{"id":20289,"date":"2021-12-14T14:45:49","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T21:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/?p=20289"},"modified":"2021-12-14T14:45:49","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T21:45:49","slug":"liz-longley-web-exclusive-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/2021\/12\/liz-longley-web-exclusive-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"LIZ LONGLEY &#8211; Web-exclusive Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Musician: <strong>LIZ LONGLEY<br \/>\n<\/strong>Video: \u201c<strong>A Little Magic<\/strong>\u201d<\/h1>\n<h2><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qQYnsRItLI4\" width=\"660\" height=\"340\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>LIZ LONGLEY FEATURED AT BLUE ROCK\u2019S <em>COOL NIGHTS 21<\/em> <\/strong><strong>FINAL TWO NIGHTS\u2014THIS THURSDAY &amp; FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16-17<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Liz Longley, along with Scott Mulvahill and Billy Crockett, will be featured at Christmas at Blue Rock for the final <em>Cool Nights 21<\/em> livestreaming concert series\u2014this Thursday and Friday, December 16-17.<\/p>\n<p>Award-winning singer and songwriter Liz Longley has recorded multiple albums, toured extensively and written songs for movies and television. Upon graduation, she won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music (Boston) and studied voice. She also took first place in the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase and was co-winner of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. Graduating from Berklee in 2010, Longley won three songwriting competitions: the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest.<\/p>\n<p>For Longley\u2019s latest full-length album, <em>Funeral for My Past<\/em>, she enlisted five-time Grammy-nominated producer Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, The Weeks, Caitlyn Smith). She launched a wildly successful crowd-funding campaign that placed her as the fourth most-funded solo female musician ever on Kickstarter history. Her deeply devoted fans contributed over $150,000 to help her purchase the rights to, and independently release, <em>Funeral<\/em>\u2014far surpassing the initial goal of $45,000. The elements of Longley\u2019s demeanor that helped foster such a connection with her fans show up throughout the album. It\u2019s at times cozy and heartwarming, but with a bite that makes each track difficult to forget.<\/p>\n<p>Longley\u2019s most recent EP was released last year, <em>A Little Magic<\/em>\u2014her first and only Holiday release of songs written in 2020. Her skillful songwriting and the fun, upbeat quality of her songs will get listeners into the holiday spirit and make them want to sing along.<\/p>\n<p>Check out their livestream this Thursday and Friday, December 16-17, at Blue Rock Texas\u2014 where innovation, quality and creativity are evidenced in concerts produced with broadcast quality audio-video from their renowned Texas room\u2014streamed straight to you. Tickets are $25. Season Passholders ($105) have a literal seat in the house\u2014they place your headshot on a seat, so you are literally <em>sitting<\/em> in the room. Go to: <a href=\"https:\/\/bluerocktexas.com\/events\">https:\/\/bluerocktexas.com\/events<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-01-Photo-credit-Kate-Rentz.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20290\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-01-Photo-credit-Kate-Rentz.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-01-Photo-credit-Kate-Rentz.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-01-Photo-credit-Kate-Rentz-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong><br \/>\nLIZ LONGLEY <\/strong>Interview<br \/>\nwith\u00a0<em>M Music &amp; Musicians<\/em>\u00a0magazine publisher, Merlin David<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Tell us about a song you plan to play at Blue Rock\u2019s <em>Cool Nights 21<\/em> <\/strong>(<em>Dec 16-17<\/em>)<strong>.<br \/>\n<\/strong>Several years ago, a family in California asked me to write a song about their Christmas traditions. I asked for all the details about what made their holiday unique to them, then sat down at the piano and wrote a song called \u201cFeels like Christmas.\u201d It turned out to be a song I was eager to share, so I recorded it on my 2020 Christmas EP <em>A Little Magic<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is <em>A Little Magic<\/em> your most recent album?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Yes\u2014it\u2019s my first and only holiday release, with five original Christmas songs and a cover of \u201cLet There Be Peace on Earth.\u201d I wrote most of the songs in 2020, but had started the title track many years prior. While packing for a Christmas trip to Ireland, I wondered what a child might ask about spending the holiday so far from home. \u201cHow is Santa ever going to find us?\u201d\u2014and that\u2019s the line that kicked off the song.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2><strong><em>Liz Longley\u2019s skillful songwriting and the fun, upbeat quality of her songs will get listeners into the holiday spirit and make them want to sing along.<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Which song from <em>Funeral from My Past<\/em> continues to resonate with your audience?<\/strong><br \/>\nLately, people are reacting strongly to \u201cLong Distance.\u201d After a year like 2020, I think a lot of people experienced feeling emotionally distant to the ones they love\u2014for one reason or another. This song touches on that feeling. The idea came from a meme I happened to see on Instagram in 2018: \u201cwe\u2019ve all been in a long distance relationship with someone who is standing right next to us.\u201d That struck a chord in me and felt like it needed to be a song.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you choose producer Paul Moak?<br \/>\n<\/strong>I\u2019d long admired recordings by five-time Grammy-nominated producer, Paul Moak\u2014so I reached out to him with a few songs. His attention to the songwriting details, and his commitment to capture the heart of what I do, made me feel he was the producer to bring these songs into the world.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did he help you fully realize the potential of these songs?<br \/>\n<\/strong>What differentiates extraordinary producers from good producers is the ability to capture the truest form of the art they are recording. Paul\u2019s studio, and everyone he invited into it, created an atmosphere where there was no judgement, no pretense, no business or music industry mindset. We were there simply to create art. Paul curated a team of musicians that banded together to serve the songs and the messages. Because of the atmosphere he created and his approach to recording music, I was completely at ease in a way that allowed me to tap into the emotions of the songs we recorded live. For most of this record, you\u2019re hearing the first or second take of a song. That says a whole lot about Paul and how he works.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-02-Photo-credit-Kate-Rentz.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20291\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-02-Photo-credit-Kate-Rentz.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-02-Photo-credit-Kate-Rentz.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-02-Photo-credit-Kate-Rentz-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Did you ever dream that Kickstarter will help you realize this album?<br \/>\n<\/strong>When I made <em>Funeral for My Past<\/em>, I was making it with the assumption that the label I had been signed to for five years would be releasing it. When that wasn\u2019t going to happen the way I had imagined, I had to buy the record back in order to release it. Simply put, I didn\u2019t have that kind of money. Going the Kickstarter route a <em>second <\/em>time was humbling, but my following showed up for me in a huge way. They raised three-times the goal in 30 days, and made me the fourth most funded solo female in Kickstarter history. I will forever be grateful for the support I received from those 1,302 backers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is there one song you are especially glad made it onto this recording?<br \/>\n<\/strong>\u201cMy Muse\u201d is a song that stretched me as a writer. In a musical sense, I stepped into a new territory by playing with chords and a key change that was fresh to my repertoire. In a lyrical sense, I was tapping into a new vein\u2014painting a picture of a person and using his character to talk about humanity as a whole. When I first played the song for my family, it didn\u2019t seem to connect. But when I played it for Paul, he was instantly connected to it. The studio musicians enjoyed playing it more than any other song on the record. Experiencing this song in such a positive way, with musicians I trust, encouraged me to keep stretching and growing both musically and lyrically.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us how the idea of \u201c3 Crow\u201d came to you?<br \/>\n<\/strong>The house I mention in the second verse was actually in my line of sight when the words started pouring in: \u201cI don\u2019t go to your house anymore\u2026.\u201d I was quite literally facing my baggage when I was writing that song. Some songs make you work really hard, but that one came easy because it was stream of consciousness.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-03-Photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20292\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-03-Photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-03-Photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-03-Photo-credit-Jeff-Fasano-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>What songwriting tip would you like to offer?<br \/>\n<\/strong>The best stuff comes about when you get out of your own way. Find ways to escape your mind and tap into something deeper. Meditation helps me get there, but it\u2019s different for everyone. The best songs come when you get out of your head. The first time that happened with me was when I wrote \u201cWhen You\u2019ve Got Trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who originally inspired you to write songs?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Joni Mitchell\u2019s <em>Blue<\/em> really sparked something in me. At fourteen, I started writing songs but my lyrics were mediocre. Hearing Joni made me realize the importance of writing what is true to me. By hearing her songs, I was getting to know her. Through her, I was getting to know myself. It\u2019s my goal to do that with my songwriting\u2014to give people words for the way they feel.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-04-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20293\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-04-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-04-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-04-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Which Top 5 Musicians\u00a0inspired you to become a musician?<br \/>\n<\/strong>My Dad. Joni Mitchell. On my latest tour, my high school band teacher, Mr. Bennett, unexpectedly showed up. I was moved to tears. Ever since, I\u2019ve been thinking about the positive impact my teachers have had on my musical journey. When I wrote my first song at 14, I played it for my choir teacher, Mr. McCloskey. He insisted I perform it at the next choir concert. With his encouragement, I played the song live for the first time and <em>that <\/em>was when I realized being a singer-songwriter was what I wanted to do with my life. That\u2019s pretty huge. Mr. Bennett encouraged my clarinet playing, jazz singing and becoming a drum major. He <em>always<\/em> looked for opportunities for me to play my original songs. I was very lucky to have that kind of positive support. Pat Pattison, my professor at Berklee College of Music, inspired me to nerd out on lyric writing like I never knew was possible. His influence changed the way I write and inspired me to \u201cwrite fearlessly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>What are your Top 5 favorite albums?<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>Blue<\/em> (1971) \u2014 Joni Mitchell<br \/>\n<em>Say I Am You<\/em> (2006) \u2014 The Weepies<br \/>\n<em>Wide Open Spaces<\/em> (1998) \u2014 The Chicks<br \/>\n<em>Karla Bonoff<\/em> (1977) \u2014 Karla Bonoff<br \/>\n<em>Songbird<\/em> (1998) \u2014 Eva Cassidy<\/p>\n<p><strong>What instruments can you not live without?<br \/>\n<\/strong>The McPherson guitar has been my main instrument since the day it was so generously given to me by the McPhersons. It has such a beautiful, round and even tone. It sounds rich when it\u2019s being strummed and when it\u2019s used for finger picking. My Collings C-10 is a smaller-bodied guitar with tons of character. I use it specifically for my songs in alternate DADDAD tunings. I\u2019ll often pull it out when I can\u2019t find the sound I\u2019m looking for in standard tuning. I also like a G7th capo, a Hercules guitar stand and a Yamaha or Roland keyboard. When \u201cWhen You\u2019ve Got Trouble\u201d played on SiriusXM Coffee House, McPherson heard it and invited me to their shop. McPherson guitars are works of art. With the sound hole toward the top of the guitar, and a floating bridge, the sound has more space to resonate. I absolutely love the full and clear, clean sound of my McPherson guitar. I feel incredibly lucky to play it every day. The G7th capo matches the McPherson guitar in its ingenuity and precision. I can\u2019t go to a gig without these.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-06-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20295\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-06-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-06-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-06-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>What song do you always play in your live performances?<br \/>\n<\/strong>\u201cWhen You\u2019ve Got Trouble.\u201d The idea came when I was dating someone who was struggling with depression. This song was my response to his hard times. Often, parents will tell me the song captures how they feel about their children. It\u2019s pretty special when someone hears their own relationships in your song.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you remember the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio?<br \/>\n<\/strong>A moment that has stuck with me was when I heard \u201cWhen You\u2019ve Got Trouble\u201d on SiriusXM\u2019s Coffee House. At the time, I was sitting on the floor in my manager\u2019s apartment in LA. There was a feeling that this song was going to reach a lot of new listeners. People started emailing me with incredibly heartfelt stories, sharing sentiments of what the lyrics meant in relation to their life. I will never forget that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What makes playing at Blue Rock so unique?<br \/>\n<\/strong>In the age of online shows, Blue Rock shows stand out. The personal touch of printing out the faces of each of their ticket holders and assigning them to a chair is clever, and much appreciated by us artists. The production value of these concerts is top notch, with beautiful lighting and camera work\u2014matched with impeccable sound quality. I\u2019ve enjoyed watching what they do and can\u2019t wait to be part of it.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-07-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20298\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-07-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-07-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-07-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>What is the best advice someone has given you?<br \/>\n<\/strong>My grandfather (an Army bandleader) always told my Dad to \u201cplay pretty for the people\u201d. My Dad passed that on to me, and I often think of it before I go on stage. It\u2019s not about me. It\u2019s about the people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Best advice for upcoming musicians?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Remember what your purpose is with music. In your hardest moments, you can use your \u201cwhy\u201d as your compass.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In this unique socio-political climate, how do you remain hopeful?<br \/>\n<\/strong>The root of a lot of our issues lately is based in fear. The way our fears play out is different from person to person. I feel most hopeful when leading with compassion. We might not understand each other\u2019s actions right now, but we might be able to relate to the root feeling that spurs the action. If we can find those commonalities, perhaps we can bridge the divide.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where can new fans get more info and stay updated?<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lizlongley.com\/\">www.LizLongley.com<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lizlongleymusic\">www.facebook.com\/lizlongleymusic<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lizlongley\">www.instagram.com\/lizlongley<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/lizlongley\">www.twitter.com\/lizlongley<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/LizLongley\">www.youtube.com\/LizLongley<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-08-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20297\" src=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-08-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-08-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney.jpg 660w, https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Liz-Longley-08-Smoakstack-Studio-Photo-credit-Patryk-Larney-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Musician: LIZ LONGLEY Video: \u201cA Little Magic\u201d \ufeff LIZ LONGLEY FEATURED AT BLUE ROCK\u2019S COOL NIGHTS 21 FINAL TWO NIGHTS\u2014THIS THURSDAY &amp; FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16-17 Liz Longley, along with Scott Mulvahill and Billy Crockett, will be featured at Christmas at Blue Rock for the final Cool Nights 21 livestreaming concert series\u2014this Thursday and Friday, December [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":20307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7725],"tags":[13139,13138,13140,13141,1762,9260,8271,3658,11644,11616,9481,12499,11385,13142,13143,13144,13145,3779,10432,13146,9490,5742,13147,13148,13149,12990,13105,13150,13151,11646,13154,13152,13153,10163,10802,991,12421,7043,13155,13156,13157,13158,7566,13159,13160,8006,13161,13162,3010,7978,13163,13164,12047,13165,13166,13167,142,13168,13169,13170,13171,13172,13173,13174,12427,13175,13176,13177,13178,13179,12732,13180],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20289"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20289"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20306,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20289\/revisions\/20306"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}