Lisa Richards’ forthcoming album, titled 'A Light From The Other Side', marks her return to Australia after 22 years residing in the United States.
With subtle humour, sharp observations and a ferociously sweet voice, Lisa Richards explores the complexities of life through a flowing mix of folk, blues, roots and jazz. Richards has had quite an illustrious musical career. From a capella busking in Kings Cross, living in New York with no legal status for 8 years, learning guitar at 30 out of necessity, co-writing 2 CDs with Tim Bright (co-wrote the 'Scrubs' theme song) to almost turning down a drink from the senior vice president of Electra Records, it’s easy to see Richards isn’t your regular run-of-the-mill singer-songwriter.
Who is Lisa Richards?
I'm a singer and a songwriter who definitely dances to the beat of her own drum. I sound like... a quirky mash-up of Billie Holliday, Led Zeppelin, Bjork, Joanna Newsom and Emiliana Torrini.
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My first gig... As a fully fledged, guitar slinging singer-songwriter was in New York City at a now defunct music cafe called Cafe Sine. Sinead O'Connor used to drop in from time to time and sing and Jeff Buckley was signed to his record deal at Elektra from a gig he did there.
When did you settle on your stage name... Well, I thought about changing my name many times. It's such a common name. Lisa Richards. My manager and I came up with a bunch of names like 'Pony' and 'Ruby Magnolia Portamento Augusta ', but in the end I just stayed with the name I was given at birth.
In the studio... I usually record albums. Yep, that's what I do in recording studios... also sit around a lot, lie on couches, drink coffee, focus intently.
If I could tour with anyone... Tom Waits.
Social media is... Relentless and ever present.
My favourite app at the moment is... Mad Paws. Great for finding dog sitters when I'm on tour; Upwork and Fiverr for outsourcing tasks, Pawshake, Airbnb... why stop at one when there are so many great apps. It's called #variety
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To date my most embarrassing moment was the time... I realised I sang the wrong lyric on a song on my CD and not only that, I'd been singing the wrong lyric at all of my shows and hadn't even noticed and now I can't sing the right lyric because it sounds wrong. I'm not going to tell you what song it is. You'll have to figure it out.
Life on the road can be... Exhausting and yet very zen and simple. My focus is just on eating, sleeping, getting to the next show, sound checking. I remember having a day off in Amsterdam and being exhausted and thinking to myself: 'Sleep in or go to the Van Gogh Museum?' I went to the museum.
If you'll have me on your bill, I ask that the rider contains... Fruffins. I must have fruffins on my rider or I will not play. The mongrel offspring of a friand (small, French cake) and a muffin.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in was... In New York City when a guy was following me on the subway. I changed seats and then carriages twice and he followed me. Finally when he sat behind me and I could feel him touching me from the next seat I yelled at him. The train was crowded and he started abusing me. I got off the train pretty rattled. And then there was the time I was surrounded by police in Austin, Texas and they all had guns.
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What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band (why?)
The Persian sufi-poet Hafiz born in 1326 and still living today. That man is all about ecstatic love for the divine. Music is divine. He's the man for the job.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party (why?)
Nina Simone, Billie Holliday, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Three extraordinary women musicians, songwriters, artists.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us?
Lemon roasted chicken with rosemary roasted vegetables and steamed greens.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Puppies.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Today.
What's the one chore you dislike the most?
I hate all chores. My main frustration with chores is you have to keep doing them. Why can't I clean the house once and have it stay clean forever?
Do you have any phobias... please explain?
Phobias. No, I'm a lot like Wonder Woman but much shorter.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? If so, what type?
I have a reality show already. It's called my life.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down?
If I could find the person who invented pranking I would prank them... no wait... I would kill them and then I'd kill the people who invented reality shows.
Lisa Richards Shows
Thu 13 Oct - The Junk Bar (Brisbane)Sun 16 Oct - Smiths Alternative Bookshop (Canberra)
Sat 22 Oct - Bella Union (Melbourne)
Fri 28 Oct - Venue 505 (Sydney)
Sun 8 Jan – Wheatsheaf (Adelaide)
