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Songwriter Lissie Catches A Tiger

Songwriter Lissie Catches A Tiger

3:27·By Gemma G
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Singer/Songwriter Lissie hangs out with YH backstage before her show at the Troubadour where she tells us how she writes her music and who she would love to collaborate with in the future. She also lets us in on where the title of her debut album "Catching a Tiger" came from and what inspired her to cover Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." Hosted by Tatiana Diana.

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Young Hollywood

Welcome to younghollywood. com. Hey guys, I'm Tatiana Diana. We have Lisy sitting with us at the Trubador where you're going to perform tonight. Are you so excited?

Lissie

I am very excited. Um, you know, I lived in in LA for five years so it's um such an honor to be um headlining the Trubadora and to sold out crowd nonetheless, so.

Young Hollywood

So I was talking with your manager earlier and we're trying to put you in some kind of box of what kind of music you are and it's just impossible. Tell us about your sound.

Lissie

Well, you know, I I was sort of a singer songwriter, acoustic guitar, you know, wrote sort of folk songs, but I also was real into musical theater when I was a kid and I don't know, it's sort of a eclectic or, you know, bluesy, folky pop rock.

Young Hollywood

What is your writing process like? Do you just sit there with your guitar and just let things come to you?

Lissie

Usually what starts an idea is just it'll pop into my head. I'll kind of find myself tapping my toe and I'm not the person that can sit down and be like, I'm going to write a song today. That doesn't really work as well because it's so based on like emotions and impulses and feelings and uh thoughts that have to sort of happen organically, otherwise it'll sound forced, you know.

Young Hollywood

How did you come up with the inspiration behind that album? Um, Catching a Tiger. First of all, Catching a Tiger. What what inspired that?

Lissie

That's a lyric from the song Bully, which is on the album. The Catching a Tiger was was basically in reference to like, you know, being with someone who is like not you can't, you're together but you're not. You're always sort of trying to they're always one step ahead of you and um it's it gives you anxiety, it's unbearable.

Young Hollywood

I recently heard your rendition of Bad Romance. Oh, yeah. Incredible. What made you decide First of all, it doesn't even sound like a Lady Gaga thing at all because you totally do your own Lizy thing on it. What made you think to do that?

Lissie

Um, I like that song. I think it's a good song. I think Lady Gaga's great and then I thought that that would be a good one to do just because it was such a well-written song and um and I liked the lyrics and I just thought it's like the sort of song everybody knows and people aren't going to expect that out of me.

Young Hollywood

Any other cool collaborations? Would you ever anybody you'd love to work with in the future?

Lissie

Um, yeah. Well, you know, Fish, the band Fish. I really like them and there's a song Alison Cross sings with them called If I Could I Would. And I was just hoping like someday I must sing that song with them. But I would love to work with like Brian Burton, who's, you know, Broken Bells, Danger Mouse, Ar Sparkley, that guy, um, awesome. Damon Albarn from Gorillaz, I think is really cool.

Young Hollywood

I met some of your bandmates. It's three of you guys total. Yes. You and then two boys. Yes. How is it traveling with two fellows all the time?

Lissie

It's good cuz they're like real sensitive guys. Really? Yeah. No, they're not like burping in my face or anything. They're not those kinds of guys. They don't talk about like boobs or anything, you know. They're good for me cuz they're smart and they're, you know, spiritual, they eat well, they take care care of their bodies and exercise and you know, are just thoughtful people that, um, I think are good influence on on my life and you know, they're my friends and I feel like they're my family now.

Lissie

Hi, I'm Lizzy and thanks for hanging out at Young Hollywood.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Lady Gaga

    Artist whose song 'Bad Romance' Lissie covered.

  • Tatiana Diana

    Host of the Young Hollywood interview.

  • Lissie

    The interviewed singer/songwriter.

  • Alison Krauss

    Artist who sings with Fish, a band Lissie admires.

  • Brian Burton

    Producer and artist (Danger Mouse, Broken Bells) Lissie wants to work with.

  • Danger Mouse

    Artist and producer Lissie would love to collaborate with.

  • Damon Albarn

    Musician (Gorillaz) Lissie finds cool and would like to work with.

  • Fish

    A band Lissie admires and wishes to sing with.

FAQ

What is Lissie's musical style?+
Lissie describes her sound as an eclectic mix of bluesy, folky, and pop-rock, stemming from her background as a singer-songwriter with acoustic guitar roots and an interest in musical theater.
How does Lissie write her music?+
Lissie's songwriting process is organic; ideas pop into her head, and she finds herself tapping her toe. She believes songs must happen organically based on emotions and impulses, otherwise they sound forced.
What inspired the title of Lissie's album "Catching a Tiger"?+
The title "Catching a Tiger" is a lyric from her song "Bully" and refers to being with someone who is always one step ahead, causing anxiety.
Why did Lissie cover Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"?+
Lissie decided to cover "Bad Romance" because she likes the song, thinks Lady Gaga is great, and recognized it as a well-written song that people wouldn't expect her to cover.
Who would Lissie like to collaborate with?+
Lissie would love to work with artists like Brian Burton (Danger Mouse, Broken Bells), and Damon Albarn from Gorillaz, and she also hopes to sing with the band Fish.

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