Lisa Nicole is a talented country singer songwriter from Canada and she kindly answered my questions and this is what she had to say about it all.
1. What inspired the new song Wait on Me?
There’s a fine balance between having a career like this, being away from home all the time and a relationship. In this relationship, I’ve never felt like I had to choose, and after 5 years, my partner Garrett still supports my music and believes in me just the same. That’s where the inspiration came from.
2. Was the song written differently to earlier material?
There were a few different lines when we started writing like “hold me, hold me, hold me like you’re never letting go of me, go of me” – but the hook started with “wait on me, wait on me”. And from the demo to the final mastered version, it didn’t change.
3. Were you happy how it has been received?
I am so happy! Everyone keeps telling me it’s my best song yet, that I’ve set the bar from anything else I’ve released. I’m just so happy about that. I’ve worked really hard, not only on this song, but on my entire career. It’s always scary putting out a new song and wondering how it’s going to be received.
4. What has inspired the upcoming album Where the Wild Hearts Beat?
My journey, my experiences and the two tear jerkers on the album are not break up songs. One is inspired by one of my best friends and one about my mom. I’m so excited to share the album later this year!
5. What was the recording process like for the album?
It was great. My long time guitar player, of 15 years, Jason Thomas played on the whole record. We travelled together to record it over a few months to the Okanagan in BC, where my producer Jeff Johnson lives. Jason also co-wrote a few of the songs so it was awesome hearing our songs come to life. Jeff Johnson is one of the best producers in Canada, and working with him was everything I hoped for. He knew how to pull the best version out of me in studio and tried different tactics until one worked!
6. Has your songwriting changed from when you were starting out?
Holy moly, drastically! hah! I would say it’s gotten more artistic and creative, and more hooky. I’ve spent the last 8 years travelling to Nashville to put myself in rooms with the best writers I could learn from. My last extended trip living there I co-wrote a few times a week. I was writing everyday. When I’m home my mode switches a bit more to the business women and putting shows and tours together.
7. What has been the best piece of advice you have given about your music career?
Best song wins. It’s always all about the song.
8. Who have you enjoyed playing with the most?
Well… this one’s a no brainer. Keith Urban! I had the chance to sing with him in Nashville during a pop-up concert he was having and it was a big inspiration that pushed me to move to Nashville and write “Wait on Me” and several other new songs.
9. Do you have set theme for your music or does it go with the flow and changes?
My original music is always changing and evolving, just as I am as a person. As I grow and get better, so does my music, but always stays within my country roots and the great stories the country music genre can bring.
10. Do like to write with out inspiration or distractions or do you need a bit of both?
I like to write without distractions and with inspiration, if that makes sense. That’s why I go to Nashville to write. At home there’s distractions.. dishes, laundry, kitties, horses, Garrett…good distractions, but distracting nonetheless! As for inspiration – whenever I am inspired by something I write it down. The other night I said to Garrett “I wanna do forever with you” and I wrote it down as a potential song title.
11. Any chance of playing Australia?
When are you booking me? I’ll be there! Hah, I really want to tour there, so bad! I did start some tour planning but nothing is set in stone yet!
12. How important is your brand Lisa Nicole?
Super important. A brand is who you are and what you represent. Every day I’m understanding more and more what that is. It’s a lot to do with the title of the album “Where the Wild Hearts Beat”. I’ve grown up and still love being in the wild per say, as in the outdoors. I’ve got a lot of adventure in me and I love exploring. I also believe it’s important to be true to yourself, and who you are. I’ve recently started a podcast called “Wild Hearts” that digs even deeper into what I believe in.
13. How important is social media to you?
Social media is where I can connect with my fans so it’s super important. It’s where I can share my brand. If you look at my Instagram it’s heavy on being outdoors and exploring, along with music of course. That said, I think it’s easy to get obsessed with it and compare yourself to everyone else on the platform, and that’s the only downside I see. I think taking days off of it is healthy. That way you feel restored to show up for everyone the next time you’re on it 🙂
14. What do you hope the rest of 2020 has in store for you?
Music festivals, touring, shows, and releasing a fun summer single before the album comes out!
