Liza Anne Interview – 'there is room for me...there is room for everyone to be themselves'
By Run That Again
“With this album, I realized that letting the right people into your life, into your heart and head and home, that’s one of the most empowering things you can do.”
After amassing over 50 million streams on her music, Liza Anne has returned with another slice of unique –her new album Bad Vacation has recently been released and we have to say it’s sassy, unapologetic and so relatable in both its sound and its themes; tackling everything from toxic relationships, mental health, to destructive habits and the exhaustion of millennial ennui. For fans of La Roux, Sonic Youth and Patti Smith, this album is a homage to the good days, the bad days, the worst days and the best days.
What do you hope listeners will feel when listening to 'Bad Vacation' and what does it mean to put it out into the world?
I hope they feel more like themselves. I hope they remember things they love. Every time I put out something I’ve made it sort of transcends whatever reason I made it and turns into something different for everyone. I love that about music.
Tell us more about your relationships with your fans – do you think it guides your sound and song-writing process the closer you get to them?
I feel so grateful that anyone is listening to my music and finding more of them there - I think the best thing I can do for people who listen to my music is continue to write what’s true to me. The more I am writing from a place of real feeling and experience, the more I can give them.
Who were your biggest inspirations musically growing up and today?
Growing up, I really loved Hilary Duff. I also would listen to a lot of The Cranberries and Joni Mitchell when my aunt was around. Now, I don’t even know where to start - currently, David Byrne, Kate Bush, Wings, Grumpy, Great Grandpa. There is so much good music.
You've said before that this album marks a new sonic direction - what prompted this new sound and change of direction?
I hope to always be expanding and growing sonically. This record specifically really grew as an idea for me as I was revisiting a lot of my old favorite songs again from when I was a kid and I just wanted to make something energetic. Something that felt like joyful catharsis.
If you could describe your music in three words what would they be?
True, emotional, spunky.
What's your favourite pastime when you're not making music? Do you have a favourite Netflix Show or TV programme?
Hm, I like painting and taking long drives and hanging with my cat. I love Killing Eve right now - it is so good.
Many of our readers are looking to get into the music industry, do you have any advice for them starting out, about any mistakes you have made and learnt from, or any saying or mantra you tell yourself?
A mantra I’ve been telling myself since day 1 is that there is room for me. I think it is so easy to look around at people who are 10 steps ahead or whatever and have this fear of “are they taking my spot” but that just isn’t true. There is room for everyone who is being themselves. I can’t do what Taylor Swift does and Taylor Swift can’t do what I do. There’s room for everyone to be themselves. So, stick close to what you love, your story, your favorite colors and sounds and visuals and just find ways to have everything you do be TRUE. That’s what works.
We love how the album deals with the realities of mental health and particularly love the track 'Bummer Days' - how important is being raw and authentic in your song-writing and do you find the song-writing process cathartic as a result?
It’s the most important thing. I think songwriting was my first therapy - I would feel nauseous if I wrote something down that wasn’t true. Words are really powerful and giving yourself a space where you can really explore those heavy things without being interrupted is important. Writing is such a means of self-care.
Listen to Bad Vacation here.