Ivy Levan

Ivy Rose Levan is an American singer and model. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Bentonville, Arkansas. At the age of 16, two weeks before she was scheduled to graduate high school, Levan moved to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue a career in music. After experimenting with various musical styles, she began utilizing her Southern upbringing as a frame of reference and influence for her work.

Levan eventually signed record deals with Cherrytree Records and Interscope Records. In 2013, she released her debut EP, Introducing the Dame, on Interscope Records. The release peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Next Big Sound charts and featured the popular single "Hot Damn," alongside visual singles such as "Money," "I Don't Wanna Wake Up," and "Hang Forever." Following the release, she was featured on CBS News' "The Feed," interviewed in Glamour Magazine, and won MTVu's Freshman segment twice.

Throughout 2013 and 2014, Levan engaged in several notable tours and performances. She supported Fitz & The Tantrums on tour across Texas, the Mid-West, and the North-Eastern United States, while also performing at clubs supporting the LGBT community. She later supported Emeli Sandé, performed with Lisa Fischer at the 25th Anniversary of the Rainforest Fund Benefit Concert, and appeared in a Beats By Dre television commercial. On February 2, 2014, Levan made her television performance debut on the Late Show with David Letterman, performing "Drive My Car" alongside Sting and Mike Einziger.

In late 2014, Levan released a three-track single titled Frostbitten through Cherrytree Records, followed by the single "Biscuit" in January 2015. "Biscuit" was included on her debut studio album, No Good, which was released on August 7, 2015. The album featured promotional duets including "27 Club" with Diplo and "Killing You" with Sting, as well as the promotional single "The Dame Says." During this period, she also recorded "Who Can You Trust?," the Bond-styled theme song for the comedy film Spy.

In 2016, Levan sang the opening credits and starred as Usherette in Fox TV's production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The following year, she signed a new record deal with BMG and announced her EP Fucc It. She subsequently released the singles "Her," "When I Get Home," and "Alive."

Following these releases, Levan went on hiatus to focus on her health. She later became an advocate for mental health and LGBT+ rights, opened an art gallery, and began working on her second studio album with producer Adam Bravin. Outside of her music career, Levan is openly bisexual and signed to Ford Models. She has modeled in campaigns for JCPenney and Payless ShoeSource, and walked the runway for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Her musical style, often called "Swamp-hop," incorporates soul music and synths, drawing influence from artists such as Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Ray Charles, Madonna, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Slayer, and Beyoncé.