Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Biales.
Hi Lisa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in a family of musicians and learned to sing from listening to my mother sing and also from the records she played. She loved jazz standards and great singers, and that’s where my appreciation of great singers started. My father was a band leader in a Dixieland Jazz band and my mother and I would sing with him on occasion. When people ask what instrument I play it goes like this: voice, guitar, bass, piano.
I went to a catholic elementary school, and in the 7th and 8th grades I played guitar and sang with a group for Saturday night mass. Learning to play the guitar and songwriting go hand in hand starting at about age 12. For three years in high school, I sang with a band and played proms, homecomings, and pool parties, and we put on our concerts in the park.
I honed my performing and songwriting skills playing in a folk duo, Prairie Orchid for over 20 years and we toured OH, KY, WV, IN, MI, and NY. I have been an Ohio Arts Council fee-supported artist for over 30 years. I honed my organizational skills while working part-time for 17 years at Ohio University. I would dream about a day when I could put in as many hours on my music as I did for OU. That dream came true in 2003 when I went full-time as a musician and recording artist.
Since then, I’ve recorded 10 albums of music, and have a new record coming out in October 2023. It’s called Christmas Record and 9 of the 10 songs are original. I love Christmas music, it sparks joy in my heart and puts a smile on my face and I wanted to make a Christmas Record so others could experience the same, especially my grandchildren. My music has been played on the radio all over the world, hitting the top 10 on the charts for four years in a row, and my songs have been placed on TV and film.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been some struggles along the way, first of all, it’s just hard to make a living in music period. You have to work every day of the year to make a decent living. There are still some gender inequality issues regarding pay, women tend to get paid less, and hired less. I have always booked myself and mostly it’s gone smoothly, however, there are times when I wish I had help with this arduous task.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I write about ordinary things in life and people can relate, it touches them and evokes emotion or a different way of thinking. Once after a show, a woman came up to me and said, “I love your music, the song about the daughter and father . . . I have been having an issue with one of my children and your words . . . something shifted in me, I realized I have been holding on too tight. Something shifted and I feel better.”
Well, that is the best compliment an artist can receive. I am passionate about the songs that I write and I get hired because people want to hear my music. I am known for my crystal pure, clear-as-a-bell voice. Something about it resonates with people. Many a concertgoer or reviewer of my records have commented on this and the fact that you can understand every word I sing.
I am most proud of my latest work, Christmas Record. I started writing songs in May 2022 and went to LA in September to record the album. These songs spark joy in my heart and I am looking forward to sharing them with the world. The album, Christmas Record will drop on October 20, 2023.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Go with the flow. The times when I have tried to force things have left me depleted, frustrated, and uninspired. When I let things happen naturally, the results are positive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lisabiales.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075268639253&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAXO8G_TYdCn1DyzltM_BHw?app=desktop
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/bigsongmusic
Image Credits
Beth Hoxie
