Lissie is an American alternative country artist who has made big impression on my life, and probably an even bigger one on the music industry as a whole since her breakthrough album Catching A Tiger was released over a decade ago. Her latest album is called Carving Canyons and I had a chat to her about it.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Lili Peper
You’re just about to release your new album Carving Canyons, can you tell us the story behind the album?
Yes, it’s very exciting! I started working on Carving Canyons in November of 2020. I tend to only write songs when I feel like I have something to share and say. It took me about six months into the pandemic to start processing all of the collective & personal grief. So it’s an album that started out being about a breakup but then followed that arc of grief from anger to sadness, acceptance to hope.
How would you say it differs from previous releases?
Unlike my other albums that were written primarily in one phase of life, I really made this album in chunks. I was moving through stages of aforementioned grief and reacting differently as the time passed and healed.
It seems like a long time ago now, but for the past couple of years COVID seems to have affected everything. Did it impact the album at all in terms of your writing and its production?
It’s hard to say if this album would even exist like it does without COVID quarantine forcing isolation, separation and introspection. And Zoom co-writing that worked surprisingly well and efficiently (laughs)!
You’re about to head out on a series of in-store shows to help promote it in the UK, including an already sold out date in Leeds – how do you find playing here in the UK? Any favourite memories?
Yes, I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time in the UK since 2007. I love it! It feels very familiar to me at this point. I’ve made some wonderful friends here. I’m very grateful for the loyal listeners who’ve stuck by my side too and the industry support I’ve found here.
So many memories! But I find myself reflecting on the early days of 2007/2008 when I would come here to write and be so jet lagged, scared and lonely to now see how many wonderful adventures came from those songs. It’s like I wanna give little me a hug!
Aside from Carving Canyons, what albums or songs would you recommend our listeners check out?
I got to write with a lot of amazing friends and songwriters on this album! I’d recommend your readers check out Sarah Buxton, Kate York, Natalie Hemby, Madi Diaz and Bre Kennedy as a start!
Alongside music, you’re also an actor, and appeared in the reboot of Twin Peaks. What was that like? I’m guessing surreal!
I don’t consider myself an actor (laughs)! But it was such an honour and a thrill to appear on Twin Peaks and fortunately I only had to perform my music for that! I did however act in the TV show Loudermilk. I was so nervous but it turned out really great!
Any last words for the readers?
I hope that the music that moves you to feel, hopefully including my new album Carving Canyons, allows you to grow and heal! I truly believe that feeling our feelings, self awareness and emotional intelligence serves to make us kinder, more empathetic people!
Carving Canyons by Lissie is out Friday 16 September 2022