Lisa Sheppard
Culver City, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Creatively speaking, whether or not life gives you lemons, it is possible to squeeze the seeds of storytelling, then add flavor from bittersweet experiences, observations and emotions.
That’s what playwright-artist-poker pro-turned musician Lisa Sheppard has done. The singer-songwriter lives in Los Angeles now, but grew up here, graduating from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Class of 1983) and University of Houston before hitting the west coast theater, art and music scene.
Known for her emotive lyrics, Sheppard describes the musical style of her latest release, “Neon Lights,” as “blues with a country vibe.”
Her songs tend to be about the process of life, with varied moods and tales, she said.
Sheppard played guitar early on, but abandoned it for acting and directing. She also played poker professionally and had a career in marketing.
A few examples of kharma’s hiccups include how during the opening of a play she co-wrote, the roof of the host theater caved in; how her home collapsed during the Northridge earthquake in 1994; and how a marriage also cratered.
In 2008, after a 20-year hiatus from music, Sheppard picked up her guitar again, an instrument she first explored at age 9.
As the child of music-loving parents here, Sheppard had early exposure to country, rock ‘n roll and rockabilly music and musicians. By 16, however, the theater was her creative expression of choice.
She said her later-blooming songwriting “came about accidentally,” and that in an almost spiritual sense, the songs “come from somewhere other than me.”
In October 2009, her debut collection “One Track Mind” drew praise and performance opportunities, including House of Blues and other top clubs.
With “Neon Lights,” the emotional connection and storytelling her followers enjoy return. Having hit Houston for Easter, Sheppard will be back around Thanksgiving to perform locally.
Life is quite a ride, the musician said. “Later on, you understand why things happened.”
Songwriting is feeding her soul as an artist, she said. That her audience connects with that “is the most I (as a songwriter) could hope for.”
Sheppard’s website is www.LisaSHeppardMusic.com.
- The Examiner
"One Track Mind." ...(a) mind obsessed with a single thought or perspective. I do not believe that this Declaration of tel for 'newcomer "Lisa Sheppard from Los Angeles, which, through its beginnings album both in country, blues and rock circles is welcome. Also her biography let anything other than a-one track mind suspicion because the dametje ran high school & University in Houston, Texas, was the same in the theaterwereldje, played professionally poker (-which has led to "the Gambler Blues"), there was a full time marketing career into its new programme and ... got the idea in 2008, the 'wild ", after a hiatus from 20 years to play guitar & writing songs again. A decision which we can only welcome it because, with its ten personal songs from the heart, let it behind a business card. Lisa Sheppard carries on an infectious way self-confidence, and that takes a good opening track that right: "Rise up, I'm gonna rise above filled with love." and let no one from the store (rock) lead; No time for bruisin, "no time for bribin," no time for denyin losin "no time"! ("Just Today") and "gonna be free, I'm I'm Feelin" alive "(" On My Way Back ") if there is to be possible, there is one track mind must be sought in pursuit of a Summit, Lisa's village in the singer-songwriterswereldje and that seems to me the kind requests" will You be my Lover Tonight "," Wanna Go Down Your Road ", and decision making" you're My loving Prayer "," Hollow country, living to love you, "no relationship above you ... a utopian dream. Lisa Sheppard let us on a superb way on the shoulder and listen to songs reminiscent of the time during and after reintegration mariage and in some cases where she's today ... ... and there is for a man with a style all your own clearly no longer. ("You Ain't got her my love") "One track Mind" is an exciting album from a new voice in music! (SWA)
- Rootsville.be
http://www.countrymusicbroadcasting.com/awards.html
Judging Summary:
Lisa has shown in this video of her original song "One Track Mind" that there's no need for an artist to compromise themselves when they've got natural talent. In this powerful video, very professionally produced, we get to share in a real woman singing a real song. Powerful in performance, powerfully sung with strong vocals, and a straight-shooting lyric that when all's put together leaves the viewer knowing they have just witnessed what genuine country music can offer. Lisa is all woman, and is not afraid to let it show. Congratulations - CMB Judging Panel - CountryMusicBroadcasting.com
New country artist Lisa Sheppard has become the first 2010 recipient of the 2009/2010 Country Music Broadcasting Official Video Awards for her video and single "One Track Mind". Lisa has become the seventh country artist awarded to date as the industry sponsored awards continue to their inaugural presentation ceremony in late 2010.
In the judges review of Lisa's video, Lisa received an Achievement in Performance ribbon for a video that the judges described as "Powerful in performance, powerfully sung with strong vocals, and a straight-shooting lyric that when all's put together leaves the viewer knowing they have just witnessed what genuine country music can offer".
Lisa is just one of the new generation of country artists that have been acknowledged in the CMB Awards to date along with existing country stalwarts such as Joe Nichols. Other award winners include Jay Hollis for his video "One More Day", young Australian singer/songwriter Katrina Burgoyne for her live performance of her original ballad "Jessica" and seasoned musical veteran Dave Cawthorn for his co-written song (with Terry Martin) "When Will It Rain".
The CMB Official Video Awards were implemented to acknowledge the importance of the internet to the country industry in sharing the genre with country music fans world-wide. With the likes of YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and other social networking websites all offering the opportunity for fans and artists to share and watch video clips, there was seen by CMB a need to acknowledge, affirm and encourage the use of this modern medium. Online video watching is becoming increasingly popular in the same way that MP3 music downloads have taken the music industry by storm and in many ways changed the way in which artists and industry distribute music.
- CountryBoot.com
A native Texan, Lisa's journey to a music career was 20 years in the making. Early on, she played guitar until she moved to California, where she abandoned music for acting and directing. Then she played poker professionally before committing to a marketing career. After a 20 year hiatus from music, she decided to play guitar again and started writing the songs for her debut CD, One Track Mind. The video for the title track just won an award from countrymusicbroadcasting.com. This deeply personal album is available on itunes.com, digstation.com and cdbaby.com. - Country Weekly Magazine
For Immediate Release
(Images / Interviews & Bookings / Songs / Music Video Available)
A NEW VOICE IN AMERICANA MUSIC: SINGER/SONGWRITER LISA SHEPPARD DEBUTS “ONE TRACK MIND” CD, FUSING COUNTRY, ROCK, AND BLUES
“One Track Mind” Gets Great Reviews, Music Video Wins Country Music Broadcasting Award
LOS ANGELES, Calif.; January 13, 2010 – Singer/songwriter Lisa Sheppard has released her debut CD, One Track Mind (Oct. 2009; Affiliation: BMI), embodying a stylistic blend of blues, rock, and country music. The result is a fusion of sound consistent with Sheppard’s Texas roots. Already, the CD has received several positive reviews:
• The CD’s title track music video, One Track Mind, received an “Achievement In Performance” award from CountryMusicBroadcasting.com, also reported by The Country Boot, Australia’s online country entertainment magazine;
• Country Weekly magazine will feature Lisa in its “Listen Up” column (Jan. 25, 2010 issue) as a new artist worth listening to;
• The CD’s first FM radio airplay was Dec. 13, 2009, when Houston’s KPFT-FM played Wanna Go Down Your Road on their “Blues On The Move” program; and,
• In Dec. 2009, Rootsville.be, a Belgium-based online music magazine dedicated to Americana music roots and the blues, says One Track Mind is “an exciting album from a new voice in music”.
In describing her One Track Mind CD, Lisa Sheppard says: “My songs are personal and from the heart. I felt spiritually called to play guitar again after a long hiatus, and I began writing songs almost the instant I picked up the guitar.”
One Track Mind‘s songs are intimate, edgy, funny, and touching. From the sexy yet lonely sound of Will You Be My Lover Tonight, to the spiritual, swampy blues of Rise Up, to the song Just Today about end-of-relationship feelings, the CD takes the listener on a journey. Available on on iTunes, DigStation, CDbaby, and Amazon, One Track Mind is produced by Jason Hiller, who brings an authentic instrumentation that complements the songwriting and vocals.
Lisa Michelle Sheppard has been performing solo and with her band at several venues, including Houston’s Dunn Bros. Coffee House, and Los Angeles’ Room 5, Café Muse, and Good Hurt Nightclub. For more information about One Track Mind, Lisa Sheppard, and her performances, visit www.LisaSheppardMusic.com and Lisa Sheppard Electronic Press Kit, or contact the below.
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Media Contacts:
Stacy Taylor, Taylor Public Relations
714.791.0848, Stacy@TaylorPublicRelations.com
Lisa Sheppard, Lisa Sheppard Music
www.LisaSheppardMusic.com/contact.html
- Top 40 Charts.com
Discography
Debut LP - One Track Mind
Sophomore Album - Neon Lights
Photos
Bio
Elvis. Earthquakes. Heartache. Poker. Roof cave-ins. For a roots-rock singer-songwriter, even Hollywood couldn’t conjure a more perfect storm of inspiration and raw material than the one filling Lisa Sheppard’s notebooks.
“When I think about it, I guess my life has been pretty interesting,” says the Texas-raised, Los Angeles-based artist. “I’m a person who’s easily bored, so I’m continuously looking for something new to wrap myself around. The stories in my songs tend to be about the process of life.”
Neon Lights, Lisa’s stunning sophomore album, burns with the grit-filled, heartfelt sounds of that process. The moods and tales within are as frank and richly varied as the life of their earthy-voiced creator: The disc’s 11 built-to-last songs are typified by such offerings as “You Got Your Freedom,” a rough-edged, blues-rocking kiss-off to a departing ex-lover, and “Once I Leave LA,” a sobering meditation on the thoughts of a desperate friend set to a bittersweet waltz. And then there’s the title track, an image-rich, gospel-tinged narrative that cashes in on the singer’s observations from her years as a professional poker player.
Lisa was born on Christmas Day. She grew up in Houston with music-loving parents who began bringing her to see live bands when she was just seven years old. Her mother, an impassioned follower of country and early rock ’n’ roll, was friends with Elvis Presley, George Jones, and rockabilly pioneer Tommy Sands, whose fan club she ran. Through her parents Lisa also discovered the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, and the Eagles, and at age nine she started guitar lessons. By age 16, however, her attention had turned toward a different type of stage, and she decided to pursue a theatrical career.
In 1988 Lisa moved to LA, where her focus eventually shifted from acting to playwriting and directing. But in 1993 she received a not-so-subtle sign that maybe the theatrical world wasn’t for her: During the opening run of “Metro,” a three-act play she co-wrote and directed with her late husband, the roof of the presenting theater caved in (luckily, no one was hurt). Two further collapses, that of her house in the 1994 Northridge earthquake and that of the marriage, soon had her searching for another creative outlet.
Lisa dabbled in visual art while growing further immersed in LA’s rich music scene. Inspired by the latter, in 2008 she picked up her guitar, wiped away 20 years of dust, and not only started playing again but writing songs as well. “My ex-husband had died, and I’d been carrying that loss and a lot of other stuff,” she recalls. “It all started coming out.” In October 2009 Lisa debuted with One-Track Mind, a collection of 10 striking originals that was quickly snapped up by blues and alt.country radio and drew praise from Country Weekly and Belgian online magazines Rootsville.be and Rootstime.be. The album’s success soon had her appearing at the House of Blues and other top clubs.
Produced by Rich McCulley (Sparklejet, the Meadows), Neon Lights also features drummer DJ Bonebrake (X, the Knitters) and bassist Taras Prodaniuk (Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakum). “Lisa’s music is a blend of Texas storytelling, Stonesy rock ’n’ roll, and a splash of Lucinda Williams,” says McCulley. “It’s all in there.”
It certainly is. As any lover of well-crafted, honestly played songs will eagerly agree. With Neon Lights, Lisa Sheppard reminds us once again her future is bright indeed.
www.LisaSheppardMusic.com
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