One of my favorite things about running FAN CLUB is getting the chance to interview so many fascinating musicians for the PLAY section of the blog, and today I bring you an interview with the amazing Lisa Papineau!
I recently came across Lisa’s music and I am ob-sessed.
Her unique sound and distinct persona are so enchanting, and I am so pleased to be able to share this little chat with all of you. I even discovered that she has quite the quirky sense of humor from her answers to my questions!
I love the beat of Lisa’s track “On To You.”
“Diamonds and Pearls” is also great.
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Lisa is a singer-songwriter who is based out of Paris, and in addition to singing for Los Angeles-based band Big Sir, Lisa has loaned her heavenly voice to a variety of other bands as well.
Lisa released her solo album, “Night Moves,” in 2006 - its so amazing!
Check out our interview below, this was so fun!!
Carina Menzies: Hi Lisa! Thanks so much for chatting with me today. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Lisa Papineau: Hi Carina! Well, I’m sitting here at my desk, looking at a painting of butterflies and weeds propped up in front of me, listening to my dog Francesco snore, and wondering what in the Good Heavens (or Hell) I could possibly write. I am, totally… excellent? I am totally hot! No…
CM: Haha. The question of “tell us about yourself” is always open to interpretation! Okay, how about where you grew up, and where you currently reside?
LP: I grew up first in Southern New England (Mass. And R.I.), and then later in Vermont. For the moment I live sometimes in Paris, and sometimes in Los Angeles. It sounds like lyrics from a Roxy Music song.
CM: Love Roxy Music! Bryan Ferry is a genius.
CM: Have you always wanted to be a musician?
LP: Music always made me feel shaken and moved, like I was going to burst out of my skin, even as a really little kid. But it was a long while before I ever dared to consider it would be something I could make myself.
CM: Well it’s a good thing you eventually did. How would you best describe your musical sound?
LM: For me, music is for dancing, all music, so in answering just for myself, I would say it’s dance music. But I guess no one who has a clue about the culture of music would agree!
CM: I hear you, I am a big dancer! How about... who are some of your greatest musical influences?
LP: As I imagine with anyone who gets asked this question, there are too many to name, and there are always new people to add to the list. A few cornerstones are Simon and Garfunkel, Gordon Lightfoot, Kate Bush, Devo, Hank Williams, Laurie Anderson, Meredith Monk, Big Black, Torture Garden, Al Green, Chaka Khan, Brian Eno, Talking Heads, Cameo, Warren G., Brothers Johnson, Tortoise, Scratch Acid, Peter Gabriel... But I’d say, mostly the people I get to write with… they bounce balls of music off my head.
CM: That sounds fun!
CM: How would you describe your personal style and look? It seems to be very
artistic!
LP: Thank you kindly, that’s a very nice compliment. In thinking about this question, I immediately stopped slouching and sat up straighter, took the ponytail elastic I’ve been wearing for the last three days out of my hair, because I can be such a slob. But I do whole heartedly appreciate the art and métier of a piece of clothing or a shoe that is made with care, especially pieces that seem to be an extension of how the person wearing it moves. Generally, what makes me most comfortable is to let just one piece do the talking. I love it when I see people pulling off a million bangles and scarves and belts and drapes and bling, but on me that doesn’t seem to work, so I tend to keep things simple.
CM: Sometimes, simplicity is best. Lisa, I've noticed you seem to be a fan of red lipstick - any other makeup favorites?
LP: I like experimenting with all sorts of things... from striping and zagging across my face in the secrecy of my own home… from various pots of things that have caught my eye, dirt, white-out, magic marker, syrups… but generally keep it simple in front of others, either going with cocoa butter on the lips or red/burgundy lipstick.
CM: I think our Super Smoocher lippie would look beautiful on you!
LP: Thanks! Sometimes I get the courage to try things on stage or in photo sessions, but foundation types of make-up don’t work for me. I have a lot of freckles, and just don’t recognize myself when my skin is only one color! But I like what I’ve tried of the new generation of mineral makeups, and dabs of mineral powder on blemishes works pretty naturally with freckles.
CM: Yes!! The next question is one of my favorites to ask... do you have any guilty pleasures?
LP: Since I tend to be a anxious worrier about working and getting things done, wandering around for hours in stores or in the streets qualifies, especially since I rarely buy anything in this kind of scenario, so there’s no “reason” for doing it per se, just letting my mind be in cruise control mode-looking out the window mode. I love getting lost in all the color and information. Also no question... reading. Doesn’t matter if it’s high-brow or as trashy as the day is long, I’ve definitely been guilty of foregoing sleep to finish something I’ve already read. What a nerd, right? But going to have to keep the rest to myself.
CM: Do you have a favorite song of the summer so far?
LP: I know it came out last year, but I can’t stop rocking “She Wolf” by Shakira. I go back and forth between the English language and the Spanish language versions, and then repeat. Also, the song my friend Matt and I just wrote last night… it’s a Tiki-room jungle jam. When he was laying down his vocals, he was singing “ Know she ain’t mine,” but I thought he was saying “No sh*tty ride.” So that’s the name of the song until we think of something sillier to call it.
CM: So funny!
CM: If you weren't a musician, what career would you like to tackle?
LP: Etymology or rogue genetics. I once worked as a dry wall stone mason for a week, but then I dropped a 9 ft. half ton slab of schist on my hand.
CM: Ahhh!!! That must’ve been awful! On that cheery note, Lisa - haha - what's next for you?
LP: Same old thing, I would imagine…dancing around, making mistakes, occasionally talking too loud in shyness, trying to take in as much as I can of what surrounds me and revel in it, being grumpy and whiny, being glad and grateful. I will be finishing up the newest Big Sir album this summer, and putting my nose to the grindstone on a few other recording projects. Hopefully spending some time back in Vermont this Autumn, as well. I miss the smells of Fall there.
CM: I hope you get to make it back to Vermont... and thanks so much for taking time to answer my questions :)
LP: Thanks!
She is so amazing... I hope you enjoyed reading that interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it!
FUN TASK:
Lisa admitted that “She Wolf” is her fave summer song... so what about you? What’s YOUR favorite summer ditty?
I’m going to send a bunch of my favorites a digital download of Lisa’s album “Night Moves,” along with my Super Smoocher lippie!
xoxoxo,
Carina
My favorites are...
DiamondsRmyBFF
CowgirlUp
xxxooo,
Carina
KEEP UP WITH CARINA ON TWITTER - CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW HER!
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written by Michelle Wolff, July 22, 2010
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written by organically, July 22, 2010
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written by Christi Wollin, July 22, 2010
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written by g&g, July 22, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El6iQ2_dvlc
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written by Meagan Harper, July 22, 2010
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written by jbroni100, July 24, 2010
What a fab interview and she sounds like fun and i am liking her down to earth attitude, like when she said she was listening to her dog snore, lol.
I would choose katrina and the waves, walking on sunshine.
it such an energetic song and really lets you know it summer, its a groovy tune.
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written by Cortney Carter, July 26, 2010
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written by Colleen W., July 26, 2010
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written by Sigrid Steinsland Evensen, July 27, 2010
The music video can be viewed here.
The tropical feel of the song just sets the summer mood perfectly, in my opinion, and I love singing it while doing my summer job, which is picking up garbage and cleaning out the weeds from the flowerbeds in my town centre.
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written by Ashley Kane, July 27, 2010
1. Summer Nights - Rascall Flatts
2. Summertime - Kenny Chesney
I think country music in the summer sets the mooood!(;
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written by CHaak9603, July 27, 2010
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written by Nicole, July 28, 2010
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written by Joanna Jasinska, July 28, 2010
I'm talking about K'naan - Wavin' Flag !
I love football and World Cup in South Africa was soo great! I am huge fan of Spain team (beautiful play and players...
). These song bring to me so much positive emotions.. And official video also is incredible. What more can I say? Just listen it (even better watch) and feel this positive vibrations!
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written by Gill Joseph, July 28, 2010
Don Henley's "Boys of Summer" reminds me of old friends, Alice Cooper's "School's Out" will always mean the end of my secondary (high) school days!
However, the Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling" definitely wins out for me. One warm summer night during my college days, a friend and I opened a UK atlas with our eyes closed, and stuck a pin in it. It came down on a very remote point in South West Scotland....so we got in the car and drove there.
And got stranded when we ran out of fuel.
And missed all our meetings and lectures the next day.
But it was HUGE fun! I still have wonderful memories of that impromptu mini-roadtrip, and of the music playing loudly for most of the journey - hence the Eagles will always be close to my heart. :-D
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