Music
Press
Lisa Lawrence, Yours To Break (myspace.com/lisalawrence). Eleven tracks of pop folk with a hint o’ Country & Western. Smooth and melodic no matter what the tempo, Lawrence shows some real songwriting talent. Her Joni Mitchell and Natalie Merchant influences are proudly displayed. The beat-heavy, amped-out “Out of Control” provides a nice break from the folkiness. - New Haven Advocate
Hailing from Hartford, Connecticut, singer-acoustic guitarist Lisa Lawrence displays quite a vocal range on her new album Enjoy the Ride. Sporting a voice that has an amazing elastic quality, Lawrence is capable of hitting soaring falsettos and bellowing lows and incorporates the two with flawless execution. Fueled from song to song by Lisa’s acoustic strumming, , she does employ the talents of Mike Ringland on bass, Johnny Chang on drums, Tim Mayock on guitar, Tom Weedon on keys and Joe Smith on guitar to add dimension and girth to her compositions. Check out Lisa’s vocal workouts on tracks “I Won’t Go Away,” “Seven O’s,” and the beautifully performed “Benediction.”
- Metronome Magazine
The music of Lisa Lawrence easily conjures the probably accurate image of one woman and a guitar driving up and down the highways of New England to one bar gig after another. This is the level of intimacy you feel in the performance of Lawrence’s songs, that and the curious mixture of country, blues, alternative and pop rock. Then there’s the high note she hits on the track entitled “Maybe I’ll Stay”, which would probably have Mariah Carey reaching for a Sucrets upon hearing it. This is crowd-pleasing music, and I feel very comfortable in suggesting that Lawrence find herself someday amongst the ranks of singer/songwriters that include Chantal Kreviazuk and Michelle Branch—exceptionally talented pop artists. She’s really quite good and the music delivered on this album is as varied as it is multifaceted; Lawrence never delivers the same thing twice.
- Lucid Forge Me
A recent proposal to found a Connecticut music hall of fame unfortunately includes too many big names who are in Connecticut but not of it.
Here are a few CDs involving local artists who may one day be contenders for enshrinement, and their local ties extend beyond mere mailing addresses.
# Lisa Lawrence, "Yours to Break" (Sling Slang) - Although she lives in Worcester now, Lawrence began honing her chops five years ago as part of a group of songwriters who tried out new material every week at Sully's Pub in Hartford. She was a quick study: "Yours to Break" is the work of an accomplished songwriter. Lawrence sings moving, impressionistic narratives over gritty roots-rock accompaniment in a clear expressive voice that sometimes calls to mind Christy McWilson, a big-voiced singer from Washington state. Connecticut should rue the day it lost Lawrence to Massachusetts. Online: www.lisalawrencerocks.com.
- CT Now
Discography
Yours to Break 2007-Sling Slang Records
Enjoy the Ride 2003- self released
Photos
Bio
Lisa Lawrence is a performing songwriter currently based in Worcester, Ma. She began her musical career 5 years ago in Hartford CT after meeting a group of great singer songwriters in a bar two blocks from her apartment called Sullys. Every Monday night she would try out new songs and then go home and write more. It was a really encouraging group of musicians and Monday nights were (and still are) a blast. Lisa was soon nominated for best solo artist in the Hartford advocate 2 years in a row. Thomas Pizzola of the Hartford Advocate writes, Like any good folk singer, her songs tell stories, but I am not going to overlook Lawrences musical abilities. She has a sweet sensitive voice that helps drive home the emotional content of her music. Lisa Lawrence sings from the soul.
Lisas performance is a solo acoustic set of mostly original songs. Lisas musical style is very diverse. Her mother is a piano teacher and church organist and her father a Baptist minister so of course she grew up singing in a choir. However, it was in high school that she was drawn to rock and roll. When everyone else was listening to Pearl Jam Lisa was talking about a great knew band she just discovered called Led Zeppelin. In 2000 Lisa received a degree in musical theory and composition and vocal performance. She is just as likely to break out singing Whole Lotta Love or a Mozart aria at a moment's notice. Music is about feeling and emotion but can be so confined if put in a category. The more diverse you are as a musician the more you can express to the audience Lisa says. Not to mention the moments in between songs where she will educate the audience on Red Sox 101 or tell white water rafting stories.
Career highlights include for a wide variety of musicians such as folk duo Chris and Meredith Thompson, New Bedford Troubadour Michael Troy and the almost famous rock group Antigone Rising. Recently Lisa was finalist for the Dessert Club songwriting contest in Taunton Ma.
In February 2007 she released her CD Yours to Break for Sling Slang records. The Cd was recorded at Aliehn Productions in Bristol CT and features Scott Genereau on electric Guitar and bass and Craig Malone on drums.
Lisa can be found performing at coffee shops, bars, streets and campfires throughout New England and New York.
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