Lissie is a young brilliant singer/songwriter from Rock Island, in Illinois. She recorded last year a five-track EP named "Why You Runnin'" and then headed to Nashville to record with Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Modest Mouse, Norah Jones...).
The american girl is characterized by a magnificent voice, which accompanies sometimes rhythmical melodies, sometimes quiet ones, and can make beautiful covers such as the "Wedding Bells" of Hank Williams, Metallica’s "Nothing Else Matters" or even the Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance".
After a great UK Tour supporting Joshua Radin, Lissie will release her debut full length album "Catching A Tiger", due June 7, 2010 on Fat Possum/Columbia Records...

Interview with Lissie :


S: How and when did all begin with music? 

L: I naturally loved to hum and sing and create melodies as a child.  I had a musical grandfather and think that rubbed off on me. I did a lot of local theatre and was Annie in "Annie" when I was 9. So that love of performing continued throughout my childhood and into my teen years. In high school, I wrote a lot of poetry and taught myself guitar and began performing at open mics at a coffee shop I worked at. I went to college for a bit, did a semester in Paris, moved to L.A. and throughout continued to find gigs and ways to play my music out. So its just built and built from there I guess!

S: What are the positive and negative sides of being a musician in USA?

L: Well, since the U.S. is so vast, you don't have to go too far to find different geographic and cultural inspirations... There's also a bunch of cities with strong arts and music communities. So I guess it's positive in that you can find a niche that suits you! The negative might be that because it is so vast, it's a bit more challenging to break out and be heard amidst all the music that's being pumped out across the country.
 
S: Do you feel anxious before a show?

L: Sort of, a bit. Not always. Once I'm onstage I feel very at home though. I like to have a shot of tequila right before I go onstage, that usually helps!  :)

S: What musicians or artists had an influence in your life and in your work?

L: Musical theatre influenced me as a child... That it was realistic to express your life in song. But I've loved everything from folk, to americana, female singer songwriters, classic rock, country, rap, hip hop, blues, soul, etc.. since.. it's hard to pinpoint where the influence comes from. If anything my childhood, the world around me and my relationships, observations, and experiences influence me the most.
 
S: Do you remember what was the first CD you bought?

L: Not sure about 1st cd... but I know my first cassette tapes had been my siblings and I had a Huey Lewis and The News tape and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation.


S: Do you think the emotion is different between a song in English and in another language?

L: Not necessarily... I think the feeling of the music and the tone and passion in the singer's voice are what conveys the emotion... the words supplement the feeling.

S: How could you define the music of Lissie?

L: Honest, literal, heartfelt, natural, rock with some tenderness and introspection.

S: Do you agree with Victor Hugo who said :"Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad"?

L: haha, yeah, there is something self indulgent and sickly satisfying about sadness... sometimes feeling sorry for ones self. At least that's what I see it to mean.

S: When you write a song do you follow your heart, your brain or your hand ?

L: In most cases my heart... if I'm close to finishing a song, but need that extra push, my brain and / or hand have to tidy it up.

S: What is your favourite song of Lissie and why?

L: My favorite always changes. After I've written a song, it'll be my favorite because it's satisfying and validating to put an entire scenario of feelings into a concise little package...when it's reason for conception is still fresh, it's comforting and empowering!
 
S: As musician, what is your feeling about Internet?

L: As both a musician and civilian, I love the Internet. When I want to cover a song by another artist, I can have the lyrics and chords in a second. If I want to know more about a topic I'm writing about, I can research it in a second. In business, I can communicate quickly and see and/ or hear what I'm working on and share it. As a person, I can read gossip, haha, stay in touch with friends and access music, films and tv shows that let me shut my brain off when I've been working too hard! I always buy my music, subscribe to sites with content, etc... which some people don't do. It's a shame artists can't make the money that they would with their songs because of the internet but its also an invaluable way to make people aware of you!

S: You worked with Bill Reynolds of Band of Horses and Ed Harcourt, how were this collaborations?

L: Yes, wonderful!  both were very easy and natural to create with.  They're both true artists and lovely people as well. Music just intuitively formed in the process.



S: What are your hobbies aside music?

L: I love being at home and making my home a warm environment to be in. Cleaning, cooking, organizing, decorating, gardening, etc... I love to hike and be outdoors. I like to go out for drinks with friends... can I call that a hobby?  haha!

S: Where would you like to play in the future, is there a place in the world you would love to visit?

L: I want to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl!  :)

S: What is the best moment and best place to listen to your music?

L: In the car on a road trip maybe...

S: As our website is related with Manic Street Preachers maybe can you say some words about them?

L: I don't know much about the Manic Street Preachers.

S: I know it’s a difficult question, but if you would have to keep just one album from your CD collection what album would it be?

L: I really like Bobbie Gentry's "An American Quilt 1967-1974"

S: What was the last song you listened to before the interview? And, if you know, which one will be the next?

L: There was some music on in the room just now, but I don't know what it was... I listened to some John Prine yesterday, the song I wanted to hear was "Spanish Pipedream" and "Paradise"... I'll probably watch the tv show "30 rock" before I listen to music today.


S: Can you tell us the name of one French song, or singer, or band?

L: Air... love love love "Moon Safari", never gets old!

S: And say something in French?

L: Je suis Lissie. J'ai habite a Paris pour quatre mois quand j'ai eu vingt ans!

S: What are your plans for the nearest future?

L: Immediate future... gonna make a Sunday roast here in London with a nice english fellow I've met. I'm considering getting my haircut this week and in a few days I'm going back to California to shoot a music video.

S: And finally, what’s the most important thing in life for you?

L: That's hard... how about 2...first, my family and then, secondly, time to myself, to get organized, collect my thoughts and to sit in the sun/ be outdoors.


MANY thanks to Lissie and Helen from Sony Music UK for the interview!

More informations about Lissie:

- on her site:
http://www.lissie.com

- on her Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/lissiemusic

- on Facebook:

- on Twitter: