Liv Quigley: York musician tackles online bullies in new single

Sammi Minion

With the world such a scary and daunting place these days, we’re here to restore your hope in society through a properly uplifting story about one of York’s rising musical stars.

York-based singer Liv Quigley has just released a song which she hopes will inspire more creatives like her to put themselves out there.

The new single, Somebody, is all about being happy in who you are, by ignoring negative outside voices.

She shares the lessons she has learned throughout her journey with autism, and the battles she’s faced to overcome struggles with anxiety.

Liv said, “I started getting people being quite unpleasant online, writing stuff going oh, you’d be better if you lost weight.

“I wanted to write a song that says to people — you don’t need to change who you are. You just need to be yourself.”

^{Liv (left) alongside her job coach Andy Bowen (furthest right)}

Liv receives support from United Response —a disability charity who work in York to make life better for young adults with autism and learning difficulties.

That’s where she was first introduced to Andy Bowen, one of their educational job coaches, who has been meeting with Liv every Wednesday for the last two years.

Since working with Andy, not only has Liv been able to record her own music in a proper professional recording studio, but he’s also helped her perform her first ever “noisy pub” gigs, at The Pab Bar on Castlegate — who Andy tells us are “very keen to have her back.”

Andy says the biggest development he’s seen in Liv is that “she’s now in control of her own destiny.” This is due to an “immeasurable” growth in her confidence.

When they first started working together, Andy had helped her write promotional emails to bars and radios, but since then she’s begun to build independent contacts in the industry.

Not only did she reach out to us at Your Local Link to share her story, but last month she contacted YO1 Radio who played her song live!

Liv told me that she’s unfortunately got a broken foot keeping her at home for the time being but is using the time to write more new music!

If you’re desperate to get your fix of Liv Quigley tunes before then, listen to Somebody here.