Siena Liggins is her Own Superstar
The Detroit-born singer is going on her first headline tour at the top of 2024.
Photography by Savana Ogburn
Siena Liggins is nothing less than an effervescent presence. She lights up any room and can put a crowd on their feet as soon as she steps on stage. With her upbeat music and free-spirited energy, she is destined for the world to belong to her.
A superstar is an ever-evolving term in the music industry. Superstars are not the same as during the eras of Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, and Prince — and Liggins is okay with that. Although she makes pop music, she wants more freedom and not be tied down to one label or genre.
“A lie that artists have been told is that to be a superstar, you have to rely on these institutional powers to validate your stardom,” says Liggins. “I posted a TikTok of the difference between an undiscovered and underground artist. An undiscovered artist means you’re a secret that hasn’t been exposed yet. Being underground means a whole world that people don’t even know exists.”
Liggins has blessed many stages in front of thousands of people that have led up to her long-awaited headline tour. Now, she has a fanbase. She receives fan mail and accolades when she walks down the street and moves crowds at the dozens of festivals and concerts she performs at. She achieves all this with her small team, who goes on the road with her, and she appreciates them more than anything. Her career jumpstarted with the help of her small yet mighty team.
“You have to breathe life into people,” she says. “I recognize that you are valuable not only to me but also to the world. Go after it…a super strength of mine is building my team and knowing when to plug people in.”
Her team is also how her music videos, like “RENT FREE,” “SNEAKY LINK,” and “thicc” come to life. She heavily credits her long-time friend, collaborator, and co-creator, Maddie Ivey, who helps Liggins’ manifestations in music videos, tours, and ideas become a reality. Ivey is her right hand, and they are always locked in when it comes to continuous success for both parties.
“The feedback has just been insane,” says Liggins. “I put this out with my fans in mind. I’m trying to turn away from how much focus and emphasis I put on getting people in the industry to pay attention to me. I’m like, fuck it. I’m just going to roll with the people who actually support me.”
The title Floozy comes from a tumultuous time in Liggins’ love life. She was in a relationship she knew was inevitably ending. The project was originally going to be titled Ex-Girlfriend, foreshadowing a breakup before it even happened. The term ‘floozy’ refers to someone reckless, and that’s how Liggins felt toward the end of her relationship. She wanted to drink, party, and be acceptably messy…but that was a facade for inner pain. The album is a form of re-empowerment and a wake-up call for her chaotic lifestyle.
Liggins is all about constant evolution. Once she completes a project, she’s already on to the following vision or concept. “I don’t have that lens anymore,” she says. “I’m not in that place creatively anymore.” Despite the fact, she wants Floozy to marinate in its moment and doesn’t plan to drop new music until the tour is complete. She wants to live her life between projects without the stress of feeling the need to create or release something constantly.
As a Black woman in the LGBTQ+ community, representation is imperative for Liggins. “Black girls are up; I don’t really know how else to say it,” she says. “I’ve always felt so blessed to be a Black woman. There’s nothing you can do to stop us. I feel that way about all queer people, Black people, and Detroit.” Liggins is sure there’s a renaissance for these communities. She can feel it in her own growth and those around her. She says she is the Founding Fathers’ worst nightmare — and you’ll see even more of that defiance on the Floozy tour.
By the end of the tour, Liggins hopes to show herself and the world that she can do whatever she puts her mind to. Everything she wants is on the other side of her anxiety and fears. She simply wants people to spell her name correctly because the world belongs to Siena Liggins.
