her songs have a way of working their way under your skin and making themselves a part of your being.

Lyric-based, toe-tappin' urban folk, acoustic singer-songwriter, lesbian Liz Snavely (LVNMUZIQ), has been gigging out since 2006 at over 350 shows in 25 states. Some of her influences include Tracy Chapman, Damien Rice, and David Gray. Originally from Elkhart, IN, Snavely now lives in Grand Rapids, MI.

Liz has 5 CDs. The latest was "Live On Sherman Street" on Little Ringo Records in 2009. She is now writing for the 6th LVNMUZIQ CD, due out in 2012.

College & Universities performed and/or spoken at:
*Elmhurst College / Elmhurst, IL
*Grand Valley State University / Allendale, MI
*Indiana University Fort Wayne / Ft Wayne, IN
*Ohio University / Athens, OH
*Sage University / Troy, NY
*University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana / Champaign, IL
*Western Kentucky University / Bowling Green, KY
*Western Michigan University / Kalamazoo, MI

Festivals performed at:
*Arts, Beats & Eats / Pontiac, MI
*Estrogenfest / Commerce, MI
*Festival Of The Arts / Grand Rapids, MI
*Ft Wayne Pride / Ft Wayne, IN
*Kalamazoo Pride / Kalamazoo, MI
*Kentuckiana Pride / Louisville, KY
*Kimball Arts Festival / Park City, UT
*Milwaukee Pride / Milwaukee, WI
*National Women's Music Festival / Madison, WI
*Ohio Lesbian Festival / Pataskala, OH
*Phoenix Pride / Phoenix, AZ
*San Diego Pride Festival / San Diego, CA
*West Michigan Pride / Grand Rapids, MI
*Women's Red Rock Music Festival / Torrey, UT

LVNMUZIQ has performed the following Benefit Concerts to support the following organizations:
*Carol's Ferals / Grand Rapids, MI
*Crash's Landing / Grand Rapids, MI
*GLBT Partnership / Appleton, WI
*Great Lakes Pride / Grand Rapids, MI
*GVSU LGBT Resource Center / Allendale, MI
*Kalamazoo Pride / Kalamazoo, MI
*Labor of Love / Chicago, IL
*LGBT Resource Center / LaCrosse, WI
*Milwaukee Gay Arts Center / Milwaukee, WI
*National Coming Out Day / Grand Rapids, MI
*Susan G Komen for the Cure / Grandville, MI & Ann Arbor, MI
*The LGBT Network / Grand Rapids, MI
*Who Cares Benefit / Lowell, MI

Highlights:

*Finalist 2010 Indiegrrl Songwriting Contest
*Regional Finalist 2009 NewSong Mountain Stage Song Contest
*Finalist 2009 Indiegrrl Songwriting Contest
*Nominated for 2009 WYCE Jammie Award for
Best Folk Album "Contemplating the Void"
*Auditioned for NBC's "America's Got Talent" in 2009
*Nominated for 2008 WYCE Jammie Award for
Best Folk Album "Orange Kiss"
*Wrote the song "Back Seat" for the independent film
documentary "Fagbug"
*"Back Seat" part of the Soundtrack for the film
documentary, Fagbug. Tegan and Sara & Ember
Swift also have songs in the film.
*Attended 2007 Rocky Mountain Song School
*Auditioned for America's Got Talent in 2009

Acts we've shared the stage with or opened for:
*Emiko, Pamela Means, Tret Fure, Andrea Gibson,
Edie Carey, Cris Williamson, Melissa Ferrick,
Martine Locke, Ellis, Catie Curtis, God-Des & She,
Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, Brandy, Etta James, The
Clicks, Gin Blossoms, Ferron, Bitch

Musical Influences:
*Tracy Chapman, Damien Rice, David Gray,
Ray LaMontagne, Indigo Girls, Melissa Ferrick,
Classic Rock, Dave Matthews Band, Missy Higgins,
Sugarland

Booking Contact:
*Liz Snavely
(616) 610-7300
LVNMUZIQ@sbcglobal.net

Instrumentation

Liz Snavely - Vocals, Guitar, and Harmonica
Greg Lindauer - Bass

Discography

"Fagbug" (13 song movie Soundtrack CD)
released July 2010

"Live on Sherman Street" (15 song live CD)
released April 2009 (ASCAP)

"4-Song EP" (4 song EP)
released December 2008 (ASCAP)

"Contemplating the Void" (9 song studio CD)
released March 2008 (ASCAP)

"Unity in Harmony" - Compilation CD
(supporting the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center)
released June 2007

"Orange Kiss" (12 song studio CD)
released July 2006 (ASCAP)

"26 Weeks" (6 song EP)
released May 2005

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Website
• MySpace
• LVNMUZIQ "Contemplating the Void" (CD Baby)
• LVNMUZIQ "4-song EP" (CD Baby)
• LVNMUZIQ "Live On Sherman Street" (CD Baby)
• Reverbnation

Audio

• Back Seat (from the film "Fagbug")
  Listen  
• Contemplating The Void
  Listen  
• Life
  Listen  
• Endless Maze
  Listen  
• River
  Listen  
• I Will
  Listen  
• Growing Pains
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Back Seat (from the film Fagbug)
• Contemplating The Void
• Life
• Endless Maze
• River
• I Will
• Growing Pains

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• LVNMUZIQ - Urban Folk Music Returns Home [+ Show ]
  

  February 25, 2010 Nobody in this town loves a homecoming concert better than I do, and for one ni...February 25, 2010
  
  Nobody in this town loves a homecoming concert better than I do, and for one night only, LVNMUZIQ returns to Grand Rapids to perform with a full band at Rocky's Bar & Grill.
  
  LVNMUZIQ (pronounced Lovin'Music) is fronted by singer/songwriter Liz Snavely, who I got to know a little bit better in a darkroom, of all places. Since we both shared a background in the visual arts, crossing paths while we developed film and printed negatives only made sense.
  
  It was only later in life that I would learn of her musical talent. The beauty of LVNMUZIQ songwriting is that she takes us on a wonderful journey down her personal path that we also find familiar.
  
  On the song "River from her 2008 album "Contemplating the Void," Liz bares her soul about stepping out in the unknown. It would go on to become one of her most requested songs.
  
  Fans of her urban folk style will tell you how the music connects with them on so many levels. LVNMUZIQ drifts somewhere between the dusty road lyrics of Tracy Chapman, with the soulful luster of Toni Childs.
  
  This is one of those rare shows that pops into town with very little fanfare but is no less equally important than a headliner with a glittering name on the marquee. Music that cuts to the soul is always worth seeking out in our community, so don't miss this rare opportunity to be LVNMUZIQ.
  
  Admission: $5.(Opening for LVNMUZIQ is Ask Me When and Gabrial James)

• Liz Snavely: An 'Uncommon' Performer [+ Show ]
  

  October 21, 2009 A childhood in which she constantly moved helped prepare Midwestern singer/songw...October 21, 2009
  
  A childhood in which she constantly moved helped prepare Midwestern singer/songwriter Liz Snavely for the itinerant life of a musician. "I love to travel," said Snavely, "so that part is easy." Wiry and hyper, Snavely makes it all look easy, from teaching herself to play guitar to finding the ideal venue to jamming with the likes of Melissa Ferrick. Just a few hours before a recent Chicago performance with the 4 Women Only Showcase, Snavely grabbed a coffee in Andersonville, and talked with Windy City Times about her favorite tour stops and why she loves Eminem.
  
  Windy City Times: You're a self-taught musician. How did you learn to play?
  
  Liz Snavely: I got a guitar like 21 years ago that I would pick up every once in a while, but I was very much attention deficit disorder, undiagnosed, but I'm sure that's what it was. So, I didn't have the patience, until about six years ago, when I started playing more. I got a book on chords and learned how to pick a little more intricately rather than playing intricate chords, because that's what worked for me. I already had words cause I'm a poet, so eventually, I just kind of put words to music.
  
  WCT: How long have you been writing poetry?
  
  LS: Since I was old enough to write. I started off with little limericks, no I don't have any memorized, but I'm sure they were silly.
  
  WCT: How do you go from writing poetry to songs?
  
  LS: I consider myself a folk rapper. I don't rap whatsoever, but my words have that sort of flow like a rapper would in a song. Eminem is one of my favorites. His words flow really intricately, just like a poem. From there I try to find the grove.
  
  WCT: Do you write every day?
  
  LS: As dangerous as it may sound, I write when I'm driving, [ which is ] better than texting, I guess. I always have a notepad down to the side and thoughts come to me and I write them down. I don't write every day, but I think every day, I live every day—and that's part of the writing process.
  
  WCT: You've played with some folk favorites, [ such as ] Pamela Means and the like. Any standout performing experiences?
  
  LS: One of my best states is Utah, which is funny, but there's actually a large lesbian population there. I played with Melissa Ferrick and Edie Carey at The Women's Redrock Music Festival. I love doing festivals: The more people, the less nervous I am. Like, if I sit around in my living room and play for friends, I want to vomit—but get me in front of hundreds of thousands, my nerves go away.
  
  WCT: Why?
  
  LS: It's not as intimate. Even though I'm putting myself out there, it's still more revealing in a small room where you know everyone is paying attention. I play a lot of small shows, but I don't enjoy it nearly as much.
  
  WCT: How do you deal with stage fright?
  
  LS: I work through it every day. I'm terrified right now, but it's not a bad thing. I always tell people, you're nervous because you give a crap. I have a lot of anxiety issues. I can't change that, but I can't let it consume me. Since the music came along, I deal with my anxiety better, because I'm forced to calm myself down.
  
  WCT: When did you start playing full-time?
  
  LS: About three and a half years ago. To make my music happen, I move around a lot. I just moved from Grand Rapids to Louisville two days ago. I'll live in Louisville for three or four months, help some friends refinish their attic, live there for a while, and then move onto the next place.
  
  WCT: What are your long-term career goals?
  
  LS: I always want to tour in some capacity, but my ultimate goal is to write for film and TV. I've done that already for this independent film, Fagbug, which is out all over the country and might be on Logo TV soon. I've got three songs in it, including the main song, which I wrote specifically for the film.
  
  WCT: How is writing for film different than writing for yourself?
  
  LS: When you're writing for someone else, you're kind of doing an assignment. For the movie, it was "Hey, this is going to be about hate crimes against gays and lesbians, go read all these blogs and learn about the story and write a song about it." It's an opportunity to really shine, put out your best stuff. Whereas normally, I just write if I'm inspired. I don't like to be forced but, at the same time, I do like writing for movies; I like the challenge. And they end up being some of my best songs.
  
  WCT: How did you become involved with the 4 Women Only showcase?
  
  LS: I try to book Uncommon Ground a couple times a year, so I was on the Web site, saw Kat Fitzgerald was hosting the series and wrote her. I'm always researching, trying to find venues that are good for my kind of music.
  
  WCT: What can we expect from the show?
  
  LS: The same four women every Wednesday in October, playing half an hour apiece. If you want to get up and accompany someone else or vice versa, there's a chance. Usually by the last couple of shows you're all playing together—a good challenge for me because I don't normally accompany people.
  
  WCT: Any favorite Chicago venues?
  
  LS: I had a great time when I played at T's Bar here. And I love Uncommon Ground; it's a great acoustic venue as long as you don't schedule yourself when the Cubs are playing!

• An Interview With Artist LVNMUZIQ [+ Show ]
  

  October 5, 2009 Artist LVNMUZIQ, aka Liz Snavely, always knew she wanted to be a full-time musici...October 5, 2009
  
  Artist LVNMUZIQ, aka Liz Snavely, always knew she wanted to be a full-time musician. In 2006, she turned her dream into a reality.
  
  “It’s sad to me to see so many people live their entire lives in a job that they absolutely can’t stand. I was that person and I knew I needed to make a radical change. I needed to find my soul.” (LVNMUZIQ)
  
  Jolie du Pre: What made you decide that "Open Mic Night" was a way to help you overcome your stage fright?
  
  LVNMUZIQ: I used to visit Billy’s, a local blues bar in Grand Rapids, MI, on Monday nights to watch the open mic before I was comfortable to play in front of anyone, including my own girlfriend and my friends. I was terrified to step outside the comfort of my own living room and play in front of others, so I knew I had to face my fear. Playing open mic seemed like the most natural progression in the steps necessary to overcome my stage fright. I have always been really shy and had stage fright. The only way to overcome your fears is to face your fears. So one night, my friend, Laura, and I went to the open mic to play 3 songs. I was so nervous. Laura played lead guitar with me. During the 1st song, my first open mic ever, I broke a string. So I had to ask to use someone else’s guitar. But I got through it and was so proud that I had FINALLY taken the first step on my musical journey. I think open mics are the best way to practice in front of a live audience before you start booking your own shows. In addition to playing in front of others, you get to learn from others and see a variety of musicians perform. I still perform at open mics on some of my days off when I’m touring. It keeps me fresh and gives me that live practice in front of an audience of strangers. It’s always learning and growing experience.
  
  Jolie du Pre: Can you describe what it felt like your first time up on stage?
  
  LVNMUZIQ: Having been a competitive athlete most of my life, the feelings of performing on stage the first time were similar to the feelings I’ve had prior to a sporting event or race I’ve participated in. My first time on stage I remember my heart was pounding from the anxiety and the excitement. I couldn’t breathe. My stomach was upset. I was shaky and quivery and my face turned beat red. I knew the stage is where my body belonged, but I had to convince my mind of that. Despite the fear and the uncomfortable body emotions, I wanted to cry because I knew I had accomplished much by having taken the first step toward making music my full-time career. It was a HUGE step for me. Without taking this step, I would still be playing in my living room without an audience and no one would be hearing what I have to say through my music.
  
  Jolie du Pre: What other obstacles have you had to overcome while learning the music business and trying to build a following?
  
  LVNMUZIQ: I’ve had to overcome many obstacles. I’ve had to learn to eat, sleep, and breathe music, believe in myself, gain knowledge of the independent music world and other musicians, learn how to start my own business, make CDs, promote, advertise, book shows, etc. If I didn’t first believe in myself, I never could have begun this musical journey. I had to overcome major anxiety issues in order to perform in front of an audience of strangers and somehow form a connection with them before the show is over. I had to quit my full-time corporate job and somehow survive on way less income and I lost my house in the process. It takes lots of time to promote yourself properly for each show. I have to spend hours every day in front of the computer trying to get more folks to my shows. The economy has been a huge obstacle, however, I keep telling myself that if I can make it during these difficult economical times, then when the economy changes and becomes better, I will be okay and I will survive. I can’t afford to hire people to help me, so I have to lean on others or figure out a way to do everything myself. It’s really all been on-the-job-training on me. I’ve been learning by trial and error. And it’s been working so far for 3 ½ years. Now I can spend time focusing on trying to make it work even better.
  
  Jolie du Pre: Have you found other artists to be supportive of you and your efforts?
  
  LVNMUZIQ: I’ve definitely had moments of picking the brains of other successful independent musicians to see what they are doing that works and doesn’t work, but you can only lean on other artists so much. They are also very busy focusing on their own art. You have to find your own path – your own way. Local musicians that I have become friends with have shown vast support by playing with me at local shows and telling others about my music. I’ve also grown quite fond of bartering with other artists. I have a great friend who is an artist who has designed a few of my postcards and one of my CDs. In exchange for her art, I have written a song for her. So it’s a fair trade art for art. That has been some of the most beneficial means of support I could imagine. There are also other national touring independent musicians that I admire and try to set up shows with when I’m touring. To me it is very supportive of them to want to play a show with me when I may have way less experience then they have but they believe in me and my music. There’s a special camaraderie amongst musicians. It helped that for 3 years I had a house concert series out of my home in Grand Rapids, MI. There’s a special camaraderie amongst musicians. I’ve had about 14 national touring independent musicians perform at my house concert series. That has helped with networking and getting to know others who are successfully living their musical dream.
  
  Jolie du Pre: Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone who has dreams of being a singer or musician?
  
  LVNMUZIQ: First of all, if it’s what you really really want to do then you should just do it. Give it a try. I know many musicians who regret never giving it a try. So just try it. You may or may not like it. But I see the same thing over and over again with many talented musicians. They have the talent but no drive. You have to be self-motivated and disciplined. Playing music full-time takes a lot of time promoting yourself. You can’t just book your gigs. You have to have people show up. I think it’s important to have some source of income coming in when you’re first getting established, so I think it’s important to have some type of part-time job to help pay the bills. I found it nearly impossible to work a full-time job and put the time and effort into music that I needed to, so for me, working part-time was the solution. Hang with others that are like-minded and are living their musical dream. Hang out with folks that believe in you and support you. Find others who have been doing music full-time and learn from them. Pick their brain. I would recommend reading a lot on the subject of music as a career. Most importantly, no matter what your passion is in life, don’t let it consume you. Remember to take time for yourself, make time for folks important to you, and don’t let yourself get burned out. It seems most people want the reward of anything they do, but they don’t want to put the hard work into it. Music is just that – a lot of hard work and a lot of beautiful rewards. I love playing music, traveling, and meeting new people, so music is the perfect career for me. I’ve never worked so hard in my life for less money than I’ve ever made. But I just believe everyday that it’s going to just keep getting better and better. Come up with a plan and put it into action. If you have a musical dream, don’t just talk about it, put it into action. You will never know what you are capable of unless you try. Read books. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. I recommend any musician to begin by playing for your friends, then at open mics, than book your own local gigs, then your own regional gigs, and eventually your own national gigs. Pick a few choice cities nearby to get established in and then branch out from there. Use your resources. I have 5 CDs and most of them have been recorded in friend’s houses who have their own studio. You don’t need to go and spend thousands of dollars recording a CD. The quality you can get in a home studio is good enough to be played on the radio. So lean on those around you for help and never give up hope that you will achieve all that you want to achieve.

• Michigan singer-songwriter bares souls, soles during concerts [+ Show ]
  

  January 12, 2009 Michigan singer-songwriter Liz Snavely quit a lucrative telecommunications job t...January 12, 2009
  
  Michigan singer-songwriter Liz Snavely quit a lucrative telecommunications job to pursue music. In so doing,she lost her three-bedroom house, forcing her to move into a one-room apartment.
  
  "I couldn't pay the mortgage anymore," Snavely said during a telephone interview. "It was either quit paying or go back to corporate America. I just said I'll quit paying."
  
  Two days before she was evicted, Snavely gave a concert at her house in front of 40 friends. She recorded the performance, which is slated to become a live CD this April.
  
  "It's a memorial of my house that I lost," she said. "That's the only place I've ever done music. I wanted to make it a special evening."
  
  Chippewa Valley music lovers can catch Snavely's live show Thursday at the Acoustic Cafe. Eau Claire musician Elizabeth Christianson of the folk band QuinnElizabeth will open.
  
  Snavely, 42, specializes in toe-tapping urban folk. And those toes are on display during shows.
  
  "It's not to be cool," she said of playing barefoot. "I get hot. I got to take those shoes off. I'd prefer to keep them on if I could. The bottom of my feet, I get these calluses. Sometimes I'm playing on some pretty hard surfaces. I've busted my feet open from pounding so hard."
  
  When playing, Snavely feels as emotionally naked as her feet. She overcame her anxiety by participating in open mics and accepting encouragement from friends.
  
  "Even though I was nervous and uncomfortable, I just kept booking shows," she said. "I can say I'm a lot more comfortable now, but there's not a show where I don't feel stage fright. I still feel very nervous. It's still a very vulnerable thing to do - put yourself out there and share your personal stories."
  
  Snavely,who also performs as LVNMUZIQ, refers to songwriting as "free therapy."She grew up in foster homes and now sings about pain, love, abuse,abandonment and courage.
  
  "(Songwriting)has helped me go through a lot of necessary healing in my life, having come from a pretty horrific background. It's helped save me. It's given me hope," she said. "People ask about my songs, and it gives me an opportunity to talk about it. I'm always able to release my emotions now. It's been real freeing."
  
  Snavely,who has "MUZIQ" tattooed on her right forearm, always wanted to be a musician. In elementary school, she and a friend sang along to classic rock songs on the radio and designed album covers.
  
  Snavely has written poetry most of her life, but she didn't teach herself to play the guitar until about six years ago.
  
  "The words have always come real easy. To try to do something with music without any training whatsoever, that was challenging, very challenging," she said. "I figured that a lot more people would hear it that way instead of just writing poetry in my journal and keeping it to myself."
  
  Two months after her 40th birthday, she quit her corporate job and devoted herself to music full time.
  
  "As you get older you start becoming more sure of yourself," she said. "Too bad it took a little longer than I wanted, but I don't have any regrets. It happened when it was supposed to."
  
  She released her first full-length album, "Orange Kiss," in 2006. Her newest disc, "Contemplating the Void," came out in March.
  
  Snavely, who is gay, has three songs featured in the upcoming movie "Fagbug." The documentary follows a New York woman whose Volkswagen was vandalized because it displayed a rainbow sticker.
  
  Snavely wrote the film's theme song, "Back Seat," which plays during the opening credits. The movie has been accepted into international film festivals and will premiere April 10 in Los Angeles.
  
  The song is a step toward Snavely's ultimate goal of writing music for TV and movies, she said. Considering all she's overcome, Snavely isn't afraid to chase her dream.
  
  "I'm pretty much willing to take any risk you can throw at me," she said."It's very rewarding when it works. It's still rewarding when it doesn't work too."
  
  Espe can be reached at 833-9206 or troy.espe@ecpc.com.

• Folk with an edge: Grand Rapids' LVNMUZIQ is not home for the holidays [+ Show ]
  

  December 11, 2008 You can't accuse Grand Rapids urban-folk musician Liz Snavely, who performs as ...December 11, 2008
  
  You can't accuse Grand Rapids urban-folk musician Liz Snavely, who performs as LVNMUZIQ, of being half-hearted.
  
  Two-and-a-half years ago she quit her job in telecommunication sales making almost $100,000 a year to pursue her dream of being a full-time musician. Her job made her "miserable," but music brought her release and joy. Last week, she had a concert at her home for a live CD recording due out sometime next year.
  
  LVNMUZIQ, who will perform with vocalist/guitarist Gabrial James at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Foundry Hall with folk duo Nervous but Excited, said she decided to host the show shortly after she learned she'd lose her home, which she has owned since 2003, because she hasn't made a house payment in more than 12 months.
  
  The concert was planned as a send-off to the home and another example that this music thing is for real. Although she's "barely squeaking by," she proved to herself she can make a living playing her own stuff.
  
  "I don't condone not paying a house payment like I did for a year and a half, but I do condone pursuing your dream," she said prior to the concert.
  
  LVNMUZIQ is from Elkhart, Ind., where she spent most of her childhood in foster care. Her father died when she was young and during what little interaction she had with her family she was told she was worthless. At age 42, she finally has the self-confidence to get up on stage and express herself.
  
  "I wish I would've been able to do it sooner," she said.
  
  A lot of people talk about chasing such dreams, but LVNMUZIQ is living it. She tries to encourage others to do the same.
  
  "Just go for it. What do you have to lose? Your soul?" she said. "I think more people should do it. ... It's not impossible, because I'm doing it."
  
  Some of that determination comes from her days as a runner. She's completed eight marathons and one ultra-marathon and has climbed 14,000 feet up a mountain in Colorado.
  
  "I still have the same drive I have for getting first place in a race that I do with my music. ... I play music like I used to run," she said.
  
  LVNMUZIQ, who released her latest full-length album, "Contemplating the Void," in March, said she will live simply. She's sold most of what she owns and will look to move into a small apartment. She'll also rely on help from friends and her partner, Deb, to get her through the transition. She quickly mentioned how integral their support has been, especially considering how little stability she had growing up.
  "It makes a huge difference," she said.
  
  One career-builder LVNMUZIQ is keeping her fingers crossed for is her work for the documentary, "Fagbug," a film by Erin Davies, of New York. After her Volkswagen Beetle was vandalized because it had a rainbow sticker on it, Davies went on a 58-day tour through the U.S. and Canada in the spray-painted car documenting reactions from people.
  
  Three songs from LVNMUZIQ -- "Back Seat," "On the Radio" and "Orange Kiss" -- were featured on the soundtrack. The documentary has been picked up by film festivals in Connecticut and Egypt and is awaiting word sometime this month from the Sundance Film Festival.
  
  In the same month she loses her home, she may receive a big boost from exposure at Sundance, held Jan. 15-25 in Park City, Utah.
  
  She's hoping to get news from Sundance, "sooner rather than later. I'm getting nervous."
  
  For more: www.lvnmuziq.com

• Public events staged during leadership, activism conference [+ Show ]
  

  Oct 18, 2008 A talk on "What's Morally Wrong With Homosexuality?" by Dr. John Corvino and a conce...Oct 18, 2008
  
  A talk on "What's Morally Wrong With Homosexuality?" by Dr. John Corvino and a concert by urban-folk artist Liz Snavely will be presented later this month at Western Michigan University.
  
  The two events are free and open to the public, and being staged in conjunction with WMU's inaugural Student Leadership and Activist Development Conference, set for Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 23-25. The deadline to register for the conference was Oct. 6.
  
  Corvino, associate professor of philosophy at Wayne State University, is the conference's keynote speaker. He will talk at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in the Fetzer Center's Kirsch Auditorium. A reception will follow his presentation, which is being co-sponsored by the Kalamazoo Gay/Lesbian Resource Center, Kalamazoo Alliance for Equality, Kaleidoscope of Kalamazoo College and WMU Ethics Center.
  
  The concert by Snavely, who performs under the name LVNMUZIQ, pronounced "love'n music," starts at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, in the Bernhard Center on the Bronco Mall Center Stage. It is being co-sponsored by WMU's LBGT student services office and Student Entertainment Team.
  
  Corvino is a writer, speaker and gay-rights advocate. He has written more than 100 articles and opinion pieces for academic journals, regional and national print media, and online sites such as 365gay.com, one of America's most read gay news sources.
  
  Since 1992, Corvino has been asking audience members whether there is anything "wrong" with homosexuality. If the answer is yes, he challenges people to explain what is wrong and if the answer is no, he challenges them to explain what all the fuss is about.
  
  Known as "the Gay Moralist," Corvino uses humor, sensitivity and intellectual rigor to examine and dismantle the most common arguments against homosexual conduct and encourage others to rethink some of the "easy assumptions" on both sides of the debate.
  
  LVNMUZIQ is the brain child of singer-songwriter Liz Snavely of Grand Rapids, Mich. Earlier in the day of her WMU concert, she will appear live in the studio of WIDR, the University's student-run radio station.
  
  Snavely is a former graphic designer who performs toe-tapping folk music with an urban, sometimes raw edge. She plays the harmonica and acoustic guitar, and has been described as a cross between Tracy Chapman and Grant Lee Phillips.
  
  WMU's Student Leadership and Activist Development Conference is being organized by the WMU Division of Student Affairs and its Office of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Student Services, with generous funding from the Arcus Gay and Lesbian Fund.
  
  Students from WMU and across the Midwest have registered for the event, which seeks to develop their leadership and activist abilities by providing education and information that focuses on a variety of social-justice aspects of leadership and activism. The conference will feature interest sessions and workshops led by representatives from campus and community organizations, including such national groups as Advocates for Youth and the Center For Progressive Leadership.
  
  Among the sessions and workshops being offered are: "WMU's Gender Identity Training Program: Train the Trainer"; "LBGT Students and Residence Life," which will focus on issues LBGT students living in residence halls face and how hall officials can facilitate a safe and welcoming environment; the "Disability Resource Center of Southwest Michigan," the message of which is providing an inclusive environment means including everyone; "From Values to Policy"; "Why Volunteer?"; "Practicing Collaborative Leadership"; and the youth-oriented "Redressing Homophobia in Communities of Color."
  
  For more information about the Office of LBGT Student Services or its Student Leadership and Activist Development Conference, go to lbgt.wmich.edu or contact Sarah Strangle, WMU coordinator of LBGT student services, at lbgt-coordinator@wmich.edu or (269) 387-2123.

• "Contemplating the Void" CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  March 27, 2008 Urban folk is the operative phrase when it comes to describing the music of LVNMUZ...March 27, 2008
  
  Urban folk is the operative phrase when it comes to describing the music of LVNMUZIQ. Liz Snavely (a.k.a. LVNMUZIQ) has a distinct vocal sound that can warm up the chilliest spring morning and her songs have a way of working their way under your skin and making themselves a part of your being. "River," on which she is joined by violinist Step DeJong, has a comforting flow, and the appearance of a harmonica on "Disappear" is a welcome addition. Snavely makes the void worth contemplating on "Contemplating the Void" and makes "Growing Pains" a painless experience.

• Local Spins [+ Show ]
  

  February 24, 2008 CD Review for "Contemplating the Void" GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A cross between Tr...February 24, 2008
  
  CD Review for "Contemplating the Void"
  
  GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A cross between Tracy Chapman and Grant Lee Phillips, urban-folk singer-songwriter Liz Snavely, aka LVNMUZIQ, creates compelling, sometimes-introspective, sometimes-fiery acoustic nuggets on her second full-length CD. A powerful talent!

• Not So Naughty. Folk artist counts calories, jams for elderly people at home [+ Show ]
  

  April 5, 2007 Give Liz Snavely a break. Even "American Idol" contestants have ripped lyrics to sh...April 5, 2007
  
  Give Liz Snavely a break. Even "American Idol" contestants have ripped lyrics to shreds. What's worse, they've slipped-up in front of crowds exceeding those at a coffeehouse or bar, where Snavely typically performs. "I've forgotten words," the musician admits. "It used to really bother me; now I just make a joke about it." The Grand Rapids-based singer-songwriter can't imagine mustering the guts to perform in front of millions of people. Furthermore, she can't fathom flubbing a performance on the ratings-whore talent show. She laughs, "In that situation: Naughty! Naughty!" Snavely is far from naughty. The calorie-counter resists sugar-intense coffee drinks (she doesn't even know what a latte is) and she's tight with the elderly. After school, Snavely visited a 70-year-old lady. Not only did the woman babysit the budding musician, but also she taught her how to play some melodies and a slew of church hymns on the piano. In fifth grade, Snavely took her musicmaking tips and electronic organ to a nursing home down the street from her house – where she lived with her mother and two sisters – to play them some Christmas tunes. It didn't matter if it was December or the middle of summer, the elderly folks dug Snavely's holiday ditties. Some of the arthritic handed women rekindled their musical talents with Snavely. "They'd actually sound pretty good; a little gritty, but really good," she recalls in a quasi-Southern drawl. "I think for a moment they were really happy." Well, most of them. She couldn't escape the cranky ones. And it's hard to imagine Snavely – a chirpy, simple soul who likes her coffee with just cream – morphing into such a person. Her partner, Christina, is an architect and they live with three cats. When she hits the road for her most-expansive trek to date, The Out West Tour, she'll miss Luna, Whoopi and Mr. Bojangles. "One of the most difficult things about traveling is being away from my cats, as crazy as that sounds. I don't have any kids, so it's the next best thing." Second to her partner, of course. "Christina is number one, then the cats," she laughs. "Let's make that clear." When Snavely began making her rounds on the concert circuit, she'd tense up. She worked out anxiety kinks at open mics and while playing for a church band in Las Vegas. But she hasn't completely shaken her anxious ways. "It's not as bad, but it's kind of like being an athlete before a race: No matter how much you do it, you're always gonna be nervous." Since the release of "Orange Kiss," Snavely and her LVNMUZIQ (pronounced lovin' music, which is the name of her aggressive folk music duo) partner Greg (G-Tech) Lindauer have been jamming in various pubs, coffeehouses, house concerts, bookstores, at festivals and around bonfires at a friend's house in Lowell, Mich. "We don't do 'Kumbaya' or anything crazy like that," she laughs. The Out West Tour will take her through Oregon, California and Washington, much farther than the places she typically plays in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Not only does the tour's name carry a literal meaning, but also it signifies Snavely's ability to branch out as a musician. She's more comfy with her sound. And more importantly, with the stage. "I'm kind of coming out of that musical closet," she insists. Who lured her out of her shell? Her mother. "She never fully lived her life to her potential," Snavely says. "I just want people to know I didn't want to continue on the same path that she did."

• In Your Ear - Folk on the Edge [+ Show ]
  

  January 4, 2007 Each time Grand Rapids-based folkie Liz Snavely takes the stage, it's a personal...January 4, 2007
  
  Each time Grand Rapids-based folkie Liz Snavely takes the stage, it's a personal triumph.
  
  Live performance doesn't come naturally for her -- she describes herself as possessing "major anxiety" about it.
  
  "It's very uncomfortable for me to perform, but I also love it. Part of the anxiety is the excitement," Snavely said.
  
  She's had a lot of practice conquering that feeling lately. Snavely has performed in Michigan and Indiana for years and is working to make a name for herself on a national level.
  
  Strength in pain
  Much of Snavely's music contains a subtext of internal struggle, of powerless people working through pain and showing their inner strength. Snavely, who spent much of her youth in the foster-care system around her hometown of Elkhart, Ind., understands those feelings.
  
  "As a kid, I didn't have choices of where I lived, what I did or anything like that. I was controlled by the state, basically," Snavely said. "I knew during that time that what I was going to do was write music. That was going to be my healing or my release -- and it has been."
  
  A couple of months ago, Snavely did what many artists dream of doing -- she quit her day job to focus on her craft full time.
  
  "It's fantastic so far and very terrifying at the same time," she said.
  
  Snavely writes all her material. While most of the songs are autobiographical, she said she tries to make them universal. "Something moves me to write -- it's usually something that happened in my life or to somebody I'm close to," Snavely said. "It just kind of turns out that most of the stuff that I do write, a lot of people can relate to."
  
  Duo or solo
  Snavely often works as one half of the folk music duo LVNMUZIQ -- pronounced 'loving music' -- but lately she's working on her own. She's losing her bass player Greg Lindauer in March, in part because he wants to start a family, and in part because it's easier financially to tour as a solo performer.
  
  In April, she begins a seven-state swing on the West Coast. She released her first full-length recording, "Orange Kiss" in July. It was produced by Lance Eichler at Eastown Recording. "He's a real hard-core heavy-metal player, and that's what I wanted. I don't want to just be a folk singer," she said. "I like that, don't get me wrong. I love Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez and all that, but that's not me," she said. "I wanted to be a little edgier, so I wanted to get a little edgier dude."
  
  Send e-mail to the author: weekend@grpress.com

Setlist

Most songs are original and listed below:

I Will
River
Where I Belong
Disappear
Life
Growing Pains
Rose Garden
Contemplating The Void
Endless Maze
Can't Get Enuff
On The Radio
911
2nd Chances
Back Seat
This
Butterflies
Tightrope
Fizzle
Things R Fine
Keep Your Hands Off Me
Orange Kiss
Gonna Get Down
I Can Tell
You Know What I Mean
No Clouds

Some of the cover songs are:

Gravedigger - Dave Matthews
Your Ghost - Kristin Hersh
Knocking On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan
Imagine - John Lennon
9 Crimes - Damien Rice
Yellow - Coldplay
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
Volcano - Damien Rice

Basic Requirements

Calendar