Lisa Hartt keeps her mind and heart open on her powerful and personal new single and video Don’t Tell Me How I Feel — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The first single from her upcoming EP Arrival, Don’t Tell Me How I Feel reflects on her relationship with her brother and the mental illness he finally succumbed to. Acknowledging the strong bond between the two, Lisa explains that it was never about trying to fix him, but just to hear him:
“Don’t judge me by the way I look
Or by the words I use
Don’t think you know my feelings
Until you’ve walked a mile in my shoes.”
Landing in January 2023, Arrival is 40 years in the making for the Port Credit, Ont., singer-songwriter. Drawing on raw emotion, Lisa has produced a work that delves into themes of health, mindfulness, body and spirit. These tracks have been floating around Lisa’s mind and it wasn’t until the pandemic that she decided to record them.
The vocals and acoustics were recorded by Lisa in her home studio before sending them off to Chris Birkett, the multi-talented, award-winning producer and musician. This collaboration allowed Lisa to explore her folk, soul, jazz, and rock roots. Lisa’s influences of gentle folk, soul, rhythm, and blues with a rock edge give a backbone that runs right through her EP.
Born in Montreal, Lisa grew up in Quebec, where she started in music in 1960 at the young age of 10. She then went on to have a wide and varied career that spanned the world, from London to Cairo. Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Lisa toured with a score of seasoned musicians before coming back to Canada and setting up The Lisa Hartt Band. Through the ’80s and ’90s, Lisa moved into holistic and transformative living, combining her vocal talents with world instruments and the ancient practice of reiki.
Watch the video for Don’t Tell Me How I Feel above, hear more from Lisa Hartt below, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
