Lisa Nicole is having a busy summer. The up-and-coming Canadian country-pop singer-songwriter is gearing up to release her debut album Where Wild Hearts Beat in August. She dropped the sweet single Count On You just last month — and her new number Gypsy Girl arrives Friday. In the midst of all that, she was kind enough to waste some of her precious time wading through my ridiculous questions. Here’s what she had to say:
Introduce yourself: Name, age (feel free to lie), home base and any other details you’d care to share — height / weight / identifying marks / astrology sign / your choice.
I’m Lisa Nicole – 32, Capricorn, and my home base is in Trail, British Columbia.
What is your musical origin story?
My parents listened to country music and when they realized I loved singing, they got me on stage at age 9 in a pub in Balfour. I would sing in fairs, talent shows, and in my teenage years, they would bring me three times a week to different jam sessions in the Kootenays. That’s where I got my chops. I always knew what I wanted to do as a career, so it wasn’t a surprise I ended up in the Selkirk College Contemporary Music & Technology program and majored in voice and songwriting. From there, I moved to the big city of Vancouver where I met my producer of my first EP It Got Ugly — can we say the rest is history?
What’s your latest project?
My latest project is Where Wild Hearts Beat, which is my first full-length album after two past EPs. It drops on Aug. 13 and I couldn’t be more excited! Last year, I released the first album’s first two singles — Wait on Me and Do Your Thang — and this year, I’m leading into the album with two other singles — Count On You and Gypsy Girl.
What truly sets you apart from other artists?
I like to say that I’m a REAL country gal! I don’t just sing about it. I live the life. I feel that my “down to earth-ness” comes from the fact that I ride horses, and regularly go hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. All in all, I love the country lifestyle.
How will my life improve by listening to your music?
I think that you’ll feel connected. Whether you’re looking for an upbeat dance song, a summertime anthem, a sad heartbreak or a cheating song, I’ve got a bit of all of it, between this album and my past EPs.
Tell us about the first song you wrote and/or the first gig you played.
One of the first songs I really remember writing was Jack D, which ended up on my EP, It Got Ugly.
What is the best / worst / strangest / most memorable performance you have given?
The best and more memorable performance was definitely with Keith Urban in Nashville! I was in town on a songwriting trip and heard he was doing a pop-up show. I went there and ended up on stage singing a duet with him. It was a dream come true — to say the least!
What is the best / worst / strangest / most memorable performance you’ve seen?
Oh gosh, I was living in Nashville and my boyfriend was visiting me. We were at a venue watching this solo acoustic performance and this guy must’ve been high as a kite, because I don’t know how else to explain it! He had a meltdown. He was cranking power chords on his guitar singing “One last song, get me to an angel song.” Then he got on a stool, jumped off the stage and started jumping around with his hands in the air. He gave my boyfriend Garrett $30 — I don’t know why. Garrett tried to give it back to him and he said, “Money is not what I’m worried about. I have a long way to go, and I don’t have much time to get there.” This went on for a while — it was quite interesting. The conversation moved to how he’d play Wonderful Tonight at our wedding, for free, etc. After all that, the owners were like, “What just happened?” So I offered to take over and I did! It was quite an interesting evening.
What living or dead artists would you like to collaborate with?
Miranda Lambert!! She’s such an amazing songwriter. I love her music.
What artist or style of music do you love that would surprise people?
I love dance music. Like BPM electronic dance!
What words do you hope people use when they describe you?
Kind, someone they can count on, down to earth, strong, talented, hard working!
What useful (or useless) skills do you have outside of music?
Well, I’m quite the digital media nerd — I love creating content and social strategy. I can drive standard; it was the first car I drove!
Who can you do an impression of?
Nope, can’t do one.
Tell us a joke.
Q: What’s a pirate’s favourite letter?
Guess: Rrrrr
A: You’d think so, but he prefers the C!
What do you collect?
Pretty little rocks and plants.
If money was no object, where would you live?
Anywhere as long as it was warm all year!
What would you like to be reincarnated as?
My cat, Leonard.
Which historical event do you wish you had witnessed?
Woodstock would have been pretty cool!
What’s your idea of perfect happiness / total misery?
Perfect happiness would be feeling healthy and strong, living in a log home lakefront property with horses. Being able to sing on the weekends and get there by plane or at least have a driver, and not have to worry about all the logistics, just show up and sing! Sounds pretty great to me! Total misery would be stuck in a horrible toxic relationship with someone controlling.
What are your pet peeves?
Windshield wipers!! Can’t stand them. Also: Water dripping down my arm when I wash my face, and when people waste food!
What’s your greatest regret?
Can’t say I have any.
What are you afraid of?
Spiders. Don’t like ’em! And the dark — sometimes if I’m home for the night alone in the dark, I get the heebie jeebies thinking someone is in my house, so I run to my room and jump on my bed. Not kidding! And I hate being in a dark forest!
Who should play you in the movie of your life?
Oooh — maybe Reese Witherspoon. She seems sweet, kind and funny.
What’s your motto?
There’s no need to stress yourself out about things that you can’t control.
What’s always in your refrigerator?
Arugula, cucumber, peppers & cashew milk.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
If I’m being honest, my weight. I’ve always struggled with it and it’s caused a lot of disordered eating and stress in my life. I’ve always felt like I must not work hard enough, even though I’m very fit and work out 5-6 days a week. It’s just stubborn I guess!
If you had one day to spend as you please without any consequences, what would you do?
I would go on a crazy shopping spree! I mean CRAZY — clothes, cars, house, boat, vacations. Maybe I should just rob a bank!
What’s the silliest thing you believed as a child?
Oh, I believed in unicorns and Pegasus for a long time. I just kept on believing they HAD to be true!
What was your favourite class in school and why?
Probably art — that’s where I started painting. Also I loved PE once they introduced track and weightlifting.
What world record would you like to break?
World’s best singer!!
What was the worst job you ever had?
Being a housekeeper in a hotel got pretty nasty sometimes..
What’s the best and / or worst advice you were ever given?
Best advice was probably just to be nice to everyone you meet because you never know how that person will show up in your life later on. The worst advice is when people try to tell me what I should do to lose weight. Everyone thinks their program works for everyone, when none of them are one size fits all.
Watch some of Lisa Nicole’s videos above, hear more from her below, and keep up with her on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
