NOISE.
WONDERMENT. BY ILSA WYNNE-HOELSCHER.
Just quickly…
Business Card: Lisa Mitchell
Feeling Fresh: 20 years of age
Shtick: Acoustic
Can’t Live Without: My ears
Vice In Life: Dark Chocolate (70%)… Germany has the best!
If I weren’t writing and performing my music, I’d be… a painter.
She defines lovely. So humble, without an ounce of ego, artistic and talented, and refreshingly young spirited, simple thinking and living in this very moment… no thoughts of ‘what if’, no mega thoughts for the future. This was a surprising interview for me, an inspiring one; not just artistically but personally, in terms of way of life and 100% being oneself. This was my impression after meeting Lisa Mitchell…
It was the first encounter but not the first witness to who be ‘Lisa Mitchell’. I was one recently lost in a crowd of fellow believers in the presence of the young heart at the last Arias event. Also one of thousands to watch her perform live on Channel Seven’s Sunrise (the day of this interview – busy girl!), and once excitedly awaited a phone conference with the talent, only to be denied.
“Oh my god… I feel sick,” says Warner Music Australia National Publicity Co-ordinator Nathan Dann, after I call to confirm the interview, now 15 minutes late.
“What is it?” I say, fearing the worst (perhaps I haven’t enough status to interview flavour-of-the-month, Lisa Mitchell?).
“I can’t believe I didn’t tell you! I am so sorry, but Lisa is stuck in Heathrow Airport,” Nathan informs, during the week of the European volcanic skies, grounding all UK-AUS and AUS-UK flights.
Both laughing at the bizarre ‘Murphy’s Law’ circumstances we re-schedule…
Having grown up in country town Albury, Victoria, Lisa is a down to earth songbird singing for ears that share a similar story to the melody sung. Even though she now trots the globe being well received for her talent, Lisa still has the heart and soul of a quaint little country girl. “It was a hobby that became real, basically,” says Lisa of her success. “My inspiration I guess came from my Dad. He always had great music playing – think Neil Young, The Eagles, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan… a lot of 60s and 70s folk. We used to sit around playing guitar together, and then I guess I just kept going… playing my guitar,” Lisa reminisces.
It all began with singing at local music events performing original duos with her good friend Catherine Green. Delivering colonial songs and harmonies, the duo was where Lisa found her roots in the performance arena. From 15-years-old, Lisa put her name up on chalkboard festivals and gigs anywhere possible and with the strong following that soon admired, Albury encouraged Lisa to audition for Channel Ten’s reality show Australian Idol. “It was the first time they were having Albury (regional) auditions for the show and so everyone was telling me to do it, to do it for Albury,” recalls Lisa. “And I learned that you could perform with original music and your guitar, so I thought why not, there’s no musical comprising and so I gave it a go.”
Lisa reports that the whole experience was rather surreal and couldn’t believe she kept continuing through each round until finally finishing her Idol journey in sixth place. “It is a totally different experience being in the television music industry to straight music touring. It was definitely a huge learning experience.” When asked about being worried if Idol would expose her in an unnatural light, she simply replied (surprisingly): “I was 15. I didn’t even think that far ahead. I never want to think what ‘could be’, or what would have happened, there’s no point. I don’t want to think like that, it is just about living in this moment and having fun.” Kudos to you, Lisa!
After Idol, Lisa stayed true to her musical love, even though she was denied the Idol crown, and come 2007 Lisa’s EP, One Said To The Other was heard on MySpace and radio stations. From that music industry acknowledgement, Lisa was well on her way to becoming the next big thing. Leaving school behind in Grade 11 to go touring with some great acts like Old Man River and Ben Lee, Lisa accepted her new reality, that school was no longer a necessity; she had landed her dream job. Soon came her own debut album, Wonder, consisting of 15 beautifully vulnerable and honest tracks, winning over groupies and industry accolades.
Curious I was, so I did have to ask Lisa if she in fact does write her own music and lyrics. “Yes. That is the entire point,” she says with a passionate tone. “I’m not really a singer, it’s difficult to explain, but I am a storyteller. It’s all about the song, the lyrics, the story – just told in a melodic way.”
“But you have collaborated with other artists on recent tours and artistic developments?” I had to ask. “Yes, I’ve had a blast and some very lucky opportunities working with some of music’s greats, but you can never teach someone to paint, it doesn’t work that way. You can meet people and learn, but at the end of the day you are who you are,” she says, with a hint of relief and pride in her voice.
“And thank goodness for that,” I agree. We are all individuals and it is magic that each and every person can offer something different, whatever your life is about.
Quite the journey this young lass has had, and this is merely the beginning. So where to now for the little lady with the mighty imagination?
“I am currently working on my second record… time to tell more stories. But who knows when this will be complete,” she muses. “I never give myself a deadline. Let it happen when it happens. At the moment I am busy with my Australian Wonder Tour, and flying back and forth from Europe and home to perform in festivals and support some great acts,” she smiles. Support acts? But isn’t Lisa Mitchell the main act? “Yes I love to support other artists. It takes me back to square one, back to basics, just me on a stage with my guitar. It’s really refreshing to have to prove myself again,” Lisa states, making me respect this young artist more with every thought she shares.
I conclude the interview by asking Miss Mitchell if there is anything or more specifically, any famous quote that she chooses to live by, hoping for something to lead me to such a carefree wonderment as she experiences. So she tells me of a recent memory at a family member’s wedding.
“My Aunty said something to me, and it just clicked, and I won’t stop thinking of this little thought… she said to me, ‘Lisa, we have two little roads in life. One is a good road. One is a bad road. Just take the good road.’” And then she giggles with such belief and delight. And so there you have it. Simple really. I will now leave you to wonder…