Lisa MacIsaac: Juno nominated musician and multi-instrumentalist

Christina sits down with Lisa MacIsaac for a chat about making room for what you love, surviving a plethora of bad jokes, meeting your heroes, and chasing your dreams. You don't want to miss this one!

Lisa MacIsaac, hailing from Creignish, Cape Breton, is one half of the acclaimed duo Madison Violet, alongside Brenley MacEachern. Known for their evocative harmonies and distinctive sound, the duo has released eleven albums, including their self-produced "Eleven" (2022). The multi-award-winning and Juno-nominated pair won the prestigious Song of the Year award at the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2010 for “The Ransom.” Recently, Lisa has also channeled her passion for music into curating and hosting a songwriter's circle, "Small of My Heart," where she continues to inspire and collaborate with fellow musicians.

Chapters

• 0:00 Greetings from Christina
• 0:49 Theme Song - Talk About It
• 1:13 Introduction by Christina
• 6:39 Bad Jokes told by Christina
• 10:34 Chips are dangerous
• 12:22 Moving away from the Maritimes
• 15:19 Making time for songwriting
• 18:39 Madison Violet
• 21:03 Using death as motivation to live
• 23:11 Lisa's other jobs
• 25:01 Lisa's musical history
• 29:19 What's working in music
• 35:22 Phone alarms
• 38:02 What makes Lisa laugh
• 49:12 Small of my Heart Songwriters Series
• 58:32 Heartbeat Hotline 1(902)-669-4769
• 59:04 Podcast Credits
• 59:34 Support the Podcast on Patreon

Transcript

S3E14: Lisa MacIsaac

Christina: [00:00:03] Welcome to a Chat with heart. I'm your host, Christina Martin. I'm a singer songwriter. I live on a dirt road with my best friend Dale in rural Nova Scotia, Canada. A chat with her is just me having chill conversations with people I want to celebrate, and topics that I'm curious about. If you have a question or a comment for this podcast, call my heartbeat hotline 1902 669 4769. To send this podcast even more love visit me online at Patreon.com/ChristinaMartin. I'm so happy you're listening. Our personal stories have great power to heal, influence and inspire. All we have to do is show up for the conversation.

Podcast Theme Song 'Talk About It': [00:00:49] If we just talk about it, we could shed a light, we could break a dark day. If we just talk about it, we can cut a way, we can make a brighter day.

Christina: [00:01:13] Hello. I am happy to be here with you. What's wrong with me? Uh, what an odd way to start a podcast episode. Uh, sometimes I don't know how to start, you know, uh, just gonna dive in. Uh, I did have a great weekend. I wanted to to share, uh, my friend Stephanie Purcell and Krista Keough, both these women were guests on my podcast, and I love them so much. So Stephanie rents a cottage every year in Hubbards, Nova Scotia, and she invited us to go and hang out. And now I don't think I've had an A overnight apart from at my mom's, like with girlfriends in, uh. It's been a long time. I think the last time was with my friend France and Julie, um, here in our home. So much fun. But it was just. It's been a long time, and I don't think I'd done it. A sleepover with Stephanie and Krista. We had so much fun, y'all. Like, honestly, if you can get away with some friends, even though you might have a lot of work to do. And, you know, I mean, I see other people making time for overnights and friends and all that, and I just don't get to do it that often, or I just don't do it. Maybe, um, it was so much fun. It was perfect. And we played charades. Uh, I learned how to play cribbage.

Christina: [00:02:54] We laughed a lot. Got to hang out on the beach in Hubbards. It was beautiful. We played match madness. Um, we microdose, uh, mushrooms. It was the most pleasant experience, and probably we did a lot of other things too. Like, uh, we ate lots of good food, had some good sleeps, played with the kitty cats. Stephanie had her cats with her. Met some fun people in the trailer park. It was. It was awesome. So I'm feeling pretty good right now. Um, well, my little heartbeat listeners, if you like jokes, you are in for a treat. Uh, this episode, uh, my guest, we chat about chips, um, humans with tails, uh, making time for doing the things you love. Dreams that come true? And new dreams. Songwriting and collaborations. Yeah, let's get right to it. Um, this was really fun because I had never really spent time and still, still have I still have to in person. But like in a one on one chat and with my guest today, Lisa MacIsaac, hailing from Cregneash, Cape Breton is one half of the acclaimed duo Madison Violet alongside Brenley MacEachern. I hope I pronounced Brenley your name. Your last name, right. Is it MacEachern? I, um, I hope so, but feel free to correct me. So these this incredible duo, they're known for their stunning harmonies and a very distinctive sound.

Christina: [00:04:50] And they've released 11 albums, including their self-produced 11 in 2022. They are a multi-award winning and Juno nominated pair. They won the prestigious song of the year award at the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2010 for their song the Ransom. Now, recently, Lisa Um, who's a multi-instrumentalist uh, has also channeled her passion for music into curating and hosting a songwriters circle called Small of My Heart, where she gets to, um, inspire and collaborate with fellow musicians. And I'm super, super fucking pumped because she's invited me to join a small of My heart song writers circle, and I'll be joining her and Mo Kenney on August 28th in Pictou. Um, tickets are at Christina Martin net, and I really hope you can make it. I'm so excited to share the stage with Mo Kenney and Lisa McIsaac. I mean, yeah, I can't wait, I can't wait, and this chat was so much fun. I really dig Lisa and um, I just hope I hope we get to like, hang out someday together somewhere in person. Well, we will on August 28th if I didn't make that clear. Okay, so sit back and relax and enjoy my chat with this incredibly talented and lovely human. Lisa McIsaac.

Christina: [00:06:36] Hi, Lisa. Hi. Are you ready for some jokes?

Lisa: [00:06:41] I could use some. Yeah.

Christina: [00:06:42] Are you having a rough day?

Lisa: [00:06:44] Yeah, there's been a couple of days of of roughness, but it's all good. That's why I'm here.

Christina: [00:06:49] That's why you're here. You mean on my podcast, to chat with heart?

Lisa: [00:06:53] Yeah. That's right.

Christina: [00:06:55] And and for any listeners who need to book a session just to have a break, call me. Call me if you need me. I actually do have a chatline. A heartbeat chat line. Like, a phone people can call.

Lisa: [00:07:07] Oh, that's so nice.

Christina: [00:07:09] It's nice. But you know what? It's not used a lot because I don't know if you know this, but people don't want to call anyone anymore.

Lisa: [00:07:18] It's funny, I'm actually a caller. I prefer like, so many people are on texts and WhatsApp, and I like the sound of somebody's voice, and I feel like there's a lot less misinterpreted as well.

Christina: [00:07:33] Oh, 100% I that's why I love sending voice messages and over texts and in the DMs and Instagram and Facebook, I'm just like, if I can send an audio message, I just feel so much better.

Lisa: [00:07:49] You're one of those people.

Christina: [00:07:51] Yeah, I know. Yeah. And long messages too.

Lisa: [00:07:56] Long ones?

Christina: [00:07:59] Yeah. Okay, so I've got some jokes. Um, you know, I have mixed feelings about AI, but, uh, I used it for two things. Uh, today. I've been using it for my goodbye messages, which will be at the end of this podcast, because I think it's hilarious sometimes what AI comes up with. Um, and then I asked it because I was short on time to just pull some jokes because I didn't have time to look up jokes. And I was like, okay, this actually I had to. Some of them were inappropriate. And I don't mean like, I mean, you can swear here, you can say whatever you want. But I was like, that's not funny. That could hurt someone's feelings kind of jokes.

Lisa: [00:08:39] Okay. Okay. You can you can say those off the podcast if you want, but you don't need to if they're harmful. That's right.

Christina: [00:08:47] Now, these are not harmful, but they. And they may not be funny, but I thought they were cute. Okay. Hey, Lisa, why don't scientists trust atoms anymore?

Lisa: [00:09:02] Oh, why?

Christina: [00:09:05] Because they make up everything.

Lisa: [00:09:08] Oh my goodness. I know, I wish, I wish I had, like, a laugh track button right now that I could hit.

Christina: [00:09:14] Maybe Dale could work that in.

Lisa: [00:09:17] Yeah, that'd be great. That'd be great.

Christina: [00:09:19] Um. Hey, Lisa. I told my computer I needed a break, and now it won't stop sending me Kit Kat ads.

Lisa: [00:09:28] You know what's funny? Since you said I need a break, I immediately went to Kit Kat. Yeah. Yeah. So maybe. Maybe my brain works, like ridiculous.

Christina: [00:09:36] I do eat Kit Kats.

Lisa: [00:09:39] I have one in my freezer right now.

Christina: [00:09:41] In your freezer? That sounds like a delightful snack.

Lisa: [00:09:45] Yeah. You got to keep your chocolate bars and your chips in the freezer.

Christina: [00:09:48] In the freezer? Your chips?

Lisa: [00:09:51] Oh, 100%.

Christina: [00:09:53] I've never heard of that. I'm trying to quit chips.

Lisa: [00:09:56] Why?

Christina: [00:09:57] It's a bit of an issue for me. It's a bit of an issue. I'm just, you know, I just. I once I get going, I don't know when to stop. And then I really feel like garbage after, like, oh, yeah.

Lisa: [00:10:14] You feel terrible. But in that moment, it's pure, pure joy.

Christina: [00:10:18] I know it is. You know, when I'm, when I save my, my chip binge for is, um, end of a tour, end of like a big show. I do give myself like, I'm like, just whatever you want, just go for it. But.

Lisa: [00:10:34] Yeah, chips are very dangerous in the tour van. Yeah. Um, and once you get started, it's sort of. It is very difficult to stop. And I just did a tour and we managed to go a good week or a week and a half, like maybe, maybe eight days into it without having a chip. And, and fans were actually bringing us gift bags with, with snacks and chips and stuff. And then once we got into it, it was like, you don't eat one bag at a time either. You open like four of them so that you can just taste all the different German chips.

Christina: [00:11:12] Oh, taste. I would just devour them all. Um, and after the show, it's the worst. I mean, the best, but the worst. That's the danger zone right there. In any case, it's not about me being, uh, you know, like, it's not about what it does to my body or, like, what it visibly or anything. It's just like, I feel like a train hit me after the next day. I don't like feeling bad, you know?

Lisa: [00:11:39] Yeah, yeah. Uh, Are all chips for, you.

Christina: [00:11:42] Know, chips. Um. Another joke.

Lisa: [00:11:46] Please. Always.

Christina: [00:11:47] I mean, while you're while I've got you, I know nothing. I know nothing about you. This entire episode is just going to be me reading you jokes, and that's great.

Lisa: [00:11:55] I love it.

Christina: [00:11:57] Uh, okay, Lisa, I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down.

Lisa: [00:12:04] Oh, boy. I call these gym teacher jokes because my my old gym teacher used to come up with these kind of quick one liners. Uh, Mr. MacIsaac was his name, actually. No relation.

Christina: [00:12:17] Oh, wow. I bet there's a lot of no relations. But relations where you're from, Cape Breton, right?

Lisa: [00:12:22] Yeah. You kind of have to move away to, like, date or have a family. I think otherwise you're going to end up with, you know, somebody with an extra limb and a tail, you know? Gotcha.

Christina: [00:12:35] You know what? Speaking of tails, um, we think that I had a tail. And there is a I'm sure I've mentioned this on the podcast before. Um, I there's a scar on my backside. My mom has a story. We just don't believe the story. So I think I think I might be a McIsaac is what I'm saying.

Lisa: [00:12:57] I'm not saying the McIsaac have tails. I'm saying that you have to move away so that you don't find yourself in that gene pool.

Christina: [00:13:04] Nice, nice. So. And you're in Toronto now?

Lisa: [00:13:08] Yeah. I've been here since, uh, 1999, so I've actually been living here longer than I did back in Cape Breton.

Christina: [00:13:16] Wow. Okay.

Lisa: [00:13:18] So 25 years.

Christina: [00:13:19] Do you find that when people say, where are you from now? You're like, now you're at that age where you're like, well, geez, I'm actually from there. But I've been here longer than from over there. So am I from here? Are you from. You know, I mean.

Lisa: [00:13:33] When people ask me, I say I live in Toronto. I grew up on the East Coast, but I live in Toronto. Just because this is my home. Yeah.

Christina: [00:13:44] Is that your home? Like you're in your home right now? This is a room in your home.

Lisa: [00:13:48] It is? Yeah. Yeah. A condo in, uh, uh, southwest. Uh, downtown.

Christina: [00:13:55] Ooh, downtown. That's fancy. I like that.

Lisa: [00:13:58] Downtown.

Christina: [00:14:00] I like downtown Toronto. I spent a lot of time there as a kid. Uh, my brother used to live there, and it was always exciting taking the train and or flying into Toronto and just going out to dance and try different drugs. If I'm being honest.

Lisa: [00:14:18] There's something about, um, after being away for a while. And then if you fly in at nighttime and then drive to the city, there's just. It always makes my heart swell. There's something I love, city lights. I love seeing the skyline lit up. And yeah, it's definitely my home and but I do get that feeling pulling into it. I remember many years ago on a songwriting trip and going to Las Vegas for the first time and and driving in at the at night time, and I felt like I was like coming around a bend and up over a hill. And then it was just there and it was it was just like, ah, yeah, city lights, they, I love, I love the forest and the water, but I also like the, the lights in the city.

Christina: [00:15:07] Did you write a song with those lyrics? Like, that was all just very. I want to hear that song, what you just described.

Lisa: [00:15:15] Well, if I can get my ass in gear, maybe I'll get one.

Christina: [00:15:19] I think you can. I think you can. Making time. Well, I'm going to jump right to it. Making time though, for. That's something I really struggle with making. I'm actually doing The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron right now, to which I did over 20 years ago, but to it's sort of like a recovery for creativity. It's like, how can I make this a priority? Because I've become so programmed to just do my business stuff and plan and like, I like that stuff. I'm good at it. Excuse me, but what about songwriting? This is the thing that brings me the most joy. What's your deal? What's your struggle with that? Or do you 100% do?

Lisa: [00:16:01] Um, and because I've, um, I've been on, on stage since I was like nine years old and have been doing this professionally since, you know, I was 18. And I'm finding the older I get, um, it's definitely there's I'm finding there's some guilt sometimes when I actually allow myself to do. Be creative. Um, and it's like I should be doing something else. Like the. Because I'm booking this concert series, I'm constantly staring at my screen and I'm emailing people and I'm on the phone and I'm designing stuff, and and then I realized I've gone days and days and days and I the only reason why all this is happening is because I play music.

Christina: [00:16:59] Yes. And it's.

Lisa: [00:17:01] And it's the thing and it's the thing that's struggling most. It's trying to find that, uh, you know, it's not a work life balance. It's a work work balance. And I, uh, and as much as being creative, uh, isn't necessarily work, you do have to put an effort into it to, um, use that muscle, continue working that muscle. And. Yeah, it's, it's it's been a struggle for me as of late. And I need to figure out how to allow myself to carve out that time. Um, because it's it's what makes me tick. And when I'm not writing or recording, uh, it puts me in a strange headspace. Mhm.

Christina: [00:17:45] Yeah. Same. I've let myself not do my like morning journaling which usually sparks something and, but I skipped it for a long time and I kind of adopted this mentality that okay, it's okay that I'm a seasonal writer, that I have these chunks of time where I'm, you know, but I can't deny that I feel different. I find it harder to get back into it when I leave it for months, sometimes weeks. Mhm. Um, and my life feels more complete, more wholesome, whole, whole when I just feel healthier, when I make it a bigger part of my day or my week, you know. Mhm. So how, how do you. Let's talk about this. Let's like, how are you going to do this? Because I mean, what's worked in the past, locking yourself in a dungeon.

Lisa: [00:18:39] Um, I mean, originally most I mean, in Madison. Violet, we've got 11 albums out, and we've always written those together. Um, and Brenley lived downtown in Toronto, so we would just either meet up at each other's place or go away and write for a chunk of time and specifically have the goal of usually being, you know, someplace near water or someplace inspiring, and then just carve out a chunk of time to write. Um, um, she's living an hour out of the city. Um, and we've both been sort of writing and creating on our own for the last while. We've taken most of this year off, and now I'm trying to remember what the question was. How am I?

Christina: [00:19:30] How are you going to get back to the thing? How are you going to make it more of your life so that you're I'm going to I'm going to claim that you're miserable, but you're probably not. Let's get you out of that misery. No, but how are you going to make it a bigger part of your life? I'm. I'm now forcing. I'm now your doctor.

Lisa: [00:19:50] Um, it's funny, because. And this sounds silly, I actually do. Well, when I have, like, either sticky notes or a whiteboard with a list that I see and, and I actually need reminders, I have, I have constant alarms going off on my phone to do X, Y, and Z, but I'm a visual person, so when I. So maybe I'm going to have to take out that whiteboard and stick it on my, on my desk or by my coffee machine so that it reminds me in the morning that a I need to do this. I need to do it for myself because it's cathartic. There's a cleansing process. You need to get out. You need to get the shitty lyrics out or messages or whatever to get to the good ones anyway. So, um, yeah, I'm going to have to find that, uh, creative Drano. Yeah. So, you know, and and I think that's the only way I'm going to be able to do it is actually specify a time, um, because it's it's, uh. Yeah, I think it's I think it's damaging if, if you're a creative person and you, you aren't putting that work in.

Christina: [00:21:03] Yeah I agree. I, I often think of my, my death when I think of myself on my deathbed and I ask myself, what are you going to what would your regrets be like? And oftentimes it's like social media. So I try not to spend as much time on social media or just do what I, you know, I makes me feel like, good. That's what I'll post and and not feel bad when I. But also, um, I know I'll regret not writing more songs, not creating more, um, because that is ultimately what I really enjoy doing, and more like I'm trying to collaborate more. Um, I wasn't a big collaborator in the past, but I would like to do more of that and just be open to because I was, you know, when we're young, I think we're so open and we kind of a bit not we kind of don't know what we're doing all the time. So then we don't have a necessarily a blueprint or, um, any experiences to, to make us feel like, whoa, I don't want to do that. So, you know, it seems like things are flying your way, but I would like things to open up again. Like when I was younger, you know, I'd like not to be so rigid. Um. Yeah, but now I forget the question. Um, I think I think I think you answered it. I know you answered it. You're going to make more time. I'll check in on you. It's going to be great.

Lisa: [00:22:27] I'm going to. I'm going to. Literally. It's the same with with with working out. Like if it's if I sit, sit out my sneakers and my workout outfit and I lay it out the night before, it'll remind me, okay, I need to do this today. So and I think that's, um, I've got a terrible memory for, for certain things. And, uh, I need visual reminders. So I'm going to I'm going to start sticking that up again.

Christina: [00:22:55] Uh, which brings me to my next joke. Uh, how do you organize a space party?

Lisa: [00:23:02] How do you organize a space party?

Christina: [00:23:06] You plan it?

Lisa: [00:23:08] Oh, boy.

Christina: [00:23:11] Listen, I wouldn't have known that. I'm reading it. I'm reading it. I gave it to me. Oh, my God, I can't. So I didn't realize you were doing music professionally so young and then music so young. Did you ever have another job? Like, did you ever have to take some shitty job?

Lisa: [00:23:31] Um, once. I think it was probably 20, over 20 years ago. Um, I actually did a couple of months at, uh, same industry at outside Music. Oh, yeah. And, uh, they're in their sort of distribution area, and just it was fun because it was just like a bunch of musicians surrounded by all of this CD and LP stock, and we're putting together and packaging orders. And so I did that for a couple of months, and I loved it because it was a really fun environment. And you got to discover new music all the time. Um, and during the pandemic, actually, when, you know, everything went to hell in a handbasket and it was like, oh, I can't do anything. Um, I ended up doing, uh, a few months at, uh, um, an apparel. It's called VC ultimate. And my friend Adriana, who is Brinley's partner, my bandmates. Partner? Um, yeah. I went and worked at her office for a few months, and I just. I felt like I was going a bit stir crazy. And, you know, obviously, this was one of the last industries to be able to come back and, and, you know, able to earn a living again. So those are the really the only two things I've ever done.

Lisa: [00:25:01] It's I've always been on stage and uh, yeah, yeah. It's I started sort of in, uh, folk bands when I was maybe I was doing like traditional fiddle, uh, concerts and square dances and stuff like that, and, um. I joined some folk bands when I was maybe 15 or something. You know, I was always that token. Token woman in the band fiddle player. That seemed to be what it always was growing up. It would be this. It would be all dudes. And then a female fiddle player. Wow. Yeah. And I did that for till, I guess I was 19. Um, and then I ended up joining Bruce Guthrie's band for a little while. Oh, wow. And, um. And it was, it was when he got the gig in Runrig. Like, I'm sure you know this. Oh, yeah. He became. He became the lead singer of Runrig, this massive band in Europe. Um, then I was like, oof, I, I don't have a gig anymore. So I packed my bag, uh, packed my hockey bag, as one does, and my fiddle and I moved to Toronto. And then I've been up here ever since. Wow.

Christina: [00:26:17] That's amazing music. So dreams then. Versus dreams now. Cause I remember, I mean, I remember having, like, my first musical dream was just like, oh, my goodness, can you imagine ever having, like, a song recorded or a demo? And then that, you know, became an album and then, oh, I couldn't imagine ever going on a tour and like, you started really, really young and had some great opportunities. It sounds like at a young age, like, do you remember, like your first kind of dream? And then I'm curious what you still dream of doing that you haven't done yet?

Lisa: [00:26:55] Mhm. Um, in my career?

Christina: [00:26:59] Sure or not, it's up to you. I'm going to leave it with you to decide. Doesn't have to be career.

Lisa: [00:27:07] You know, I think, um, I had always wanted to play, uh, Massey Hall in Toronto, Mhm. Which was sort of for me was like the be all, end all. And we did play it. We ended up playing there. Um uh, opening for the Indigo Girls many moons ago. And I just, I just remember being backstage and in the dressing room, and I was just in this crazy headspace I was in. I was I was terrified and exciting all at the same time. And I was just, like, organizing the dressing room because I was just like, everything I went into, like full on OCD mode and just was like, everything needs to be in its place. Before I went on stage. And it was magical. I think it just, um, I'll never forget it. It was a beautiful night, and at that point I was like, okay, well, retirement. Yeah, I can I can quit now. Yeah. I was like, I won my Olympic gold. Amazing.

Christina: [00:28:10] Congratulations. What year was that?

Lisa: [00:28:13] This was god. Maybe 2002.

Christina: [00:28:20] That's amazing.

Lisa: [00:28:21] Yeah, it was quite a long time ago. Um, I didn't retire.

Christina: [00:28:27] No. Clearly.

Lisa: [00:28:28] Um. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. You know, I think for me, um, I've. I've always had this sort of. For me, music is a means for travel. Um, I love I love being on stage. I love that reciprocation of energy. Um, but I love exploring and getting to see new places. Um, I think I would really love to tour Asia, which I've never done. Um, and, uh, I think I think that would be that's, that's on the bucket list of, of touring. Um, I know people who have toured a bunch in Japan and in China, and I think that would be really special.

Christina: [00:29:17] Cool.

Lisa: [00:29:18] Yeah.

Christina: [00:29:19] Good one, good one. I'm interested in what is working for you. You've been doing this a while, a while. Uh, you must have ditched some things in your business of music. Maybe in your personal life that are just not useful, just not working for you. Uh, I'm always curious what is working, because these are so. It's so helpful for me to to hear what's working for other musicians. Like, you know, some people find managers, some people find personal assistants, some people find. I felt bad for a long time that I didn't have a manager, that I was doing it all on my own. Wasn't my wish to do it all on my own. But then I think one day I was like, you know what? I really need to embrace this. I really need to pretend like, have a vision for what I want. If it if a manager were to a relationship like were to happen. But I need to be happy if it's just me. Otherwise this isn't going to work for me emotionally. I'm going to be miserable and I'm doing an okay job. I'm just doing the best I can. Like, what are some things that you find? Okay, this works for me now. Or you just refuse to go back in time and, like, pick up bad habits or relationships?

Lisa: [00:30:41] Well, I mean, along the road, along the way, there are certain people that you need to remove from, from the dynamic. If if you don't feel like it's, um, feeding and fueling and bringing good energy, um, things that are working. Well, I would say I don't think we could do this without really good booking agents. That's that for me is 100%, um, uh, booking agent that knows the types of rooms that you like, knows that we've got some long standing relationships, especially in Europe and here in Canada as well. Um, that understands that even if something comes their way for us, they're they're not even going to bring it to us if if they're like, no, there's no way they're going to like this or want to be in this. Um, so having being able to trust the having that trust with your agent, um, we are self-managed right now. And, uh, we had a we've gone through several managers over the years. Um, some of the dynamics were great. Some, you know, were a bit more complicated. Um, and I, I know one of my issues is that, um, I've been told sometimes I can get in the weeds. Um, and the fact that I have to allow myself to step back and have somebody else take care of something 100%. And of course, you know, I'm a worrywart and I'm just like, why isn't X, Y, and Z done? Or when is this getting done? It's just so that was me getting in my own way. Um, but also sometimes it was, you know, I was asking those questions rightfully because balls were getting dropped or things weren't being done, or us being represented in a way that we wanted the face of our brand, our brand to be. Mhm. Um, I don't know if I'm answering your question.

Christina: [00:32:47] Yeah. This is all. Absolutely. And we can also veer from it. But like this isn't veering. This is spot on. It's important for people to hear as well. And I've heard a lot of the same. I can relate to a lot of what you're saying because you've had to. I think it's really wise for artists to first know what needs to be done. Everything. And then maybe you can trust. And trust is really a hard thing. It's a hard thing for me because balls have been dropped so many times, um, in my experience. And I've invested a lot of money and time and patience and tried to be, you know, but it's at the end of the day like it's it's your business and your livelihood.

Lisa: [00:33:33] And your and in the end, you're the only one who's going to be thinking about it 24 over seven, right? Yeah. Yeah. Um, and don't get me wrong, I'm, I'm guilty of, uh, you know, when there are a million tasks on the go of sticking my head in the sand like an ostrich, you know, and just going, you know, nothing to see here. Um, and that's for me. That's when, like, lists come out again, when I'm like, okay, you got this checklist and and actually, uh, Patrick Krief, do you know Patrick Krief know musician from Montreal. He he supported one of our German tours a few years back. Amazing guitar player. Vocalist. Um. Songwriter. Um, he actually co-wrote um, uh, Sweet Desperado on our last album. Nice. And he told me something that I. I've taken with with me. Um, and again, this is coming back to lists, and he'll have a list of stuff, but if he randomly does something else that's not on there, he will write it on the list and then scratch it off. And that for me, that has changed things for me because I'm like, okay, that might not have been on this task list, but but I've gotten it done and you actually feel a sense of accomplishment and I love that. Yeah, it actually it's like a boost of serotonin. You're like, okay, I got something else done. Yeah. Um, and it sounds silly, but it actually does make a difference in your day.

Christina: [00:35:03] I live by lists. My entire adulthood and probably in my adolescence started making lists. And, uh, I don't I just don't know how I would have done any anything without them. It's, uh. It helps me sleep at night.

Lisa: [00:35:22] Well. And me, it's actually also phone alarms, which is, um, your your listeners right now cannot see. But I'm going to show you on camera. Just. I'll show you how many alarms are on my phone right now.

Christina: [00:35:35] Uh oh. Okay. Oh, boy.

Lisa: [00:35:40] And I just deleted about 50 of them, and that's, uh, it's I'm I'm really. It's. They go off probably eight times a day.

Christina: [00:35:49] I thought I was bad. My husband makes fun of me, but I, um, I'm also big on simplifying, so it bothers me when I have a long list. So it makes me work harder to get it down. And the same with the phone alarms if I have too many. That bothers me. And I'm like, this is so this is going to over. I'm easily overwhelmed. Easily triggered. So, um, but that I mean, that is impressive. And I'm assuming that's not for every day they're set for specific days. Can you set them for days of the month or are those weekly reminders?

Lisa: [00:36:25] Uh, those are all individual reminders, every that that are not weekly or daily. They just and I and I don't it's like I'm a reminder hoarder. It's like I'm on an episode of hoarders because I never delete them, because I'm like, well, what if I needed another time?

Christina: [00:36:42] Okay. Okay. I feel like we do have to have a private session about this. So like, it might there might be that. So like, OCD is a part of your life, but it's also served you served you. I'm actually on a I started taking medication this year that is used to treat OCD. That's helped me with depression. And, um, it's I've noticed that I have OCD tendencies. I'm sure it's no secret to some people that know me well, um, that it's really helped me with some letting go, letting go of certain things. I am not saying you need this drug. It's called escitalopram. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your doctor. I'm not a doctor. Talk to your doctor before you. And, um. It's it's something I wish I personally for. The depression side of things had started, like, 20 years ago. Ah, yeah, I love it. Now, I'm not being paid by the escitalopram folks, but yet I will sell it at my merch table if they want me to. Oh my God. So what do you do other than coming on my podcast and listening to me tell you jokes? What do you do to cut the edge in your life? Like laugh? What makes you laugh? What's fun for you?

Lisa: [00:38:02] What makes me laugh? Ah, I would say, my friends. Definitely. I've got a really amazing group of of, um, close friends that are all hilarious. I was just going to say wickedly talented. Isn't that. What's that? Who is it? Who said that? Uh, when he was, uh. Who's the dude in. Oh, in grease.

Christina: [00:38:28] Oh, um. You mean, um, why am I staying alive? Um. John Travolta? Yeah.

Lisa: [00:38:34] I mean, it just it just made me go the wickedly talented. Remember he was introducing Idina menzel or Adele Dazeem or whatever the hell he said.

Christina: [00:38:42] You have a good memory for this particular stuff. Yeah.

Lisa: [00:38:48] Um, so, friends, um, for just, um. I've really. This this this does make me laugh, but it brings me quite a lot of joy. I finally got myself back out on my bicycle, and I just feel like if I'm having any kind of a weird day or I just want to be out, that just that is a really great, uh, palate cleanser for the day. And I'm not too far from the water, so it's it's really nice. I get to just go and breathe in the clean Toronto air and. Um, yeah. I've been I've been on my bike every day for the last couple of weeks, and it's just been like such a. Yeah, it's a big it's a bit of a release for me.

Christina: [00:39:39] Do you have like, um, biker gear? Like the tight clothing?

Lisa: [00:39:44] I am not that person. No, no, I've got, like, jean shorts and sandals, you know, like.

Christina: [00:39:50] Oh, sandals. Yeah. Super safe. Super.

Lisa: [00:39:53] It's. No, it's funny, I actually did have sandals on yesterday and I went, oh, I don't like this. I realized I was like, this is not good.

Christina: [00:40:01] Uh, yeah.

Lisa: [00:40:02] What are you what are you doing nowadays? You're doing the podcast. Um, are you creating new music? Are you touring much or what's what's the haps?

Christina: [00:40:13] The haps is I have been working on this big show with the band and string quartet that's coming up, and we're designing. Um, we're taking all these visual elements and projecting. It's a very curated show and building this thing that I hope I can sell. Um, but it's also adaptable to different size venues, art centers, festival stages. Um, so I've been working, you know, with classically trained musicians and, and then my band and we're just kind of getting back into things since the pandemic, like we just played a first band show in a couple years. I've been doing a lot of duo shows, but I've just. Everything feels. I feel like I'm slow, slow to get back into the game. Um, doing the podcast, I am trying to get back to writing. Other than that, sometimes I'm like, am I retired? What is I can't afford this. Why can't I can't afford it. I was, uh, spending a lot of time with my mom lately because she she's just going through breast cancer treatment and doing really well.

Lisa: [00:41:18] So that's that's good to hear that she's doing better. Yeah.

Christina: [00:41:22] And just looking after my own health and and, uh, I feel like I've created more space in my life to allow me to just do what I want to do, what I'm interested in. And part of that has been making our, like, expenses so low that even during the tough times, we can get by and work from home. So my husband has a studio here in the house, so we make all our own music. Um, and yeah, and I'd like to do more collaborations. I'm trying to do some co-writes. It's not something I ever thought I would want to try and do more of. I always was a solo. It was kind of like my private universe. This is how I. This is how I figure out my experiences. And and I think some of them were so precious to me for a long time. I, I didn't want to bring anyone in on that. And it's always kind of it's kind of fun to to see where you end up on your own without outside influence. But for whatever reason, now I'm I'm also more open to, to that, to, to letting someone in and learning from other people and just kind of yeah.

Lisa: [00:42:37] That's a, that's a big thing is, um, finding the ability to not be as precious or to let go when you're in, when you're creating with somebody else, a huge thing. You're like, you spit something out and you think this is like, that's a magical line. And then the person you're collaborating with might be like, that just doesn't work, right? Or how about this? And and learning to go talk through it and just be like, okay, this is a collaboration and I and not everything that comes out of my mouth is going to be perfect and trusting that the other person only wants it to be better.

Christina: [00:43:23] Have you ever you've done a lot of this. I'm assuming a lot.

Lisa: [00:43:26] Well, I mean, I've collaborated with Brinley for, uh, 20, almost 25 years and, uh, only a little bit of collaboration outside of that. And it's been, I'd say the ones that I've done with Friends have been amazing. But I've also gone, uh, Brandy and I did go to on a songwriting, you know, extravaganza in Nashville and in LA and in London and, uh, had some great sessions in London, uh, some really not so great sessions in Nashville where, uh, and this is not me trying to sound weird, but being being in a room with a curmudgeony old, straight white man who doesn't think the same way as I do. And and that's good to, to bring different personalities, but actually being in there and and just all in all rude. Just some some. I'm like, why are you doing this for a living, you know? Was that like a pair?

Christina: [00:44:52] Somebody paired you with that person?

Lisa: [00:44:53] Yeah. Yeah, we had management had set up this songwriting trip and yeah, there were a couple of sessions that I was like, I can't do this. And I almost never want to do this ever again. It was just so discouraging. And, you know, some some of these guys had, you know, some big hits at one point in their career and obviously were good at their craft. And but I felt like they were they were like, all we want are your melodies. I don't want to hear anything. I don't want to hear any of your thoughts. And I was like, okay, this is this is not my jam.

Christina: [00:45:33] Yeah.

Lisa: [00:45:34] But have also had some really great songwriting sessions and come out. Uh, the problem is, a lot of the time we never use those songs. Mhm. Yeah. Um, and that's, that's that's where it's like. Even though we're in the room trying to write for us, you leave with a good song but didn't feel like us. And that's that's where it gets complicated. It's like, should I be putting putting so much effort into into this?

Christina: [00:46:05] Um, yeah. I think I'll find that out, too, for myself. I thought I thought it would be good to open myself up to it, even if it ended up being that the songs might be for somebody else, which I think I would be good at. Um, sometimes you'll, you know, you'll write a bunch of material that you're like, I just don't see myself using this, so I'm just going to leave it. Well, I've started thinking, well, could this fit one of my friends that might want to do a co-write? So, um, and then and then because my goal is to just write more, if that's your goal, then that would serve that purpose as well to to do some co-writing with it. But but I don't know. I don't know if I want to do co-writing specifically for my own releases yet. That's that is a because then it always has been honoring my what I have to say, what I have to express, you know. So yeah.

Lisa: [00:47:06] I think I fully understand that, um, I think there's something for me at least that's very different in co-writing with people you know, or friends versus going into a cold room that with somebody you've never met before. And just like, here's your three hour window. Yeah. Um, and I've been lucky enough over the years. I mean, uh, because Brantley and I have been performing together and writing for so long that, um, I could have an idea or she have an idea about something very personal. And we've been in each other's lives for so long that we can easily write on that together. Mhm. Um, because there is that trust and, and understanding and so that's, that's something I feel grateful for. But I'm in the same boat as you, I'd like to, to branch out and do more co-writing but less with the, the strict strict guidelines with strangers. I'd rather it be with people I know.

Christina: [00:48:10] Yeah, yeah. And I like going into it. I just tell everyone, like, if we do this, I have zero. Like, I don't know if I'll ever use this or you may not, I don't care. It's strictly a writing. Let's try and make the best song we can, but let's let go afterwards. And and also remote just sending something to somebody back and forth instead of having to be in the same room. Because that I do find can be uncomfortable. I'm not. I'm not always great at that. When there are people in the room with me, I just. I'm just so distracted. Um, it just. Again, it's not my. It's hard for me to get in the zone when someone's around. So having that time to myself and going back and forth has been actually pretty successful. Um, but, uh, you know what I want to hear more about before. I mean, I want to keep you all day because I do love chatting with you, and I selfishly, I've never gotten to really have this time with you, and I want more.

Christina: [00:49:12] Um, but I want to hear about small in my heart because, well, we're I'm so excited that you invited me to be a part of one of the small in My heart performances. So tell me how that started, what it is. And how's it going?

Lisa: [00:49:28] Well, Small of My Heart is a concert series, um, that I've developed, um, featuring women and gender diverse artists and, Um, I think it was it had a conversation, um, pre-pandemic about sort of looking at the state of the music industry and seeing looking at rosters and lineups at festivals and, and clubs and still skewed pretty heavy, uh, to male artists and, and male fronted bands. And I mean, this this is not a new concept. I mean, there's Lilith Fair was sort of, you know, the be all and end all getting this started. But I just thought, well, Bradley and I were taking time off the road. Uh, I want to continue performing. I feel like this is a good mission and a good objective. And I just started putting the feelers out there and talking to some artist friends and, and venues, and they were like, yeah, this, we're all over this. And you know, I don't I think that they were they liked the concept. Um, again, not a new concept. And it doesn't hurt for them to have a stage full of incredibly talented, uh, artists, regardless of gender. But this is specifically catered to women and gender diverse artists. Um, so we did a kick off show in Halifax last year, um, at the stage at Saint Andrews. You know that venue?

Christina: [00:51:11] Yes, I love it.

Lisa: [00:51:12] Love the stage. Yeah, it's very, very great. Um, myself and Erin Costello and Catherine MacLellan. So it was just like I wanted because I was doing this not in my band and doing this solo, which terrified me, absolutely terrified me, and hosting and singing. I wanted to surround myself by good friends and also incredible performers. So that's sort of how I've been doing this. It's a selfishly, I just I just get to surround myself by such talent. Um. Have really fun night. Um, it's, um, you learn something new about these people every night, and all the shows have been different, and it's in the format of In the Round. So we're all on stage together. Um, which is one of my favorite things at, like, a folk festival. The side stage is like the main stage shows are always great, but it's the most memorable for me, are always the side stages where it's songwriters in the round and just the conversations and you know what leads into the next. You never know what's going to happen. So yeah, so the next one is August 28th with yourself and Moe, Kenny and me. And it's at the The Marquee tent. It's an outdoor show. Um, and it's being put on by the décor center. And we've got three more in the works. Um, September 20th, uh, in Summerside at the Harbourfront Theatre. And that's with, uh, Heather Rankin and Catherine McClellan. And the next night, the 21st, which is my mother's 75th birthday, which I feel so terrible about, but I'm going to see her two days later.

Christina: [00:53:04] I'm sure she's going to be fine with that.

Lisa: [00:53:07] She thankfully she is. Yeah, that's at, um, Kings Playhouse in Georgetown, P.E.I., with Irish Mythen and Heather again. And then two days later, the 23rd at the Coast Centre in Pictou with, uh, Cassie and Maggie. Um, do you know Cassie and Maggie?

Christina: [00:53:25] I do, yeah.

Lisa: [00:53:26] They're fantastic. Um. And, uh, Sally Taylor Uh. And Sally Taylor was recommended to me by Heather Rankin. Um, she's a good friend of hers and has recently relocated to Halifax. And she's the daughter of, uh, uh, James Taylor and Carly Simon. So has come from some. Whoa! Royalty. Royalty. Yeah. And has is very much works in like, the not for profit sector and hasn't been touring in many years. Um, but Heather was like, I really think that you should have her. She's a really, really great songwriter. So, yeah, I'll get to meet somebody. Somebody new that night.

Christina: [00:54:10] I'm so excited to experience this, and I love I love the venue we'll be playing at. I've. I played it last summer. Um. It's great. It's great people. You. Have you played it yet? Have you been okay? It's wonderful. Yeah, yeah. So, um, listen, before I wrap this with my eye. Goodbye. Uh, Maybe one more joke.

Lisa: [00:54:34] Please.

Christina: [00:54:36] You're welcome. Um, what did one ocean say to the other ocean?

Lisa: [00:54:44] Nothing. It just waved.

Christina: [00:54:46] Yeah. That's it.

Lisa: [00:54:48] Is that really? Yes.

Christina: [00:54:50] Oh, you got it. Oh, I think it took a took a couple jokes, but you got, you know, you picked up on. You got into the mode. And that's how.

Lisa: [00:55:01] My, my brain actually works. Like sort of one big dad joke.

Christina: [00:55:06] Mhm. Well that was great. Perfect. We might even cut that out and just put it at the end of the podcast. Yeah I love it. Okay. Are you ready for your AI goodbye. That's what I'll call this segment.

Lisa: [00:55:21] AI goodbye. Yeah. Yeah. Go for it.

Christina: [00:55:24] Okay. It's I'm just I'm trying to See, you know, like, how have you used AI for anything?

Lisa: [00:55:34] Chatgpt for. For writing some stuff that I've needed. Um, and then I obviously take it and just sort of pick a few things that have that have made me sound a bit more articulate. Mhm. Um, yeah. But I've used it a little bit. Yeah.

Christina: [00:55:53] It can be a handy tool. Um, okay. Well sometimes this turns out, sometimes it doesn't. So here's your AI goodbye. Lisa, thank you so much for joining us. Just me on the chat with heart podcast today. Your stories, wisdom and talent truly made this episode special. Congratulations again. Again, which I didn't mention, but on all of your incredible accolades like the Juno nominations and the Canadian Folk Music Award, you're an absolute hero to so many, including me. I added that part I added, including me. I also am on a side. On a side when we tour in Europe. Madison Violet posters are definitely in pretty much every backstage room that we're in. And then the ones that are not the the promoters are like, oh, Madison, Violet, I wish they would play here. I wish they wouldn't. Then they say they won't play here. We can't get them. And I was like, well, have you asked like. And then yeah, anyway, everyone wants you. So yeah, it's really cool to see. I see you everywhere. Uh, okay. Uh, back to AI goodbye.

Lisa: [00:57:05] We actually just me going there and sneaking down there and putting those posters up everywhere.

Christina: [00:57:10] Backstage. Right. Putting them over all the others. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that I thinks that I'm more than one person. We wish you continued happiness, health and many more fantastic collaborations in the future. And as someone from Cape Breton who's now living in Toronto. You must find it amusing that downtown traffic in Cape Breton is a line up at the Tim Hortons drive thru. We hope the hustle and bustle of Toronto keeps you inspired and entertained. You're a rock star in every sense. We can't. We can't wait to see you what you do next. Thanks again Lisa. Warmest wishes Christina and the chat with her team. That's how I likes to sign off.

Lisa: [00:57:55] That's good. I mean, you obviously prompted it well, and it's making me want to put, you know, my cape on and. Yeah.

Christina: [00:58:04] Good, good. I meant every word of it.

Song 'I Don't Want to Say Goodbye to You': [00:58:11] It's love. I don't wanna say goodbye to you. Oh, I don't wanna say goodbye to you.

Heartbeat Hotline: [00:58:32] Welcome to the Heartbeat Hotline one 902 669 4769. I'm the host of a Chat with Heart Podcast, Christina Martin. And I'm so excited that you called. Leave me your question, suggestion for the podcast or a comment about this episode. Please be aware your message may be used on the podcast and social media. Tell me your name, where you're calling from and it's also fine if you want to remain anonymous. Thanks for listening. Have a great fucking day!

Christina: [00:59:04] Thanks for listening to a chat with Heart podcast produced by me, Christina Martin. Co-produced and engineered by my husband, Dale Murray. Dale is a stellar singer, songwriter and music producer, so check out his website DaleMurray.ca. The podcast theme song 'Talk About It' and 'I Don't Want to Say Goodbye to You' were written by me and recorded by Dale. Visit my bandcamp to find a CDs, vinyl, digital music and fun merch like custom made puzzles and temporary tattoo packs.

Christina: [00:59:34] Become a monthly or yearly supporter of this podcast and my music endeavors on Patreon. If you're new to Patreon, it's a membership platform that helps creators get paid. I love it! Sign up as a free or paid member at Patreon.com/ChristinaMartin. I would love it if you had time to share rate, leave a review and subscribe to a chat with heart on all the places you listen to podcasts. Wishing you, my little heartbeat listeners, a great day.