Lola Spriggs

RISING CANADIAN POP SINGER
LOLA SPRIGGS PICKS UP A SECOND
HOLLYWOOD MUSIC IN MEDIA AWARD
NOMINATION FOR HER UPBEAT SINGLE
‘I WANNA LOVE YOU’

There’s no stopping emerging pop singer Lola Spriggs from making her way to Hollywood. The Canadian-based songtress has racked up a second Hollywood Music In Media Award (HMMA) nomination for her latest single, “I Wanna Love You” in the Best Pop Song category. Spriggs recently premiered the music video on YouTube directed by James Campbell.

She also picked up a nomination for her FMQB-AC hit and title track to her new EP, “Nobody But You” for Best Adult Contemporary/AAA Song. The infectious tune put her into exclusive company with heavy hitters such like Rob Thomas, Daughtry, Michael Buble, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer, Lady Antebellum, Air Supply and emerging star Adam Lambert. She’s also in rotation in the UK and in Australia.

Lola stands out as the only Canadian nominee in both the Pop and Adult Contemporary/AAA categories.

Happening on November 18, 2010 at the world-famous Hollywood & Highland Kodak Theatre complex in Hollywood, Calif., the HMMAs recognize and honor the music of visual mediums, the talented individuals responsible for it, and the music of both mainstream and independent artists from around the globe.

The singer has been grabbing the media spotlight with profiles by Reuters, Orleans EMC, The Ottawa Sun, Orleans Online, MuchMusic USA and A Celebration Of Women. She also made a recent TV appearance on the local cable show Rogers Daytime.

Spriggs is also gearing up for her official EP release show in Canada next month, details will soon be announced.

- Luck Media

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.. Ottawa Based Songstress LOLA SPRIGGS Debuts New Feel Good Single & Music Video ‘I Wanna Love You’
By admin • Aug 16th, 2010 • Category: Media Vault
The Emerging Songstress Earns Continuous
Media Coverage In Her Native Canada And The U.S.

The multi-talented Ottawa, Ontario based pop singer Lola Spriggs is gearing up to release her new single “I Wanna Love You” from her latest EP Nobody But You on Canada’s radio waves this month and unveils her music video to the track directed by James Campbell on YouTube.

Coinciding with the release, Lola is continuing to enjoy a stream of media coverage in both Canada and the U.S. Lola is also taking local media by storm with her infectious music and compelling yet relatable story which she share in her spotlights in publications such as The Ottawa Sun and Orleans Online. She also made a recent TV appearance on the local cable show Rogers Daytime and is lined up for an interview with Big Blend Magazine on Sunday, August 8 for their popular “Champagne Sundays” radio show.

Lola’s breakthrough U.S. single and title track to her new CD “Nobody But You,” which peaked at #11 on the FMQB AC40 Chart in May of this year.

No stranger to musical accolades, she’s scored numerous big radio singles in her native Canada since her 2004 debut EP Expressed and its mainstream retro-rock flavored follow-up Lifescrapes—and opened for notable acts including Rock and Hyde, Parachute Club and Pursuit of Happiness.

Spriggs’ solo recording career has included several Canadian radio singles and three popular projects as she slowly discovered her true creative path. She donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the Expressed EP to local charities; reflected the angst, anger and troubled times of her younger self on the uniquely titled Lifescrapes; and showed her fearless attitude in a bluesy-country setting on Barefoot.

The title track “Nobody But You,” the lead single from her upcoming new six-song CD co-written by internationally acclaimed producer Marcus Kane (Snow, Joey Boy), put her into exclusive company with pop superstars Rob Thomas, Daughtry, Michael Buble, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer, Lady Antebellum, Air Supply and emerging star Adam Lambert. - PopYOUlarity

A Navan-based songstress, who is already having a remarkable year, has received another honour to add to her growing list of accolades.

Lola Spriggs has been nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award for her breakthrough single, Nobody But You.

"I'm pretty excited about that," she said.

The song, which is the lead single off of her new six-song EP of the same name, hit number 11 on the adult contemporary top 40 radio charts this past May.

"It was quite a rollercoaster of day," Ms. Spriggs said of the mid-September afternoon when she received word of the successful nomination.

Out at an event and unable to check the website for news as she had been doing daily, she received an email from her California-based publicist, Chrissy Sutphin.

"I understand that they get thousands of submissions (for nominations) every month," Ms. Spriggs said.

Not only was she one of the nominees, she is also the only Canadian to be recognized as well.

Nobody But You marks the debut of a new formula that seemed to have the right mix of ingredients for Ms. Sprigg's career. After musically showcasing the emotions from tough times that included the death of her mother and the end of her marriage on her previous albums, the single mother hooked up with artists who brought her sound in a new direction. The songs on the EP were written with a team led by Marcus Kane and are much more upbeat and than her previous work, which she has described as having a "heavier, earthy-rock flavour."

Recording in Toronto with Mr. Kane and vocal arranger Rane Parish, Ms. Spriggs produced a song that was more commercially viable and better produced than her previous output.

Along with a different sound, Ms. Spriggs also has a larger team working with her, which includes her publicity team as well as Canada and U.S.-based radio promoters, Bobby Gale and Jack Ashton.

In an already tough industry that's even more difficult for independent performers, Ms. Spriggs said that the nomination is a huge boost in confidence.

"I'm continuously driven to improve the quality of all aspects of my art," she said. "It's reconfirmed for me that I'm making the right decisions."

The awards are handed out at a Nov. 18 gala at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood to recognize and honour the music of visual mediums, the talented individuals responsible for it, and the music of both mainstream and independent artists from around the globe.

Ms. Spriggs already has her tickets for the big night booked and is hoping that an Ottawa-based designer will dress her for the occasion. But when it comes to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the Los Angeles scene, the singer said that she has a bit of a different persona in those situations.

"I still think of myself as a local gal. I live out in the country, east of Ottawa, and my circle of friends is the same."

While the opportunity to travel and attend parties was never something she really dreamed about, Ms. Spriggs said it was something that she had hoped for.

"The fast-lane lifestyle symbolizes something relative to the level of success that I'm seeing."

Looking ahead, Ms. Spriggs will be heading back to Toronto to record a new album with Mr. Kane and Ms. Parish and is in the process of organizing an Ottawa release event for the Nobody But You EP after the November awards ceremony.

"If (the recognition for the song) ends there - which I hope it doesn't - I'm extremely pleased that it's come this far, " she said. - Orleans EMC

AFTER YEARS OF HARD-FOUGHT PERSONAL STRUGGLES, LOLA SPRIGGS, THE OTTAWA BASED SINGER CELEBRATES HER NEWFOUND JOY WITH HER INFECTIOUS NEW SINGLE “NOBODY BUT YOU,” WHICH REACHED #11 ON THE FMQB AC40 CHART--PUTTING HER IN THE COMPANY OF SUPERSTARS ROB THOMAS, DAUGHTRY, MICHAEL BUBLE, COLBIE CAILLAT AND JOHN MAYER

The name Lola has a unique and colorful place in pop history. Ray Davies and The Kinks met “L-o-l-a” in a club down in Old Soho, while Barry Manilow immortalized her as a showgirl in “Copacabana.” Then there’s the famous refrain to the song from the classic musical “Damn Yankees”: “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.”

The multi-talented Ottawa, Ontario based singer Lola Spriggs is getting everything she’s been dreaming of (and has worked hard for) with her breakthrough U.S. single and title track to her new EP “Nobody But You,” which hit #11 on the FMQB AC40 Chart in May of this year. No stranger to musical accolades, she’s scored numerous big radio singles in her native Canada since her 2004 debut EP Expressed and its mainstream retro-rock flavored follow-up Lifescrapes—and opened for some of the country’s most notable acts, including Rock and Hyde, Parachute Club and Pursuit of Happiness.
Spriggs’ solo recording career has included numerous Canadian radio singles (including “On Heaven’s Way,” “Braggin’”, “I Ain’t Crushed,” “Draggin Fly,” “Out of my Hands”) and three popular recordings which reflect true artist development as she slowly discovered her unique creative path. She donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the Expressed EP to local charities; reflected the angst, anger and troubled times of her younger self on the uniquely titled Lifescrapes; and showed her fearless attitude in a bluesy-country setting on her 2008 album Barefoot.
But “Nobody But You,” the lead single from her upcoming new six-song “mini-CD,” put her into exclusive company she could only dream about a few years ago, when the devoted single mom began pursuing her musical ambitions after emerging from some dark emotional places. The track shared the FMQB chart with pop superstars Rob Thomas, Daughtry, Michael Buble, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer and Lady Antebellum, legends like Air Supply and emerging star Adam Lambert.
The song was written by internationally acclaimed producer/songwriter Marcus Kane (Snow, Joey Boy, Glenn Lewis), Bogene Williams, and Stan Stpor. Spriggs had initially approached Kane to work on the production of some new material they’d been shaping.
“The vibe of ‘Nobody But You’ reflects the happy place I’m at now and have been feeling for the past few years,” says Spriggs. “My Barefoot CD, which had a heavier, earthy rock flavor to it, was a musical transition point for me and expressed where I was a few years ago. My focus on pop/AC came from being in a comfortable place with myself and the world around me. It’s a happy ending to a long and sometimes very challenging story, but what matters is that I’m here to sing and tell the tale.”
Beyond the songs’ lush and layered vocal harmonies, the singer connected immediately to the song’s uplifting lyrics. For her, it’s a celebration of newfound happiness after years of hard fought struggles.
“The first thing I thought of when presented with the song ‘Nobody But You’ was my teenage son, who is at a transition point in his life, with both of us facing many upcoming changes. The song inspired some deep soul searching and it’s all about understanding and accepting what life gives you and not sulking about it, but figuring out how to stay strong.”
After participating in theatre arts in high school, the native Montrealer—whose parents were born in England——left home at 16 and went through years of bad decisions and difficult challenges. She later faced the ongoing heartache of a marriage that turned abusive and, finding her way out of that painful situation, did her best to provide for her son as a single mom.
While continuing to endure difficult circumstances at such a tender age, one night, someone in the crowd heard her singing and invited her to start recording radio jingles and government tourism spots that aired extensively on local stations; the tourism spots also ran internationally. She later headlined at venues across Ontario and Quebec and played in a variety of regionally popular bands with unforgettable names: Rough Edges, Centerfold, Brass Monkey, Great Aunt Alice, The Republic, Split Image and 3DB Down. These experiences in the “indie music rat race” helped her grow a thick skin and prepare for all the challenges of being an indie artist.
A true survivor, Spriggs is dedicated to her passion and creativity, but has also achieved success in her life as a tough, no-nonsense business consultant. But it was when her mother, with whom Lola held an extremely close relationship with, asked on her death bed to promise that she return to her one true passion: music.
“Lola” is a nickname from childhood that her uncle gave her before those rebellious teen years when life took its rough turns; in many ways, it brings her back to a happy childlike innocence. These days, life could not be better. Some years past the darkness, Spriggs lives in the serene countryside of Ottawa, a pastoral locale that inspires her to write beautiful songs.
Although she has written many songs and plans to record some of them on future projects, she considers herself first and foremost a singer and vocal interpreter. While fans typically think an artist is more connected to a song that he or she has personally written, Spriggs has a very unique take on the expansive emotional possibilities of recording tunes penned by outside songwriters: “I remember writing a song once while I was sitting on a train headed to Montreal to visit someone, and every time I sang it live, I was singing from the memory of being on that train, in the mindset I was in at that moment. The connection wasn’t too deep, just a moment in time.”
“It’s a continuous journey, roads with many twists and turns,” she says. “Those destinations you set your heart on can change, because when you get to one place you think is what you wanted, it may not be exactly the place for you. But I’ve always known it was possible for me to achieve greater success in my life with music. As an independent artist, it’s difficult sometimes overcoming those speed bumps and challenges, but doing it and getting to the happy place I am lets me know it’s possible. My mother was very musical and raised me to believe that what you want to be, you can make happen. In the depths of despair, I doubted sometimes that dreams were possible, but now I know they are. And I’m very grateful that I had to courage to persevere.”
With the success of “Nobody But You” and the impending release of her new mini-CD, Spriggs is looking forward to getting on the road again and is currently in the process of assembling a new live band. As deeply as she connects with the song that is defining her to this point for American listeners, she’s eager to let people know that her emergence in the U.S. is simply one stop on a wild rollercoaster lifetime of many destinations. She plans to do release party/showcases in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Detroit and other Midwestern cities.
“I think one day in the future I would love to talk to young people who are out in the street having a hard time in their lives—letting them know that they too can overcome adversity and make something of their lives. More than ever now, I believe everything happens for a reason and to teach us something important.”
- CFM Music Scene & Entertainment News

Canadian-based songstress Lola Spriggs (www.lolaspriggs.com) has earned a
nomination for a Hollywood Music In Media Award (HMMA) in the Adult
Contemporary/AAA category for her breakthrough U.S. single "Nobody But
You." Spriggs stands out as the only Canadian nominee in the category.

Taking place on November 18, 2010 at the famous Hollywood & Highland
Kodak Theatre complex in Hollywood, Calif., the HMMAs recognizes and
honors the music of visual mediums, the talented individuals responsible
for it, and the music of both mainstream and independent artists from
around the globe.

Lola's nominated song reached #11 on FMQB AC40 Chart earlier this year
and broke through the North American major market Mediabase AC Top40.
Nobody But You is the title single from her new six-song CD co-written by
internationally acclaimed platinum producer Marcus Kane (Snow, XQuisite,
GQ).

The infectious pop song also put her into exclusive company with pop
superstars Rob Thomas, Daughtry, Michael Buble, Colbie Caillat, John
Mayer, Lady Antebellum, Air Supply and emerging star Adam Lambert.

The good news comes just weeks after Spriggs premiered the music video on
YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBhRQFS4mMc) for Lola's second single "I
Wanna Love You" directed by James Campbell.

The singer is enjoying a continuous stream of media coverage in both the
U.S. and Canada and has been spotlighted in publications, including The
Ottawa Sun and Orleans Online. She also made a recent TV appearance on
the local cable show Rogers Daytime and was featured on Big Blend
Magazine's popular "Champagne Sundays" radio show.

Spriggs is gearing up for her EP release show this fall which will be
announced in the coming weeks.
- Reuters

Ottawa-based pop singer Lola Spriggs is your classic case scenario of small town girl, big time dreams. And with the recent success of her breakthrough single “Nobody But You,” this hometown girl is well on her way to Hollywood stardom. Continuing to enjoy a steady stream of media attention, Lola has been featured in The Ottawa Sun and Orleans Online. In an effort to support one of our up and coming independent Canadian artists, Lola Spriggs is our Women’s Post ‘Woman of the Week.’

First realizing she could perform during her high school days, Lola admits she didn’t quite get into singing until her later teens. Starting off her career locally, Lola was discovered one night after someone in the crowd heard her playing at an Ottawa night club. From here, she was invited to record radio jingles and commercials, and describes the transition as her “first real experience recording music in a studio.”

Enjoying her pursuit of a career in music, Lola decided it was time to progress. Her career looked promising as she started playing background vocals, and opening for a variety of regionally popular bands. But in the mid 90’s, as a result of a dark and scary thing most of us like to call life, Lola was forced to take a hiatus from music.

Lola admits her journey as a performer has been anything but easy. But after overcoming life’s challenges and getting her life back on track, Lola dived back into the music industry head first, in 2003. Reconnecting with members of her original band, Lola embarked on a series of projects with the hopes of seeing her dreams finally achieved as a reality.

In 2008, Lola connected with Canadian radio promoter Bobby Gale who got her in touch with internationally acclaimed platinum producer Marcus Kane (which Lola describes as her second ‘break’ in the industry). While in contact with Marcus, Lola was sent a pitch for a very basic yet melodic song. Admitting she could hear potential from the start, Lola called Marcus back immediately. She quickly recorded the track as a single, and received the final version New Years Eve, 2009.

The track made its way into the hands of Gale who sent it to US radio promoter Jack Ashton. “Nobody But You” made its debut at 100 in the Adult Contemporary category and reached number 11 on the FMQB AC40 Chart earlier this year. The song also broke through the North American major market Mediabase AC Top40.

The single was also released in Canada and sat at number 1 in Ottawa for six weeks, and in the top 5 in Toronto.

For a Canadian player in an American market, Lola describes the experience as “very surprising” and “almost surreal.” But after being the only Canadian to earn a nomination for the Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA) in the Adult Contemporary/AAA category for “Nobody But You,” you better believe Lola is the real deal. In the second week of October, Lola was informed the uplifting track was nominated in another genre category, and will now attend the awards as the only Canadian with two nominations.

“There’s a lot of excitement right now with the upcoming award show and EP release,” says Lola.

The awards will take place on November 18, 2010 at the Hollywood & Highland Kodak Theatre complex in Hollywood, California and recognizes the music of both mainstream and independent artists from around the world.

Although Lola’s recent success has made life a tad busier, she notes that fundamentally, her life hasn’t changed much at all.

With the continuing success of “Nobody But You,” Lola is looking forward to eventually touring in targeted markets, and building a steady fan base. She also continues to work with Chrissy Sutphin of Luck Media and Marketing, Inc who is helping her manage the recent surge in media attention.

Lola's musical influences range from a variety of different genres for a number of different reasons. And as she continued to grow as an artist over the years, so too has the shape of her sound. Her musical direction is currently influenced by more contemporary, pop music. - Women's Post

Navan singer poised for comeback after 10 year hiatus
By Fred Sherwin
Orleans Online



Navan native Lola Spriggs is in the process of putting the finishing touches on her first recording in over 10 years. “Lifescrapes” is expected to be ready for release sometime in late August or early September.


Laura Spriggs is already imagining what it will be like to play in front of a live audience again.

“I can hardly wait. That’s one of the things I’ve really missed,” says the Navan singer who is about to launch a comeback after a 10 year absence from the music scene. "I've been practicing my moves in the kitchen a lot.”

The former lead singer with the Ottawa band “Rough Edges” recently completed a demo CD under the stage name Lola Spriggs and is currently putting the finishing touches on her first full length disc entitled “Lifescrapes” which she hopes to release in August.

Spriggs describes her music as classic rock with sex appeal. In truth, it’s a little bit country, a little bit funky and a tad jazzy but with both feet planted firmly in rock and roll.

The demo CD recently made it to CKCU’s Album Chart of the Week.

The project grew out of a reunion held last summer among three of the former members of “Rough Edges”.

“We were talking about how much fun the band was and how music has always been my passion and then (former band leader) David Matthews suggested getting a project going and I was all for it,” recalls Spriggs.

Spriggs stopped performing in 1993 when other events in her life led to a change in priorities including the break up of her marriage and the death of her mother. She has since remarried and is the mother of a 14-year-old son. Spriggs has drawn upon the ups and downs in her life to help provide material for the new CD, thus the title – “Lifescrapes”.

“It’s all about events in my life, both good and bad, and how I’ve grown and learned through all the various experiences which is what life is all about,” says Spriggs who is thrilled at the result. “I’m completely excited about it. I’m really happy with how it’s turning out. We sent the demo to over a hundred radio stations and record labels and so far the response has been very, very positive.”

All the songs were co-written with Matthews who is also producing the album out of Sound Creation Studios.

The four track demo CD is currently available at a number of record stores around town as well as J.T. Bradley’s Country Convenience Store in Navan where it sells for $5. Spriggs has decided to donate all of the proceeds from the CD to the St. Mary’s Church Restoration Fund.

Over the next few weeks Spriggs and Matthews must decide the song order for the album and choose which of the tracks will be marketed as the first single and video.

Asked what her 14-year-old son thinks of the CD and his rock and roll mother, Spriggs begins to chuckle.

“He said, ‘It’s really cool, it’s just too bad you’re my mom.’,” laughs Spriggs.

To check out snipits from the demo CD visit www.lolaspriggs.com.

- Fred Sherwin

Q: Can you tell everyone about yourself and the history behind Lola Spriggs?

A: Well, my career actually started back in 1982 doing musical improv. That led to some radio jingles. I discovered that singing was my real life passion, so I joined a group called The Republic and did back up VOX for them. Decided I wanted to do more 'lead vocals' so I joined Rough Edge. Was with Rough Edges thru to 1993 when my life direction had to change for a period.

Q: Why did you stop performing in 1993?

A: I was actually pregnant and couldn't get that mini skirt over my belly. Had some personal stuff to take care of ... marriage breakdown, mother was ill, etc. You'll hear all about it on Lifescrapes.

Q: Why come back now? What made you want to do this?

A: Gotta follow your heart. My departure in 1993 was always only viewed to be temporary. Just that I had a lot to deal with in my personal life and needed a bit of stability in my life to get through it all. The music biz can be really CRAZY. You gotta do what makes you happy cause you only get one shot at life. My music is what makes me happy. It is my life passion.

Q: And is your family supportive of your decision?

A: ABSOLUTELY. My son thinks it's pretty cool. In fact it has inspired him to take up the bass, which I'm really pleased about cause they're not easy to find ... lol. My husband is 100% behind me.

Q: What are some of the emotions surrounding your comeback? Are you nervous? Anxious? Both?

A: Great question. I'm totally energized about the whole project, and can't wait to get back on stage. Sure I'm a bit nervous, mainly about the CD. Always a bit insecure about whether people will like the music when you do all original. Also, there's a lot about myself in the material, so I guess I'm also feeling a bit vulnerable too.

Q: Have you faced any obstacles thus far?

A: Not really. Money. I find the whole indie community is very supportive. I tried to get FACTOR assistance, but it didn't work out (said I was thinking too big). The guys I'm working with are FANTASTIC.

Q: Who are some of the people you've worked with on this project?

A: We are a team of three actually. I have teamed up with David Matthews again, cause he did all the writing for Rough Edges, and is one of the most talented song writers to come out of Canada in my mind. I asked David if he'd let me do some of his material, and also help me with my own (I never wrote before). That's where the journey began. David has also produced Lifescrapes. The other member of our team is Scott Walsh. Scott is an amazing guitar player, and he engineered the project. We did the whole project in Scott's studio, Sound Creation.

Q: And who are the musicians backing you on the record?

A: The amazing Mr. Bob Marquis (used to be with the Pushkins for those who remember). He did some bass for us too. David did all the drums, rhythm guitar, and keyboard work. Scott had the rest of the guitars (lead, slide, classical). And of course I did all the vocals.

Q: When can we expect Lifescrapes to come out? Any plans for a CD release party yet?

A: I'm hoping it will be ready by the end of September. Just met over the artwork on Monday past. We're gonna wait for the release party. Just putting a full band together for live performance (if I can find a rehearsal spot...sigh). Right now I'm working on the press kits and marketing stuff. Also shopping for a video company - hoping to keep it local. We'll get out there and play when we are ready, and when we've received some good air time and people are familiar with the music. It's got really good commercial appeal, so I am expecting that it will do well with the radio. I was totally surprised when Expressed hit #23 on the local indie charts, cause it was just a demo and the songs were not 100% perfect. I have a really good feeling about Lifescrapes.

Q: How would you describe your style of music?

A: Alas, la question ... I have thought long and hard about this one. I guess we fit into the 'rock' genre. I've been compared to a female Bryan Adams, but I think we present a much more varied mix on Lifescrapes. We have everything from a really hard driving guitar rocker, to a sensual smokey jazz number, some really singable rock numbers, and a few love songs. Yep, we're rock !!

Q: What are some of the things you write about in your songs?

A: The things that have presented me with my greatest life learnings I guess. I was on my own at the age of 16 so I had a lot of events in my life at a pretty young age. Each one has taught me something - about my own self and about how to 'get along' in the world.

Q: Overall, how has your experience working on Lifescrapes been?

A: Bit of an emotional roller coaster I'd say, but also a bit of therapy too. I was singing about some pretty painful and angry things, but each time I walked out of the studio I felt totally exhilarated. Kind of like when you get off a roller coaster - great way to completely release. Dave and Scott are simply fantastic to work with. Totally trusting and respectful relationship with both. PROfessional all the way, and totally committed to the project. ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL experience.

Q: Thanks for your time Lola and best of luck with the record. Is there anything you would like to add?

A: Just to say thanks to David, Scott, and Bob (and you too monsieur). And a huge and special thanks to Susan for the photos. Also, to those who are now starting to write (a.k.a. fans), thanks for the support and I too can't wait to see you when I get out there and play live. The community support has been simply overwhelming, and greatly appreciated. Ottawa Rocks.....dot.ca !!!

Check out this interview on-line:
http://www.ottawarocks.ca/interview-lolaspriggs.htm

Check out www.lolaspriggs.com for more information
- Ottawa Rocks

Eastender / Orleans Online
October 2004

**************************

After a nearly a decade away from the music scene, Navanite Lola Spriggs is about to make her long awaited comeback in a big way.

The former member of Ottawa based bands Rough Edges and The Republic, is about to release her new full length CD "Lifescrapes", a semi-autobiograpohical collection of original rock songs and powerful ballads.

Spriggs stopped performing in 1993 when other events in her life including the break up of her marriage and the death of her mother led to a change in priorities. She has since remarried and is the mother of a 14-year-old son.

Spriggs has drawn upon the ups and downs in her life to help provide material for the new CD.

“It’s all about events in my life, both good and bad, and how I’ve grown and learned through all the various experiences which is what life is all about,” says Spriggs who is thrilled with the result. “I’m completely excited about it. I’m really happy with how it’s turned out.”

All the songs on the CD were co-written with friend and former bandmate David Matthews who produced the album out of Sound Creation Studios with help from engineer Scott Walsh.

Spriggs and Matthews began their little project just over a year ago. Four of the songs were pre-released on an EP entitled "Expressed" last spring that made it all the way to #23 on CKCU’s Album Chart of the Week despite limited distribution.

After many, many hours toiling away in the studio, Spriggs took the master recording down to Toronto at the beginning of September to have 2,000 CDs made by an independent manufacturer.

This week she plans to mail copies to the top four record companies in Canada with the hope that one of them will agree to distribute and market it. She also plans to send CDs to over 1,400 radio stations in Canada, the U.S., Europe over the next two weeks.

Locally, music fans will be able to pick the CD up at Record Runner, CD Warehouse, Legend Records, and Birdman Music beginning next week. You can also buy it over the internet at www.hmv.com. If you want to check out the CD before buying it, you can listen to 30 second clips of each song at www.lolaspriggs.com also beginning next week.

What you will hear is an eclectic mix of material aimed at a broad audience. The musical selections range from the brooding "I Love Alone" to the hundred mile an hour, full speed ahead "Draggin Fly" that should appeal to the younger set.

The signature song, which will also be the first single, is "Chrystal's Crystal Ball". The song has a Rolling Stones vibe to it that is highly contagious, requiring repeated listenings.

Other highlights include "Fast Lane" and "Eyes of a Lonely One" about a person having to deal with personal pain while trying to maintain a cool exterior. While recording the track, Spriggs imagined her father and the struggle he went through trying to stay strong on the outside while dealing with the painful loss of her mother

My own personal favourite is "Dream of Maya Park", a smoky, jazzy number that is best enjoyed with a glass of single malt scotch or a fine wine.

"Lifescrapes" has a little something to for everyone. It's diversity makes it impossible to pigeon hole into any one genre. Spriggs says it simply reflects the varied musical tastes of the average listener.

"Most people in the 25-55 age group already have a very diverse taste in music. They may listen to classic rock one minute, blues the next and something more contemporary the next. If you play the CD to 11 different people they would probably like 11 different songs," says Spriggs.

I don't know about that, but I do know that if your record collection includes the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Diane Krall, Alanis Morissette and Sheryl Crow, "Lifescrapes" would make the perfect addition.

Check out this interview on-line:
http://www.orleansonline.ca/pages/A2004102601.htm - By Fred Sherwin

The buzz I'm hearing suggests that I'm one of Canada's hottest new female rock singers. I find this interesting cause I've been around and back again through the club circuit in Ontario and Quebec Canada, and spent half of my life in studio.

I'm all original, playing my own stuff now....high-energy sensuous electrifying rock. I've been writing with David Matthews for my current CD "Lifescrapes".

I'm very passionate in my live performance, and I'm often compared to Janis Joplin...not so much in my vocal sound cause I'm much smoother as compared to her very raunchy sound, but certainly in delivery.

I get deeply entranced in the heart of each song, and the audience can feel the emotion flow.

I love to sing....it is the core of my existence. I can really express myself in my music. It's what drive me, my life passion.

Why this name?
Lola was a childhood nicname given to me by my "Uncle Engelbert". I was living in Alabama and had just learned to speak, so I had inherited a bit of a southern charm in my speach. After that we moved back to the UK, and met up with him at one point. When he asked "so what is your name young lady", it came out as Lola...and from there it just kind of stuck.

Do you play live?
I've done the club circuit, spending endless weeks on the road. We played every weekend, and many weeknights. The last few years have been a bit of a haitus cause we've busy recording Lifescrapes. Now we're gearing up for the CD release, and plan on a major release bash at Christmas time in our home town Ottawa Canada. Keep listening for more on this.

One of my most memorable moments was jumping up & down in stilletto heels, and getting them stuck in the stage floor! I also knocked my bass player off the stage once, cause he didn't know I was going to jump onto his back and he wasn't ready - I caught him off guard. Guess I'm just too full of energy and heaps of surprises when I get on stage.

How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
Greatest thing since mashed potatoes...makes music more accessible around the globe as compared to traditional distribution, which can be a real pain. Just have to be smart about how we protect the rights of musicians.

Would you still sign a record contract with a major label?
Sure. Support is always a good thing. Again, just have to be smart about how to ensure everyone gets a good deal - a win/win.

I think the labels are just looking to mitigate some of the risk, which means more hustling for the band/artist. There are a lot of bands out there, and the labels can not afford to sign everyone. If you have talent, are willing to put some skin in the game too, and can proove you are a worthy investment for them, then you have a better shot.

You've gotta work hard anyway if you're serious about the business....nothing in life comes free. This will reflect very positively on you.

I'm happy to go it alone, but would always welcome a helping hand.

Band History:
I'm a native Montrealer. I guess my passion for singing was inspired by my ‘Uncle Engelbert’ at a very young age. I was quite impressed with all of his albums, and I used to listen to them all the time (and I still have them).

I actually started my musical career doing live musical improv at a small upbeat club in downtown Ottawa Canada, which led to a musical comedy mini-series on the local TV station, and a bunch of radio jingles. Since then, I've acquired extensive experience in studio and headline performances at venues across Ontario and Quebec. I played in a bunch of bands, such as Rough Edges, Centerfold, Brass Monkey, Great Aunt Alice, The Republic, Split Image, and 3DB Down. We did openings for some pretty big acts such as The Pursuit of Happiness, Parachute Club, and Rock and Hyde.

My radio hits include The Hammer, The Look, Out of my Hands, Woman of the World, and Here to Stay, which all received airplay on the local stations here in Ottawa Canada.

My EP "Expressed" released in early 2004 hit #23 on the local top 40 album indie charts in April, which is very encouraging for the current CD "Lifescrapes".

I've been collaborating in writing and production with David Matthews again. We worked together in Rough Edges, but I didn't write at the time. "Expressed" gives you a peak at the core of my soul. I think it also provides good visibility of the richness of my voice, which is award winning by the way.

Lifescrapes is out on October 26, and it won't disappoint.

They say I am one tough lady that delivers a rock-n-roll punch with passion, feeling, energy, and vocals to kill.

I would agree !!!

Your influences?
Everyone from Aretha to Zepplin. I've sung them all doing the club circuit when I used to perform covers - didn't we all at some point...?

I have to say that Janis is my greatest influence, and Steve Tyler would be second, but I love em all. Nina Simone, Sheryl Crow, Anita Baker, Micky baby (Stones), Bryan Adams, Bonnie Raitt. I could go on for days.

Favorite spot?
St. Marten for the shopping (you go Bon Bon grrls). I love Vieux Nice in France !
Ottawa rocks of course. Gotta love Montreal, T.O., and Vancouver too.

Equipment used:
Just a mic....you Beta be Shure...57 that is.

Anything else...?
Lifescrapes is out on October 26. The video for the first single, "Chrystal's Crystal Ball" will be available for Christmas 2004. The CD distribution includes over 800 radio stations around the globe, both commercial and internet stations.

- Sound Click Fall 2004

Tue, December 7, 2004

LOLA Spriggs wrote some poetry during her 10-year hiatus from the local music scene, words that made their way onto her new CD Lifescrapes. A listen to one of the four songs the Navan singer helped pen, Someone's Cage, gives a glimpse into what her emotions during that time might have been like.
TOUGH TIMES
"Desperation cleared my mind -- freedom's what I smell/Make my way alone through life -- no more of your hell," sings Spriggs.
"There were events and I needed stability in my life," she explains simply.
Those events included going through a divorce and the death of her mother. During the hiatus she raised her 14-year-old son, working for the local phone company and later in management consulting. She remarried five years ago. And recently, her need to make music became too loud to ignore.
"I like the consulting but my heart and passion is in my music," she explained.
The native Montrealer started her singing career performing musical improv in Ottawa. Radio jingles, government musical promos and stints in a half-dozen cover bands, including the heavy Brass Monkey, Top 40 Great Aunt Alice, and late '80s group Rough Edges, followed.
Spriggs has brought back some of her former Rough Edges bandmates -- including brother Rob on rhythm guitar and songwriting collaborator David Matthews on drums -- to back her up this time around.
Matthews penned seven tunes on the album and helped Spriggs turn her tear-soaked poetry into tracks like Someone's Cage, I Love Alone, Papa and Fast Lane.
'PHENOMENAL'
"David is a phenomenal songwriter and I needed his help constructing them into songs," she said. "He also helps with the chorus ... a lot of the building of the songs was David's magic."
Spriggs' first single is already getting play on 106.9 The Bear's "Local Licks" show. She recently shot the video, an interpretation of her decision to get back into music, and it will be released next week.
Spriggs is adding the finishing touches to her band -- a keyboardist and backup singer were the last to get up to speed -- and hopes to have her first live gig before the end of the year.
Lifescrapes is on sale in local record stores including HMV.

Check out this interview on-line:
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusic/dec7_spriggs-sun.html - By ANN MARIE McQUEEN, Ottawa Sun

Town and state you grew up in:

Born in Montreal Quebec. Moved around for five years, including Alabama where I learned to speak with a "southern charm", and landed back in Montreal. Finally left for Ottawa when I was 12. I moved out on my own at age 16. Left to live in London for a stint, and eventually moved back to Ottawa.

Town and state you live in now:

Now I live in a little rural town outside Ottawa Ontario, called Navan just like the French liqueur.

First instrument:

I took up the guitar when I was about 10 and wrote some really simple songs. I also tried my hand at piano in my teens but I left home so young and didn’t have much to my name. Really scraped by for many years. I didn’t have access to a guitar or piano again until many years later, so I never got to a level of proficiency where I would play either instrument live.

Instruments you currently play:

I leave the instruments to the pros now. I'll pick up a tambourine in live performance. I play a mean cow bell too (grin).

First performance:

My first live singing performance was at a night club when I was part of a musical improv show. I was discovered there by a marketing company and hired to do radio jingles, which inspired me to join a band. My first band performance was in the late 80’s with Rough Edges. We were all original and had a pretty good following around town.

Last book you read:

Something by Mary Higgins Clarke – forget the title. I was in Mexico and it was the only English book I found in the apartment – disappointing too. I’m in the middle of Archinon, but it’s taking me forever to get through it because I’ve been so busy in studio.

Favorite movie:

If I have to pick one it would be The Wizard of Oz - my all time favorite movie is. It goes back to my childhood and has a very special meaning. But I can't limit it to one because I have so many. Beaches will always be a favorite because I watched it with my mom after my dad died, and we were lying there together on a futon balling our eyes out – sad moment but wonderful memory. Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Life is Beautiful – very powerful films . The Fifth Element is also a fun favorite - I love the combination of fantasy and action and of course the amazing opera (Lucia Di Lammermoor). I’m a big sucker for romance films too – Love Affair, Pride and Prejudice, etc. I love Al Pacino, so anything with him is an automatic favorite.

Song you wish you had written:

One that I have not finished. I started writing it after my best friend Debbie died of cancer a few years back. Still a work in progress. One day I will. Can't say that I wish I had written someone else's song but I do wish I had the magnificent talents of so many great song writers.

Favorite song:

Too many – but all with a story to tell. My tastes are so varied…so indulge me. “Adia” by Sarah McLachlan (mom’s death), “Epitaph” by King Crimson (childhood broken heart), “Let Me Roll It” by Paul McCartney and Wings (first kiss), “Cry Baby” by Janis (I’m not telling), “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison (love of course), “Whatever It Takes” by Anita Baker (special someone, but it's a secret ).

Three people (alive or dead) you would want to have dinner with:

My mom because I miss her terribly, Al Pacino because I’m a HUGE fan, and Robin Williams ‘cause I love to be silly and laugh a lot - and he's a fascinating individual comedy aside.


Three CD’s you can’t live without:

I’d have to say Janis Joplin “Pearl,” Carol King “Tapestry,” and I’m hooked on KT Tunstall these days - “Drastic Fantastic.”


Guilty pleasure:

Champagne and Devon cream….not together of course.

Your most recent project:

“Nobody But You” written by internationally acclaimed writer/producer Marcus Kane. Rane Parish did the vocal arrangement. It is a beautifully melodic song with wonderful harmonies. It has captured a very gentle an innocent feel in my delivery - I think it is some of the very best recorded vocal work I’ve done. We’ve got two more on the go right now, working towards a new mini-CD in the late spring/early summer 2010.

Message to the world:

I guess the first obvious one at the moment would be for people to dig deep into their pockets to help the devastated people of Haiti. Going broader, I would say that if we all strive for a world committed to respect and tolerance, and a willingness to understand and accept, there are no challenges, differences, or obstacles that we cannot overcome together.
- FMQB Friday January 29, 2010

Ottawa, February 26, 2005

Lola Spriggs is back. Twelve years after she took a break from the local rock 'n roll scene to start a family and do some of the more normal things in life, the Navan songtress made a triumphant return to the stage Friday night to celebrate the release of her new CD Lifescrapes with about 300 friends and colleagues.

Backed by a five piece band of seasoned professionals including David Matthews on drums, Scott Walsh on lead guitar and Bob Marquis on bass, Spriggs launched into material from the CD which is beginning to get decent airplay in several markets south of the border including Kentucky, Indiana, Conneticut and Michigan.

Unfortunately, airplay up here in Canada has been harder to come by so far, but that fact hasn't discouraged Spriggs who knows that Canadian radio stations have traditionally been slow in recognizing their own, especially when it comes to rock music. For example, Alanis Morrisette's debut release Jagged Little Pill didn't get a peep in Canada until after it was already in regular rotation in a number of major markets in the States.

Judging by the reaction of the crowd at Friday's concert, it may only be a matter of time before we start hearing songs like Chrystal's Crystal Ball or Someone's Cage on the local airwaves.

Both songs were among the highlights of what was a very impressive performance. The band sounded especially tight, considering it was the first time they were playing most of the material in front of a live audience.

A solid as the original material was, however, Spriggs and the rest of the band were at their rocking best during a cover of the Rolling Stones'' song Gimme Shelter which they chose to do for an encore.

After the show, Spriggs admitted to being a little nervous at first, but the butterflies quickly wore off.

"It was a lot of fun. It felt like being at home," said a beaming Spriggs backstage, just moments before going out to sign copies of her CD. Each member of the audience received a free copy of the recording and encouraged to make a donation to Roger's House which had a table set up in the Congress Centre venue.

Where Spriggs will play next depends on her management team which is currently out beating the festival scene bushes. Her goal is to play as many festivals as possible.

"Exposure is key. The more people who hear it, the more people will want to buy the CD or call their local radio station to hear it," says Spriggs.

To hear some of the material off the CD for yourself, visit www.lolaspriggs.com and click on Audio/Video clips.

Check out this interview on-line:
http://www.orleansonline.ca/pages/A2005022701.htm - By Fred Sherwin, Orleans Online

The multi-talented Ottawa, Ontario based singer

Published By On Thursday, June 17th 2010. Under Celebrity News

The name Lola has a unique and colorful place in pop history. Ray Davies and The Kinks met “L-o-l-a” in a club down in Old Soho, while Barry Manilow immortalized her as a showgirl in “Copacabana.” then there’s the famous refrain to the song from the classic musical “Damn Yankees”: “Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets.”

The multi-talented Ottawa, Ontario based singer Lola Spriggs : is getting everything she’s been dreaming of (and has worked hard for) with her breakthrough U.S. single and title track to her new CD “Nobody but You,” which hit #11 on the FMQB AC40 Chart in may of this year.

No stranger to musical accolades, she’s scored numerous big radio singles in her native Canada since her 2004 debut EP Expressed and its mainstream retro-rock flavored follow-up Lifescrapes—and opened for notable acts including Rock and Hyde, Parachute Club and Pursuit of Happiness.

Spriggs’ solo recording career has included several Canadian radio singles and three popular projects as she slowly discovered her true creative path. She donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the Expressed EP to local charities; reflected the angst, anger and troubled times of her younger self on the uniquely titled Lifescrapes; and showed her fearless attitude in a bluesy-country setting on Barefoot.

But “Nobody but You,” the lead single from her upcoming new six-song “mini-CD,” put her into exclusive company she could only dream about a few years ago, when the devoted single mom began pursuing her musical ambitions after emerging from some dark emotional places. The track shared the FMQB chart with pop superstars Rob Thomas, Daughtry, Michael Buble, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer and Lady Antebellum, Air Supply and emerging star Adam Lambert.

A true survivor, Spriggs is dedicated to her passion and creativity, but has also achieved success in her life as a tough, no-nonsense business consultant. but Lola decided to return to her underlying passion for music when her mother fell terminally ill, which consequently refocused her aspirations in life.
- Twitter.com

The name Lola has a unique and colorful place in pop history. Ray Davies and The
Kinks met “L-o-l-a” in a club down in Old Soho, while Barry Manilow immortalized her as a showgirl in “Copacabana.” Then there’s the famous refrain to the song from the classic musical “Damn Yankees”: “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.”

The multi-talented Ottawa, Ontario based singer Lola Spriggs is getting everything she’s been dreaming of (and has worked hard for) with her breakthrough U.S. single and title track to her new EP “Nobody But You,” which hit #11 on the FMQB AC40 Chart in May of this year. No stranger to musical accolades, she’s scored numerous big radio singles in her native Canada since her 2004 debut EP Expressed and its mainstream retro-rock flavored follow-up Lifescrapes—and opened for some of the country’s most notable acts, including Rock and Hyde, Parachute Club and Pursuit of Happiness.

Spriggs’ solo recording career has included numerous Canadian radio singles (including “On Heaven’s Way,” “Braggin’”, “I Ain’t Crushed,” “Draggin Fly,” “Out of my Hands”) and three popular recordings which reflect true artist development as she slowly discovered her unique creative path. She donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the Expressed EP to local charities; reflected the angst, anger and troubled times of her younger self on the uniquely titled Lifescrapes; and showed
her fearless attitude in a bluesy-country setting on her 2008 album Barefoot.
But “Nobody But You,” the lead single from her upcoming new six-song “mini-CD,” put her into exclusive company she could only dream about a few years ago, when the devoted single mom began pursuing her musical ambitions after emerging from some dark emotional places. The track shared the FMQB chart with pop superstars Rob Thomas, Daughtry, Michael Buble, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer and Lady Antebellum, legends like Air Supply and emerging star Adam Lambert. The song was written by internationally acclaimed producer/songwriter Marcus Kane (Snow, Joey Boy, Glenn Lewis), Bogene Williams, and Stan Stpor. Spriggs had initially approached Kane to work on the production of some new material they’d been shaping. - Music News Nashville

Lola Spriggs is having the time of her life. After a lengthy singing career spanning the last 24 years, she is finally enjoying the type of success most independent artists can only dream about.

Her single "Nobody But You" debuted at #100 on the Adult Contemporary radio charts in the U.S. in February and then steadily rose to #11 by the end of May. Up against the likes of Lady Gaga, Colbie Caillat and Miley Cyrus. It was the #1 "most added" song on adult contemporary radio for three weeks running.

It's a tremendous accomplishment for any independent artist, let alone a small town girl from Navan, but Spriggs' success has not come without a lot of hard work, determination and a small army of industry insiders starting with legendary music promoter Bobby Gale who introduced her music to the internationally acclaimed platinum producer Marcus Kane.

Spriggs initially sent Kane one of her songs, After listening to it he asked for more. In the end, he picked one of them to record, but he also sent her one of his own songs. That song was "Nobody But You".

"We spent hours and hours talking over the phone about songs and what worked for me and what didn't, right down to different keys. I sang 'Nobody But You' I don't know how many times until we found the right key," says Spriggs.

After the two agreed on "Nobody But You", vocal arranger Rane Parish was brought in to fine tune the arrangement. Kane sent the final mastered version to Spriggs as a belated Christmas present. It was then handed over to Gale who enlisted the help of US industry consultant Jack Ashton to get air play south of the border.

Their efforts managed to get the song on the US charts in early February. Enter Luck Media and Marketing out of L.A. and you have the recipe for one of the fastest rising songs of the spring.

"It's been an incredible ride. Every couple of weeks Bobby would call me up and tell me, 'Your song just broke the Top 40 do you know what this means?' and I'd be like, 'No I don't know what it means. Tell me.'," says Spriggs whose been featured on the TwitterGlitter.com, Forbes.com and several other industry websites.

To put the accomplishment in perspective, thousands of new CDs are released in the U.S. every week and hundreds of those releases are on major labels. For an independent artist to get the kind of buzz Spriggs received is extraordinary.

During a media tour down east, Spriggs was informed by an interviewer that "Nobody But You" was the most popular wedding song of 2010.

"That's when it hits you and think, 'Wow, something I recorded is resonating with so many people that it's actually become a part of the one of the most important days of their lives," says Spriggs.

Fresh off the success of "Nobody But You", Spriggs is preparing to shoot a video for a new song which will appear on her soon-to-be-released EP. Sticking to her hometown roots, Spriggs plans to shoot a good chunk of the video in Navan. Among the locations being considered are J.T. Bradley's Country Convenience Store, Heritage Public School and the Domes at the Navan Fairgrounds. Most of the shoot will take place this Wednesday,

"I just wanted to keep the feel local. I'm a hometown girl at heart and I wanted my hometown to be a big part in the video," says Spriggs.

Looking into the future, Spriggs plans to go on tour sometime this fall after the EP is released. The tour will likely kick off in the U.S., but will almost certainly include dates in Canada.

"This is so much fun. I just want to keep it going as long as I can and enjoy every minute of it," says Spriggs, who isn't about to let her new found success get to her head. "I'll always be Lola from Navan."

You can listen to "Nobody But You" and other tracks by Lola Spriggs by visiting www.myspace.com. You can also download "Nobody But You" to your iPod at the iTunes store. - Orleans Online July 2010

When Lola Spriggs sings, she sings from experience.

On the surface, Nobody But You — her latest single rocketing up the U.S. adult contemporary charts — is a simple boy-meets-girl love song.

But to Spriggs, who was a teenage runaway in her youth and is now the single mother of a teenage son, the lyrics cut deeper.

“As I listened I was reading along with the lyrics, and I thought for me, this is about me and my son,” said Spriggs. “That connection, that I left home when I was young, and now he’s at that transition point as a young adult where he’s having to take some responsibility for his decisions in life.

“The song took a much deeper meaning for me because of that.”

Spriggs, who lives and works a day job in Ottawa, masquerades as a chart-topping adult contemporary songstress, working with big name Toronto producers and with Los Angeles ad agencies in her back pocket.

Working with hitmaking producer Marcus Kane, Spriggs has crafted her third CD of rootsy, easy-listening pop, with her next single, I Want to Love You, about to drop.

“(Kane’s) genre is very much hip hop and urban, which was not at all my own at the time, but we just thought it might be the right blend, and it’s worked,” she said.

“When I listen to the songs, it’s captured aspects of my style, my vocal capability, and a little bit of his contemporary sound. It’s a blend that we’re really happy with.

“The production is extremely strong, I think there’s going to be a lot of big things happening with the next single here in Canada and south of the border.”

She sees the latest project as a much more positive outlet than her previous releases, Lifescrapes (2004) and Barefoot (2008), which she says came from “dark emotional ground.”

“My mother had passed away, my marriage collapsed. There were a lot of negative things happening in my life and that was reflected in the music. But where I am now, I’ve just got a very positive outlook on everything and this disc represents that about me and where I’m at,” she said.

“It’s about being able to overcome challenges, and sometimes pretty serious challenges, dark places in your life. If you forge forward and keep looking to the future and recognize the learning out of the negative stuff, you can overcome them.

“There’s a lot more than just the happy music for me on this CD.” - The Ottawa Sun - Entertainment - The Scene

Check out the following sites that have provided coverage about Lola:

Fundraiser for Tsunami Relief raising $16,000 for the Canadian Red Cross: http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:aF2yQOHfMFUJ:karmalounge.ca/events.html+%22lola+spriggs%22&hl=en

Featured on Storm Studios Internet Radio: http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:zeNdSXA0n_AJ:www.storm-studios.com/broadcast.htm+%22lola+spriggs%22&hl=en

Indie FM:
http://archive.wn.com/2004/12/07/1400/indiefm/

Ottawa Sun Article:
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusic/dec7_spriggs-sun.html

#38 on Electric Eye Radio:
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:9BXCYCCgyTAJ:electriceyeradio.com/newmusic.htm+%22lola+spriggs%22&hl=en

Fundraiser for Rogers House:
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:sj76BPcCUT0J:www.rogershouse.ca/thankyou/+%22lola+spriggs%22&hl=en

Radio Play on CKCU:
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:qDtns0W_7LEJ:www.patmoore.net/radio.html+%22lola+spriggs%22&hl=en

#23 on the Indie Charts: http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:vSjOUrssh1MJ:www.chartattack.com/charts/college/oldcamp/may2004/camp1.txt+%22lola+spriggs%22&hl=en
- Various Sites

A continued willingness to evolve creatively is the mark of a true artist. Ottawa-based songstress Lola Spriggs is one such artist, as is confirmed by her compelling new single, “Nobody But You.”

Over the course of a career that has included stints in regional favourites The Republic and fronting Rough Edges and releasing two acclaimed solo albums, 2004 Lifescrapes and 2008’s Barefoot, Lola has established herself as a singer capable of delivering a potent combination of vocal power and emotional passion.

Both attributes are put on vivid display on “Nobody But You,” a compelling ballad featuring a vocal performance observers are terming Lola’s very best yet. “The song has brought out some nice qualities in my voice, and I’m just really happy with the result,” notes Spriggs with justified pride. She singles out “the fantastic vocal arrangement work” of Rane Parish as a key ingredient in the track’s success.

The song was written by internationally acclaimed Toronto producer/songwriter Marcus Kane (Snow, Joey Boy). Lola had initially approached Kane to work on the production of some new material they’d been shaping. “After hearing my voice, Marcus thought the song would be a good fit for me,” recalls Lola.

In turn, it was love at first listen for Spriggs. “I am huge on melodies and I could hear huge potential for melody and harmony on it.” That potential has been fulfilled, as lush and layered vocal harmonies (all courtesy of Lola) and Kane’s crisp and contemporary production give the tune genuine emotional heft. The uplifting lyrics of “Nobody But You” also resonated deeply with the singer. The loved one in the song is leaving, but such sentiments as “knowing that you care takes away all my fears” give the song a comforting tone.

Lola and her creative team are now preparing other tunes for a planned spring release of a new mini-album. “I’m at one of those transition moments as an individual and as an artist. We continue to explore, going another step beyond where we have been,” she declares, with hard-earned confidence. Following that musical journey promises to be a richly rewarding experience.

By Kerry Doole 2010 - Kerry Doole

On Barefoot, her 2008 solo album, Ottawa-based songstress Lola Spriggs doesn’t just bare her soles. She opens up her heart and soul, in powerful and poetic fashion, resulting in a truly compelling work, one worthy of major attention.
In close collaboration with her creative partners, songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist David Matthews and engineer/musician Scott Walsh, she has come up with a sound that is both classic and contemporary. Lola perceptively describes her style as “earthy rock, with blues and country undertones,” noting that “it’s not heavy rock, but a blend of those three elements. Within that genre, we do have a variety in the material. I wanted to profile my singing in a variety of ways while staying true to a genre.”
Mission accomplished here. Whether it is on the rockin’ bravado of “Braggin,’ the free-spirited energy of “Mug Shot Alley,” the raw Joplin-esque blues-rock of “Cry A Little,” the anthemic feel of power ballad “I Ain’t Crushed,” or the poignant yet uplifting “On Heaven’s Way”, the first single, the versatile vocal virtuosity of Spriggs shines through. The songwriting skill of Matthews and musical contributions of Walsh work to frame that strong and passionate voice in the most sympathetic setting possible.
Lola and David’s creative relationship is a fascinating one, and it has evolved over a long shared musical career. Their previous all-original band, Rough Edges, were favourites on the Ottawa live music scene, and were poised to break through on a larger stage when life intervened in the form of the arrival of Lola’s son. She chose to take a break from the music business to raise him, but reunited with Matthews for 2004’s impressive 2004 solo debut, Lifescrapes.
After a year of gigging to promote that record, Lola, David and Scott were eager to return to Walsh’s own studio, Sound Creation Studios. The fruit of those labours is Barefoot, a more stylistically unified work than the debut. Lola co-wrote “I Ain’t Crushed,” while all the other tracks were composed by Matthews with the singer in mind. “David had actually written and recorded quite a few of the songs with his own voice and instrumentation before presenting them to me,” she explains. “That was an interesting approach that gave me an opportunity to hear the songs a certain way, give them a good listen, then add some of my own ideas. David is a great friend, a great artist, and a very sensitive individual.”
This empathy is highlighted on a track like “On Heaven’s Way,” a moving song inspired by Lola’s late mother. “As I was singing it. I was envisioning my mother sitting there on the couch. We didn’t want it to have a sad tone but to be more of a positive song, one letting her know we are all looking forward to the meeting again in the next chapter.” The lovely guitar sound and catchy melody ensure such a result.
Spriggs’ mother was a published writer and acclaimed painter, and clearly Lola inherited this artistic talent. Her vocal skill was evident early on, while a stint doing live musical comedy improv in an Ottawa club helped hone her performance chops. Membership in award-winning pop-rock band The Republic meant she shared the stage with such prominent groups as The Parachute Club and the Pursuit Of Happiness, prior to her successful stint in Rough Edges.
As a result, Lola has developed into an experienced and electrifying live performer, one able to instantly connect with any crowd. “I’m my most comfortable in front of a live audience,” she explains. “I can step outside of myself and be a persona, yet I can also share some of myself. I’ve had people come up sobbing at shows, going ‘you wrote that song for me.’ If you can do that, you’ve succeeded.”
This ability to convincingly sing about life lessons learned (often the hard way) is a key weapon in Lola’s arsenal. The songs on Barefoot capture this skill.

By Kerry Doole 2008 - Kerry Doole