How Female Drummer Livia Broke Stereotypes to Become a Music Force

For rising singer, songwriter, and producer Livia, real name AGU Oluchi Olivia, music is not just a career, it is a calling forged in defiance. At just seven years old, she challenged a deeply held belief in her primary school: that only boys could play musical instruments.

“I fell in love with the rhythms of the percussions,” Livia told us in an exclusive interview. “But I was told ‘only boys play instruments.’ I didn’t accept that.”
She didn’t just join the all-male school band; through relentless practice, she became its best drummer. That early victory didn’t just earn her respect, it paved the way for other girls in her school to pick up an instrument. It also set the tone for a career built on skill, versatility, and self-sufficiency.

FROM DRUMS TO STUDIO BOARDS

Her musical appetite only grew in secondary school, where she learned to play the guitar, keyboard, clarinet, and saxophone. The guitar became her favourite companion for early stage performances.

Her first studio experience came in Senior Secondary 1 (SS1), recording a farewell song for graduating seniors. That moment sparked a new ambition: music production. “I wanted to understand how to build a song from the ground up,” she said.
While studying at university, she put that knowledge to work. In 2019, she released her debut single “POCO,” which gained immediate traction on campus and received airplay on Inspiration 92.3 FM. She followed up in 2021 with “TOUCH & FOLLOW,” which expanded her public profile and streaming numbers.

Crucially, Livia moved from being just a vocalist to being her own producer. “I started recording and producing for myself,” she noted. This hands-on approach has defined her artistic identity.

GEARING UP FOR DEBUT EP AND BEYOND

LIVIA’s first extended play (EP), titled Rhythms and Soul, is powerful. She describes the project as containing “fresh and different versions of myself,” reflecting her experiences as a young woman navigating life and the music industry.

For Livia, the drive to create stems from a deep-seated belief in music’s transformative power. “The soothing melody and reverberation of beats continually strikes a chord in my heart,” she shared. “To make the world see through my looking glass on how one song, one tone, one beat, can change your life, that’s why I became an artiste.”

With her debut EP on the horizon, Livia represents a new wave of Nigerian female artists who are not just singers but accomplished musicians and producers. Her journey from the primary school bandroom to the production studio underscores a clear message: she is in full control of her sound.
“My musical journey is just beginning,” she said. “I look forward to more exciting and life-changing projects to come.”