Photo Credit: Pooja Nayyar
Congratulations on the release of "hollow" ! Can you tell us a bit about the story behind this song and how it came together?
Lisa: Thank you so much!! I wrote this song after a recent end of a relationship. I was feeling down at the time and really wanted to write a song to maybe feel a bit better. I was in a session with my friend and co-writer Brandon Rosenfeld and he asked what I wanted to write about. This song just poured out of us and I'm really excited about how it turned out. I wanted to get across the pain of a relationship ending but also the angst that comes with it.
You've been creating music since high school and you have an impressive musical catalogue! How has your songwriting process changed over time?
Lisa: Thank you, that means a lot! I started out by just writing songs in my parent's living room on the piano that got passed down to them. I would just mess around on the piano until I found a chord progression I felt attached to, and then the melody would come and the lyrics simultaneously from there. This has been the same process I've used for years. Since moving to LA and having sessions with different people, it now varies a bit more in terms of how I come up with a song. Sometimes I'd still start out on the piano while other times the song would start on acoustic guitar and we go from there. I always like starting with real instruments because it makes me feel more connected to what I'm writing.
What is the best part of songwriting for you?
Lisa: Can I say all of it? Hahah. Songwriting is super therapeutic to me. It feels like a journal entry in a way. I can get out on paper what I've had on my mind in an unharmful way. There are a lot of bad coping strategies out there and songwriting is one that I feel has been really positive for me. I feel so lucky to be able to do what I love for a living and maybe even help other people too.
This song is part of your upcoming EP Sadie. What can fans expect from this EP?
Lisa: This EP is a huge chapter of my life and lens into the deepest parts of myself. I tried to touch on a bunch of different topics of mental health and heartache that have affected me the past few years. I poured my heart and soul into this EP and I think you will be able to hear that when you listen. We are just getting started and I can't wait for you to hear what we have coming next :).
Photo Credit: Pooja Nayyar
You're currently on tour with Andi and Rachel Grae! Do you have a funny story or favorite memory of your tour so far?
Lisa: Yesterday we were driving in downtown Chicago in our van and it started hailing out of nowhere. Like I'm talking HUGE golf ball sized chunks of ice falling from the sky. It was a bit scary but also super funny because what else can you do but laugh in that situation? We were worried that Bandago wouldn't be too happy if we had huge dents all over the van, but luckily and miraculously no dents happened. We made it to the venue safely.
What message or feeling do you want listeners to take away from "hollow" ?
Lisa: Even at your lowest, things will get better. I was in a dark place when I wrote "hollow" and seeing what has happened with this song and the reaction you guys have had just shows how healing music really is. Also, if they break your heart they are SO not worth it :)
Interviewed By Tessa Brainard
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