LECIA LOUISE CHATS TO JEN ABOUT HER NEW SINGLE ‘SHOCK ME’ AND LAUNCH PARTIES

Shock Me” is the brand new single from Brisbane’s Lecia Louise due to be released February 19 as a free download ahead of her east-coast launch shows later this month. Since her musical beginnings in 2005 with the release of her debut EP ‘Heaven or Hell’, Lecia Louise has been a force to be reckoned with.

I had the chance to interview Lecia Louise, read more about her here.

Lecia has an impressive touring history that has seen the award-winning guitarist/singer/songwriter travel the four corners of the globe since 2006 performing to audiences throughout The UK, Europe, Abi Dhabi, Dubai, Rome, Singapore, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

On February 19, Lecia will release her first new single in two years titled “Shock Me” which continues to showcase her upbeat guitar laden, rock/pop offering. “The song is about a man who ‘trades in’ his long term girlfriend for an ‘updated model, a more edgier version’,” says Lecia. “But in the end she doesn’t actually make him any happier”.

The track, produced and mixed by Jeff Lovejoy in Blackbox Studio (Powderfinger), is one that’s lifted from Lecia’s forthcoming EP titled ‘Per Te’ due for release later in the year.

Following the release of ‘Heaven or Hell’, in 2009 Lecia released her first full length album titled ‘Into Being’ which garnered radio airplay in Australia, New Zealand and North America. That same year, Lecia was invited to perform with Brian Cadd on his ‘Morning of The Earth tour. 2012 saw the release of the single ‘Individual’ which topped the Triple J Unearthed Charts and the single ‘For You’ released in 2013 – a track that earnt her a top 10 spot at the MusicOz awards.

Touring is second nature to Lecia having supported some of Australia’s greatest in recent years including Jon Stevens, Daryl Braithwaight, Mental as Anything, Shannon Noll, Phil Emmanuel, Killing Heidi and James Morrison. Add to that performances at festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford’s ‘Dreaming Festival’, Tamworth Country Festival, Blues on Broadbeach and Joyfest. More recently, Lecia was invited to perform at the Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival in September 2015.

Lecia is a multi-talented artist which is evident in her live performance. Don’t miss Lecia perform throughout Queensland on her “Shock Me” launch dates kicking off later this month:

Wednesday, February 27: La Piazza, Labrador, QLD

Saturday, March 5: The Morrison, Brisbane, QLD

“A super talented artist that rocks. Encourage everyone to check Lecia out,both her old and new music!” – Music Injection 

“Lecia loves her 70’s rock, and it shows. But rather than rehashing old sounds and mimicking her heroes, the singer breathes new life into the sound and produces great, hooky rock songs.” – The Music

“How freakin’ awesome. You rock lady!” – Bilko, Zinc FM

Hi Lecia, thanks for answering some questions, I am keen to know more about you.You have just released ‘Shock Me’ as a free download before your East Coast tour. How has it been received by the audience at the Launch party?

 The first show with the band in Gympie people seemed to be intrigued and watching closely.  By the end of the show we had extra guests playing on stage with us and we were very loud and rockin it.  People were dancing and we were requested to do an encore. 

 You are no new comer to the Music Industry, in fact you have toured internationally and won many awards, can you please tell us what awards have meant the most to you?

 Being number 1 on the JJJ unearthed charts for 3 weeks last year meant a lot to me because JJJ is a nationally renowned radio station. Hopefully this will lead to some airplay.  I also liked that my song ‘Individual’ won first place for the ‘Out of the blue’ competition because it means the song is uplifting and can make someone feel better as apposed to terrible. 

 On your international tours have you any funny stories to tell us or a story of something that did not go to plan?

 Italy 2015:

On arrival to Ciro in South Italy last year, we had rehearsals to get on with quickly so we commenced our first rehearsal that night.  I spoke very little Italian, and everyone spoke even less English than I spoke Italian.  Often I knew to start playing when someone pointed at me and then I would play along with the band.    

 The band boss has a kind heart but a bit of an anger problem.  After an hour or two of rehearsing, the boss jumped up, screamed, yelled and threw a chair at the drum kit.  After the loud bang, he yelled Italian profanities (those I understood), smashed his phone onto the floor and stormed out of the house. 

 I was a little taken back.  What had just happened?  Why was he so angry?  Was the tour over?  Am I leaving already?  How do I get to the bus station from the middle of nowhere?  Later that night someone managed to explain to me that he was angry because the regular drummer had not turned up to rehearsal that night.  The tour continued with another drummer. 

 Abu Dhabi 2007:

 Our girl trio, ‘The Hissy Fits’ had just finished a contract in Dubai  ‘and had grown into a larger band.  The venue manager would give us bottles of vodka to poor into punters mouths and take us around to other venues to show us what the dancing girls were wearing.  He was obviously hoping we would wear something similar but there was no way in heck!!

 One night word got out that the police were coming to our venue that night because our agent had not gotten us the correct visa to be playing in Abu Dhabi.  If we turned up to the gig that night we would most likely be arrested.  The last thing you want is to be in jail in an Arab country!

Our 5 weeks planned gig quickly ended and we got out of there as soon as we could.   

Great stories!  

Finishing your EP in pain must have been really difficult. I can understand due to an illness that causes a lot of pain, I can appreciate how hard it must have been for you. Do you think that having to work through the pain has made you feel more proud of what you have been able to achieve?

 Often in life obstacles are thrown in our way to test how much we really want something.  If RSI had not taken over my life 5 years ago, my EP would have been released maybe 4 years ago.  I feel like I have lost many years in my musical career, but on the other hand I grew into a new person, learnt new skills and had other experiences in that time.   I appreciate everything so much more now.  I love the fact that I can pick up a guitar, play it and even play gigs.  RSI stopped me for too long but I finally have it at a point where I can manage it and continue my musical ambitions.  So yes, I am very proud of finishing this EP.

 Your song ‘Shock Me’ is about a man who trades in his long time girlfriend for a younger model, I am sure that many women can identify with that. Was that written from personal experience or from someone you know?

  ‘Shock Me’ is a true story about friends who experienced this situation, which I witnessed closely. 

 Your songs that I have listened to seem to be Story telling songs, do you feel that this is a correct statement.

 Most of my songs come from real life situations or are about how I feel about something.  This makes it easier for me to connect with the song and complete it.  Hopefully the listener senses the emotion behind the song, and then interpret it in their own way. 

 I love the music video for ‘Shock Me’ was that an enjoyable experience for you or was it a long two day shooting at Southbank Beer Garden?

 We shot at two locations.  One on the Gold Coast and the other at Southbank Beer Garden.  It is really exciting when you get to shoot a film clip, though there is a lot of waiting around and preparation.  The first shoot was easy for me because I was not in the clip, so I made food platters, took pictures, practised some songs and caught up with friends in the house where we filmed.  The 2^nd day of shooting was for the band shots.  There was a lot of set up time with the gear, make up and outfits etc.  The day grew into a much larger day than expected but the director Daryl Irvine got all the shots he needed and it turned out looking great!

 You worked with Jeff Lovejoy in Blackbox Studio’s, how did the recording process go? He is very experienced and has a great reputation.

 Jeff is a rockin guitarist.  Being that guitar is my first instrument and my music is guitar based, I love working with producers who are guitarists.  Jeff knows how to tweak the gear he has to suit my music. 

 We don’t talk a lot in the studio.  He might ask a simple question like ‘How do you want this guitar part to sound”?  I will answer with something like, “jangly”, or ‘rockin’ or I will say nothing and simply play while he tweaks the amps, cabs, mics and pedals to make it sound just right. 

 Not only does Jeff get great guitar tones he pulls a killer drum sound and mixes the song to suit.  He is a patient, hard working man who makes sure the recording gets done properly and that we are both happy. 

 I read that you have toured with many great Aussie musicians and played at many festivals. Do you prefer playing tours or festivals or does each one have its own different good points?

 Both have wonderful points.  I love to travel, see new places, meet new people and have new experiences.  Touring is great for that.  Festivals however, are the types of shows that a musician lives for I feel.  You get to be free, mingle with other creative people, reach more people who may like what you do and you get to play louder, often to a nice sized crowd. 

 Do you teach guitar as well as music in schools? I saw you have your Bachelor of Popular Music.

 I used to teach guitar a few days a week but these days it is too hard to commit to too many regular students.  I do however, teach people guitar now and then when they ask me.  There are a handful of people I have been teaching over the past few years.  I only teach in schools on occasions and when I am there I usually use the guitar as well as ukulele, recorder, drums, percussion, garageband, piano, the voice and movement.

 I would love some lessons! You have another music project as a duo, can you tell us about this and will this continue?

 The duo is www.laniandlecia.com  We have had the last year off.  We spent a few years honing our live show, touring, and released an EP and a full length DVD.  We had great responses from our audiences.  Lani needed a break from the touring etc, but I continued in the meantime and when she wants to do it again, I will join in. 

 Can you tell us what your favourite type of guitar that you play is?

It is a close call between my Paul Reed Smith and Epiphone Sheriton with Jim Dyson pick ups, but I would probably have to say my PRS because it is so versatile and can rock. 

 Thanks Lecia, I look forward to seeing you live and I wish you all the best for your new single and EP.

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