We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nicole L & LVLD. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Nicole L & LVLD, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Our first 90 minutes are honestly the anchor of our whole day. Elvis is up before the sun—around 4:50 a.m.—and starts with 15 minutes of Bible reading. By 5:30 a.m., he’s in the backyard doing a three-minute cold plunge in his ice bath. Once he’s done, he comes inside and wakes me up so we can get our morning workout in together.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we hop on our stationary bikes for a 30-minute spin session. On the other days, we each do our own individual workouts, and then we wake the kids so they can join us for a morning stretch or a quick movement routine.
Our mornings are intentional and structured—by design. With everything we juggle between work, family, and our creative projects, the early hours are the one time we can consistently prioritize our health and start the day grounded and connected
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Nicole. I’m an actress based in Atlanta — you might’ve seen me on FX’s Atlanta or Apple TV+’s The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Over the last year and a half, I’ve also returned to stand-up comedy, which has been a full-circle moment for me. Comedy was my first creative lane when I was a teenager, and coming back to it now — as a wife, mom, and grown woman with something to say — has been incredibly grounding.
My husband Elvis — known musically as LVLD — is steadily building his music career. He’s constantly creating and releasing music, so at any given moment our home is part film set, part comedy workshop, part recording studio. It’s chaotic sometimes, but it’s creative chaos, and it’s very us.
Somewhere in the mix, we also launched a home-cooked meal delivery business. Elvis created his own chickpea curry recipe because he knows chickpeas and Indian spices are my love language. And honestly? People love it. Everyone who tried it kept telling us, ‘Y’all need to sell this,’ so we finally did. Folks have even tried to replicate it, but they can’t quite hit the same balance he came up with — it’s really become our signature dish.
And it’s not just us. Our kids have turned into full-fledged partners in this little family operation. Our daughter runs her own sweet potato pie business, and our son is very much the all-hands-on-deck kid. He helps with cooking and baking alongside his sister, and he’s the first one out the door promoting the business to neighbors and folks in our community. Watching them work together and take pride in what we’re building has been one of the most meaningful parts of this whole journey.
So who are we? We’re a family juggling acting, comedy, music, and food — not because we’re trying to do ‘everything,’ but because these are all parts of who we are. Creativity is our lifestyle, entrepreneurship is becoming our family trait, and we’re building something our kids can see, learn from, and be proud of. We’re excited about expanding the food business, releasing more creative projects, and continuing to grow in every direction that aligns with who we’re becoming.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
LVLD: The people who taught me the most about work are without question my parents. They’re both originally from Nigeria, and I grew up watching them juggle two and sometimes three jobs while raising kids in America. Being the oldest, I remember everything — from our one-bedroom apartment in Irvington, NJ to eventually moving to the suburbs. That shift in scenery didn’t just happen; it was built on their sacrifice, their discipline, and their willingness to outwork every obstacle.
My mom has always been a nurse and an entrepreneur at the same time — she tried everything from real estate to shipping goods overseas. My dad was a social worker who moonlit as a security guard. They never forgot where they came from; even with all the responsibilities they had here, they still sent money and support back home. My mom continues to do that to this day, and my dad would’ve done the same if he were still with us.
Some of my clearest memories are of waking them up after they’d grabbed a quick two-hour nap between shifts so they could get dressed and head back out to another job across town. As a kid you don’t always understand it — the exhaustion, the strain, sometimes even the impact it had on the relationships in the house. But becoming a parent myself has brought all of it into focus.
Now I understand that the grind wasn’t about chasing titles or praise. It was about building a better life for us. It was about making sure their children had opportunities they never did. That level of sacrifice, that level of commitment — that’s what shaped me. That’s the work ethic I carry into my music, into our businesses, and into how I show up for my own family.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Nicole – I’d say I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power within the last year and a half, maybe two years. That period pushed me into some deep self-evaluation — real soul-searching about who I am to myself, who I am to the people around me, and who I want to be in the bigger picture of my life.
In the beginning, it was uncomfortable. I was blaming myself for everything — the business ideas that didn’t work out, the money mistakes, the acting opportunities I missed, friendships that fell apart, jobs I was fired from, and jobs I walked away from too soon. I carried a lot of shame around those things because I thought they defined me.
But the more I slowed down and actually listened to myself, the more I started understanding what I value, what I enjoy, and who I truly am. I got intentional about gratitude. I picked stand-up comedy back up during this time too, almost as a way to laugh through the pain. Getting on stage as an adult is very different from doing it as a teenager — there’s more life behind the jokes, more honesty required. But comedy became a release for me. It helped me process the hurt from failed friendships and other disappointments. It helped me feel like myself again.
Around the same time, I got deeper into meditation, affirmations, and the kind of inner work that forces you to slow down and really see yourself. That combination — the stillness of meditation and the vulnerability of comedy — gave me patience, gave me grace, and helped me rebuild my confidence piece by piece.
For the first time in a long time, I feel aligned with the version of me I loved when I was younger — the version who wasn’t afraid to dream big, try new things, enjoy the process, and meet new people along the way. I’m still growing, still striving, but I’m doing it from a place of acceptance instead of self-blame. That shift has been the real power.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
Nicole – Honestly, the ideas I rely on the most—outside of my own—come from Elvis. We have a really natural flow as partners, both in life and creatively. I’ll come to him with something huge and wild, and he’ll help me shape it into something grounded and practical. Then other times, he’s the one dreaming big and I’m the one saying, ‘Okay, let’s figure out how to actually do this.’
We balance each other out. We’re both creative, but in different ways, and those perspectives keep us from getting stuck in our own heads. A lot of my best decisions in acting, comedy, and even business came after talking it through with him. He sees the parts of me that I sometimes overlook, and he challenges me in a way that feels supportive, not restrictive.
Outside of us, I earn a lot from my kids too. They have this pure, unfiltered confidence about the things they want to try—whether it’s baking pies or helping with deliveries. Watching them think without fear or limits gives me ideas about how I want to approach my own goals.
LVLD – The person whose ideas I rely on the most is Nicole. We work extremely well together, and we’re honest with each other in a way that makes the ideas stronger, not smaller. I’ll bring something to her—whether it’s a song concept, a business plan, or a creative direction—and she has a way of helping me see the bigger picture. And when she comes to me with something, I help pull it back to earth so it’s actionable.
We both have big imaginations, but we approach things from different angles. Her creative instincts sharpen mine, and my practicality helps her ideas take shape. That back-and-forth has become a major part of how we move through our projects—music, acting, comedy, the food business, all of it.
And honestly, our kids inspire a lot too. The way they think—without overcomplicating things—reminds me that sometimes the simplest idea is the right one. They’re part of this creative rhythm we’ve built as a family
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Nicole – Absolutely. At this point in my life, the things that matter most to me are worth giving my best to whether anyone claps for me or not. The three areas I’m most invested in right now are continuing to grow in my acting career, showing up as the best mother I can be, and being a strong support system for my husband.
Acting is my passion, and I’ve learned that the real work happens long before anyone sees the performance. The classes, the self-tapes, the late-night studying, the auditions that go nowhere — none of that comes with applause, but it’s all part of the journey.
The same goes for motherhood. There’s no trophy for patience, no award show for the late nights, the emotional labor, or the sacrifices. But being present for my kids, guiding them, and helping them grow is one of the most important roles I have.
And supporting my husband is something I take seriously because we’re building a life and a dream together. Being there for him — even in the moments no one sees — is part of how our family stays strong.
So yes, I can give my best even without praise, because the things I’m pouring into now are tied directly to my purpose, my family, and the future I’m creating. Some work is meant to be witnessed, and some work is meant to be felt. Either way, I’m committed.
LVLD – Honestly, that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. I’m giving my best without expecting praise for it. I’m still figuring out who I am as an artist and as a man, and I’m learning the business side of music as I go. I’m not big on posting all the time or trying to convince people to pay attention to me — that part has never come naturally.
But I am committed to the work. I’m committed to growing, creating, and finding my lane in a way that feels true to me. My main goal is to take care of my family and build something solid, even if the world doesn’t clap for every step of the journey.
Even with things like the cold plunges — I’m not doing that for show. Half the time I don’t even know why I started. But I realized it gives me a chance to quiet my mind and work on my discipline. It’s become part of how I reset and stay focused.
So yes, I can give my all without praise, because at this stage it’s really about becoming the best version of myself, taking care of my family, and trusting that the right recognition will come at the right time.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @actressNicoleL @iamLVLD
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lvldmusic
