Interview with Lisa Hartt

What got you into music, and what would you be doing today if you had not gotten into music?

• I was part of a young church choir, and we won an adjudication in a contest. Out of this a jingle writer, Bob Hahn, hired the choir to sing on a jingle for La Belle Fermiere in Dorval Quebec. I received a cheque for $ 10.00. It was a revelation. I could get paid for what I loved to do most in the world- sing.

• If not for music, I would probably be a travel writer, as I love to adventure and I love playing with language.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• I love to garden, and my husband and I had a garden design in Oakville, Ontario for many years, Spillane Garden Design. A couple of our gardens were featured on HGTV. I learned it all from him. Now I love to grow my vegetables in pots. Nature inspires me to write

How long have you been making music?

• I started working professionally when I was ten so that would be 63 years. Holy smoke that is a long time.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

• I live in Port Credit just outside of Toronto on the lake. There is a lot of live music in the village and festivals. We host the South Side Shuffle every summer as well as the Waterfront Festival. The atmosphere with our gorgeous parks; Jack Darling Park, Rattray Marsh and Rhododendron, and Brueckner Gardens are all within walking distance. I filmed my music video with Joan Prowse of CineFocus in R.K McMillan Park off Hampton Crescent in Lakeview just last summer.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

• Singing with Abba, Bruce Cockburn on a Super Special in Sweden in the 80’s was memorable. Also the CBC Superspecial “Ladies Night” with Anne Murray, Phoebe Snow, Marilyn McCoo, Carol Baker, Lisa DalBello, Shirley Eikhard, and many more ladies of song was so inspirational. Opening for Gino Vanelli at Massey Hall, and opening for Claude Dubois, of Francophone fame, in Montmagny, Quebec, was incredible.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• Loved Massey Hall and Koerner Hall. Love to play Preservation Hall in New Orleans. I just love to sing and play where the acoustics are good and the audience warm.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• Cheryl Crow