Lyzzie is an indie-pop artist with a dark twist, located in Toronto, Canada. Inspired by strong female acts like The CHVRCHES and Billie Eilish, Lyzzie adds her own unique lyrical content and melodies.
Each song she writes shares different experiences she has with her own mental health and her growth into the person she is today. Lyzzie hopes that with her music and lyrics, she can connect with individuals who may be feeling the same emotions she is. Music is a powerful tool for healing and her goal is to help as many people as she can feel not as alone in their thoughts and experiences.
What first got you into music?
Ever since I was a little kid I loved being on stage. I would put on performances at family gatherings or just for my parents in the living room. I started writing songs and envisioned myself being on stage when I was older. Music was always in my life in some shape or form throughout my childhood and teenage years. My uncle is a musician and always encouraged me to sing and would bring me out to his band’s events to sing. I ended up joining a program called The School of Rock and was picked to be in the House Band as a lead singer. Then once I grew up a bit, I decided it was time to actually be serious and live out the dream. Music is the only thing I’ve ever wanted this badly and it’s what I truly believe I was meant to do.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
My all-time favorite band for the longest time has been Sir Sly. Once I heard the stories the lead singer Landon was sharing through his music, I immediately hoped one day I’d get to work with him and the band. He speaks a lot about mental health and going through sobriety and I just feel we could connect on various different levels and make some pretty sweet music!
What are your top two favorite songs of all time? Why those songs?
Everlong by The FooFighters has been an ALL time favorite for years. When I first heard it, I fell in love but then after listening to Dave Grohl explain his writing process and meaning it made me love it even more. It’s beautiful and sad all at the same time and it punches me in the heart in the best way possible every time I listen to it.
More recently, my favorite song is Hurt by Nine Inch Nails. I never really listened to Nine Inch Nails until my one producer Andre played this song. At the time, I was in a place where the song really spoke to me. It encompassed how I was feeling through sound, and the emotion I felt through lyrics.
When you create music, what is your personal purpose or goal?
My personal goal for music is to tell honest stories where I can connect with others going through the same thing. Mental health can feel very lonely but, in all reality, others feel the same way you do it just isn’t talked about super openly. With music and lyrics, you can connect with people on all kinds of levels. The cool part about it is, you could be telling one story, but the listener can connect and perceive it as one of their own. I want my listeners to feel safe and feel like they can express and feel darker emotions without any guilt. My main goal is for my listeners to not feel alone in their mental health journey.
What has been the most challenging aspect of your current releases?
For this current release of IJWYD, the most challenging aspect was a battle with myself and my own thoughts. It’s a very personal story and the song is a very public “Fuck you” to the person. This song in particular is written so that the subject knows it’s about him whereas the other songs aren’t as clear. I needed to do this for myself and where it felt challenging was just my own thoughts towards, “am I really doing this?, what will people say?, will I have to deal with his reaction?”. At the end of the day, I love the song, it has been healing and eye opening for me, and I couldn’t be happier that I released it. Who cares what he has to say, he shouldn’t have done what he did in the first place – so if he’s upset, let him.
Are you creative in other disciplines?
When I’m not making music, I am being creative making routines and telling stories as a circus artist. I’ve been a gymnast my entire life and fell in love with circus arts, specifically the aerial silks (those curtains things you see in Cirque du Soleil). I love storytelling and this is just another avenue I get to express that in!
What inspires your writing? Do you draw inspiration from poems, music, TV, or other media?
My own experiences and mental health inspire my writing. I almost use it as a form of therapy and healing. Each song I write tells a different story or aspect of my life. I also draw inspiration from other music and forms of media, but it always relates back to a story from my own life. I have a lot of stories to tell and experiences to share for not only myself but also to relate with others.
Was anyone else involved in writing, recording, or producing the songs?
Involved in the whole process are two people I absolutely adore, Andre Kaden Black and Jonathan Karkar. They are such kind genuine people who push me to be better. From the moment we started making music together it felt like we all just clicked. I’ve only been working with them for about a year now, but I am beyond excited for the growth of each new record that comes next.
What would be the ideal food to have cooked for you on a date night?
My all-time favorite food to cook is Shrimp pasta…literally any kind of pasta and sauce as long as there’s shrimp. Actually, you can forget about the pasta, just a bowl of garlic shrimp would satisfy me.
What was the last TV series you watched on TV?
The last series I watched was Haunting of Hill House. Because it’s Halloween it’s a must watch EVERY year. Anything scary is right up my alley.
If you were a member of the Spice Girls, what would your spice handle be?
My handle as a Spice Girl would be Spooky Spice for sure! Fun Fact: I’m actually named after a spice girl. My real name is Victoria, and my sister was OBSESSED with the spice girls so she chose the name Victoria after Posh Spice/Victoria Beckham.
As a kid were you ever frightened of a monster under the bed or in the cupboard?
As a kid, I wasn’t necessarily spooked over monsters under the bed, but I was terrified of a man I saw in my dreams almost every night and an imaginary little girl that followed me around. I never met my mom’s parents or saw pictures of them and one day we were flipping through old photo albums. I pointed out two people before my mom could say who they were. Turns out, the man I saw was my mom’s dad and the little girl was my mom’s mom as a kid. You can believe whatever you want about ghosts but that’s a crazy coincidence.
If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself?
The advice I would give to my younger self is to just be you. Stop trying to be what everyone else wants you to be. Do what you want and what makes you happy. I’d also say to love and be kinder to yourself.
