ARTIST YOU SHOULD KNOW: Lissie

When I came across Lissie for the first time, I wasn’t even looking for her. I was trying to find that crazy “Bad Romance” parody video that had gone viral. After I realized that I wouldn’t be getting those 8 minutes of my life back, I looked to see how else I could waste time. Thank God I did. I found Lissie’s cover of “Bad Romance” and thus my love affair with this singer/songwriter began.

It begins like any old story – small town, Mid-Western girl feels stifled by said small town. Gets bit by the music bug, even stars in an 80-date production of “Annie.” She starts performing her songs at the cafe she works at, sing about the boys she loves and the girls she hates. She spent her college years honing her craft and going abroad for a semester. She returns to the States only to drop out and move to LA, pursuing her dream full-time. After many gigs and many weekends selling raw honey in a flea market, she finally meets up with Bill Reynolds (who is in a little group called Band of Horses). They record an EP that started to catch fire last year in the U.S. and eventually leads to her current first album, “Catching a Tiger.”

Lissie is a hodge-podge of female vocalists. She’s got a bit of everything that makes her unique in her own right, yet relatable enough to a larger audience. Think of the folkiness of a Laura Marling, the vocal power and rawness of Brandi Carlile, combined with the Pop sensibilities of singer/songwriters like Jewel and Sara Bareilles. “Catching a Tiger” creates a wonderful balancing act between that raw emotion in blue-grass/folk and typical Pop/singer-songwriter songs. It makes for a great listen front to back, sucking you in and keeping your attention with every song that plays (I’ll be writing a full album review soon).

Check out a couple of my favorite live videos of hers and definitely grab the album on iTunes or Amazon. It’s totally worth the money. And let’s be honest, very few artists are these days.

Enjoy!

Little Lovin’ (live)

When I’m Alone (live)