Lisa Fenstermacher

Artist Information

Biography

With three studio recordings, the latest titled "Pivot", all released on her own indie label, East Coast based singer-songwriter Lisa Fenstermacher continues to hone her musical talent and skill with perception, awareness and depth. Lisa's song "Peace", co-written with producer Michael Sauri (Fighting Gravity, Cinema 8), won a Silver Award at the 25th Annual Mid Atlantic Song Contest, and two other songs from "Pivot" received Honorable Mention out of over 900 entries from around the world. The “Pivot” CD was nominated for a WAMMIE award by the Washington Area Music Association.

Often accompanying herself on her Taylor 6 string acoustic guitar (and more recently with her Paul Reed Smith electric guitar), Lisa's style and music crosses over generational, and denominational lines while a powerful combination of faith, grace and persistence continues to open doors and direct her steps. Music industry consultant David Bunker observed that Lisa's vocals are "reminiscent of Amy Grant" and likened Lisa to "a female Rich Mullins" because of her authenticity and transparent way of communicating.

Lisa has built a solid foundation throughout the Mid-Atlantic area for her commitment and dedication to partnering with many non-profit and faith-based organizations, putting her music to work at numerous benefit concerts and outreach events. This background with the social issues of poverty, AIDS, and the plight of orphaned children in Africa and Guatemala informs her songwriting and music. Because her music has been used in these contexts, Lisa's songwriting on her most recent release "Pivot" was the canvas for songs that reflect the human experience with all the struggles, hopes and faith we each carry in our heart.

Lisa states, "When I started writing songs for my first CD 'A Promise for Tomorrow'", produced by Paul Langford, former keyboardist for Dove Award-nominated group Glad, "I never dreamed of all the settings where my songs would be shared."

Lisa has opened for the Dove Award-winning group Selah. She received two WAMMIE nominations from the Washington Area Music Association for Best Female Gospel / Inspirational Vocalist, and placed as a semi-finalist at the international Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado. She recently shared the stage with international acapella Gospel vocal group "Reverb" for a fundraiser for a Cold Weather shelter.

Her song "Journey of Grace" from her EP "Glimpses", produced by Michael Sauri, appeared on a compilation CD with other artists including Randy Stonehill and Phil Keaggy to raise money for Compassion International. Songs from "Glimpses" have reached across the globe to England, Australia and Japan and aired on local and college radio.

Not shy to tackle new musical territory, Lisa attended Berklee College of Music's Five Week Intensive Performance Summer Seminar. The time at Berklee set in motion a stronger commitment and vision as a performing artist, and set the stage for her third and most recent release "Pivot" - 10 original songs and a new arrangement of the hymn "Near the Cross".

Lisa is active in the Songwriters' Association of Washington, where she led two seminars on Faith, Music and Artistry and was a planner, seminar leader, and performer for "The Spirit in Music" songwriting symposium.

Lisa has also performed at city festivals and events such as the Apple Blossom Festival, Laurel Main Street Fair, Perry Hall Town Festival and First Night Talbot in Maryland; the Piedmont Peach Festival and Hokie Spirit Tribute Concert in Virginia; Artomatic and the Fete De La Musique in Washington DC.

Lisa’s musical roots include Joni Mitchell, whom Lisa met at Caribou Ranch recording studio in Nederland, Colorado; Bonnie Raitt; Ashley Cleveland, a long-time favorite; Amy Grant; Lennon and McCartney, the Allman Brothers band, Billy Joel, Santana and Little Feat; songwriter development through seminars and coursework with Pat Pattison.

Instrumentation

Lisa Fenstermacher - Lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, main songwriter
(various) - Acoustic and electric guitars
Kevin Kost - Bass
(various) - Drums

Discography

"PIVOT" CD - New 11-song CD - - Produced by ex-Fighting Gravity guitarist Michael Sauri.
"Glimpses" CD EP - Produced by Michael Sauri.
SOLD OUT: "A Promise for Tomorrow" CD EP and cassette - Produced by former Glad vocalist/arranger Paul Langford.
**Lisa's song "Journey of Grace", has been selected as part of Celebrate Radio's Positively Music Compilation CD. Lisa's song "Journey of Grace" which she co-wrote with Paul Fenstermacher and Michael Sauri was featured on Celebrate Radio's new syndicated Celebrate Radio FM weekly show.

Official Website

http://www.lisafenstermacher.com

Links

• Frederick News-Post Interview

Audio

• Peace
  Listen  
• This Between
  Listen  
• Beyond The Lonely
  Listen  
• Dandelion Wishes
  Listen  
• Journey of Grace
  Listen  
• Born To Me, Born To You
  Listen  
• Still This Hollow Sound
  Listen  
• With His Love
  Listen  
• Ever Wonder
  Listen  
• Hope Waits
  Listen  
• He Will Be There For You
  Listen  
• Fit For His Plan
  Listen  
• Living Waters
  Listen  
• I Will Listen
  Listen  
• It's Time
  Listen  
• Out Of The Love
  Listen  
• I Want To Be Sure
  Listen  
• Thank You
  Listen  
• Find Rest Oh My Soul
  Listen  
• Scars
  Listen  
• Stronger Than Before
  Listen  
• Dandelion Wishes
  Listen  

Lyrics

• STILL THIS HOLLOW SOUND
• BEYOND THE LONELY
• DANDELION WISHES
• Peace
• Dandelion Wishes

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Music With a Mission [+ Show ]
  

  By Lauren LaRocca News-Post Staff Lisa Fenstermacher Marriage, war, Baltimore, friends ...By Lauren LaRocca
  News-Post Staff
  
  Lisa Fenstermacher
  
  Marriage, war, Baltimore, friends — for Lisa Fenstermacher, there’s no way to separate them from her Christian faith.
  
  The Columbia-based singer-songwriter and her band will headline the ninth annual Help Our Neighbors In Need fundraising concert tonight, sponsored by the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs.
  
  “I grew up listening to a lot of different music because my dad had a big record collection,” Fenstermacher said. “From jazz to Brazilian to musicals to pop, my little ears just took everything in.”
  
  Fenstermacher began playing guitar in high school, influenced by songwriters of the ’70s, such as Joni Mitchell.
  
  She didn’t realize she could write songs until a friend of a friend asked her to put a poem to music while Fenstermacher was attending Chesapeake College near Easton (she later earned a bachelor’s degree in history from University of Maryland, Baltimore County). The poem was about finding grace and hope through Christ.
  
  Songwriting sparked her interest and so she attended a seminar on it and then, in 1992, went to Nashville for her first time for a weeklong program at a music and ministry school called Doulos. It was a good time for Christian music, Fenstermacher said of the early ’90s. Amy Grant’s rise to commercial success was pivotal in the Christian music community.
  
  Soon after Nashville, Fenstermacher began to lead the worship music for Ephesians Family Night at Ashton United Methodist in Ashton.
  
  “There’s a great need to combine music with healing,” she said. While her songs sometimes cross into the political realm, Christian themes and ideas run throughout.
  
  “I was trying to give voice to my faith as a Christian and also address the global kind of care that I feel Christ has for the world and for every soul.”
  
  Her song “Still This Hollow Sound,” from her third and most recent studio release, “Pivot,” was inspired by a picture Fenstermacher saw of Jesus looking down at Earth from space, with tears in his eyes.
  
  “Clothed for fashion, clothed for war, clothed to take more and more and more,” she sings in the song. “Crimson running off God’s canvas, down, down, down / music streaming, stone cold tomb, hope to be found / love’s brilliant glimmer, gold to carry ‘round / and it’s all I can do, all I can do, to still this hollow sound.”
  
  “I can combine my faith ... with what I’ve seen with people that have crossed my path,” she said. “They’re hurting, suffering.”
  
  In “Ever Wonder,” the album’s opening song, Fenstermacher reflects on getting older. Although a personal song, it has a faith-based message. It was inspired by Fenstermacher watching the lives of close friends “being turned upside down at the time, leaving me to really wonder how life and faith intertwine and how one finds hope again. This is a big theme in my songs, especially on ‘Pivot.’”
  
  Her producer, Michael Sauri, co-wrote several of the songs on “Pivot,” including “Still This Hollow Sound.”
  
  “I keep a book of song ideas,” Fenstermacher said. “I present Michael with an idea ... and he always asks me questions, like, ‘What is this song really about? It’s too well said. What are you really trying to say?’”
  
  And then she tells him a usually long story behind the idea, and those stories end up being the heart of the song.
  
  Her song “Peace,” co-written with Sauri, won a Silver Award at the 25th annual Mid Atlantic Song Contest.
  
  Sauri doubles as her lead and rhythm guitarist, and the remainder of her band is Carl Standifer on sax, Mike Shipley on drums, Kevin Kost on bass and Paul Fenstermacher (her husband, who also co-writes songs) on electric and acoustic guitar.
  
  Fenstermacher, a semi-finalist at the Christian Artists Seminar, has performed in the region at various benefits and festivals. “I am looking forward to the Coalition concert,” she said. “Their mission to help the hurting definitely resonates with my music.”
  
  

• Pivot: An irresistible force of emotion and clarity [+ Show ]
  

  Faith, hope, commitment, optimism .... the third studio album from Maryland-based singer-songwriter ...Faith, hope, commitment, optimism .... the third studio album from Maryland-based singer-songwriter Lisa Fenstermacher is upbeat pop rock with a buoyant groove and inspirational compass. Lisa's strong, warm, controlled voice emerges as an irresistible force of emotion and clarity above an instrumental foundation of well-arranged drums, bass, guitars and keyboards courtesy of Nate Brown, Marc Nelson and Michael Sauri. At tracks 4 and 10, the gospel-infused "With His Love" and "Peace" are pure delights with their added incorporation of the horns of Todd Butler and Jeff Chiaverini, in arrangements designed by keyboardist Brian Simms. Upright bassist Max Murray adds his low end to the melodic mettle on three tracks, including the group's nod to the life-affirming reflections and spirit of the traditional hymn, "Near the Cross." Rather than the effect-laden lead guitar solo rendered there, I would've preferred more acoustic-driven strings for that arrangement. While some of Lisa's songs have the requisite catchy hooks that reel listeners in, she more often conveys genuine pleas that simply resonate with compassion and conviction...messages welcome to those in search of meaning in their music. "Hope Waits" lacks some of the vocal edginess found on the rest of the CD, but it reinforces the central theme of her touching music. From the album's opening line ("I'm waiting for my life to change") to its last ("Everything's gonna be fine.."), Lisa Fenstermacher's originals (often written in collaboration with Michael Sauri) are sublimely crafted to keep one's focus and perspective in life.

Setlist

Sets - anything from one 45 minute set to two one-hour sets. Configurations range from a concert with full band, to an acoustic set with guitars, or Lisa with guitar and tracks.
Typical 45 minute set:
1. You Are There
2. Fit For His Plan
3. He Will Be There For You
4. Born to Me, Born To You
5. Near The Cross
6. With His Love
7. This Between
8. Still This Hollow Sound

Basic Requirements

Calendar