FAULT Magazine Coverstory and Interview With Lissie
Lissie has channeled so much emotion into her previous releases, it comes as no surprise that her new album Carving Canyons has the world so excited. We caught up with Lissie to discuss her work, her process and of course, her FAULTs.
Flowers is such an emotional song, did you find songwriting to be the most successful outlet to contextualise grief?
Initially, and this was early pandemic, it was just being with my feelings, having perspective for the bigger picture & collective grief, hanging out around the house with my dog, walking, gardening, talking to friends & family on the phone, seeing my girlfriends outdoors and just the sweet, simple manageable things I could do while healing from heartbreak. In a round about way though, those activities inspired, so that by the time I wrote Flowers, yes, it was all there ready to be processed by writing a song!
Which track on the album would you say was the most enjoyable to write?
I’m especially grateful for the title track Carving Canyons. My friend & brilliant artist Sarah Buxton had the idea for the title & the concept of even the hard, painful stuff being a beautiful part of one’s life. She, Kate York and I sat around a fire in Kate’s backyard in Nashville with guitars & wrote the song pretty quickly, all drawing on our own experiences. It was really special and fun!
What would you say was the greatest challenge when creating Carving Canyons?
There were a couple of songs where it felt like it was down to the wire, the album was almost done & I didn’t want to drag anything out. When I listen back, I’m so proud but I may have done a few things differently. That being said, I’m by no means a perfectionist and am more of the mind of letting things flow & go.
What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in yourself this release when compared with your debut?
I feel much more confident and comfortable with who I am than I did back then. Don’t get me wrong, I think I’ve always had a strong sense of self. But I was really sensitive to being rejected & misunderstood. It could partly be some self protective mechanism now but I allowed more events to define my worth back then than I do now maybe?
Whats one key message you are hoping to convey with this release?
How important it is to be curious about all of your feelings, even the uncomfortable ones and to give yourself permission to feel them. Then to take responsibility for them. Develop healthy coping mechanisms. Yet at the same time, to be gentle & let time heal, keep the faith!
What are you most looking forward to for the remainder of the year?
It’s been really fun to reunite with my band members & prepare to play some shows, sharing the new album and hopefully being really present to the downtime I have with my loved ones.
What’s the last song that made cry?
The song “I Hate This” on my new album always gets me choked up.
What is your FAULT?
I spend way too much time in my head rationalizing things & making excuses ,, I’ve got an all or nothing approach to life sometimes & I’m curious about that.