Photocredit Storm Hudspith-Walker
North Eastern alternative sensation Lizzie Esau has been taking the industry by storm with her latest EP Spilling Out The Truth and a live-band tour. Politically and emotionally vocal, Lizzie explores complex topics through rock-infused sounds and powerful lyrics. As her tour comes to a close, she is here to discuss the EP, live performances and current musical direction.
Q: Your new EP Spilling Out The Truth touches on a wide range of themes, from social media to climate crisis. What inspired the overall direction of the EP, and how did you decide which issues to explore in your songs?
Lizzie: Overall I just always want to be really honest about how I’m feeling at the time. I had a lot of thoughts buzzing around in my head about growing up and finding your place in society, what you believe in, what you’re passionate about and processing things that have happened to you. I think the overarching theme here is navigating all of that in your late teens and early twenties through songwriting.
Q: In the track “She’s A Scorpio,” you address being gaslit after a personal experience of infidelity. How did writing this song help you process those emotions, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
Lizzie: I always hope people take away from my music the fact that they’re not alone and that so many people go through similar things and come out the other side better for it. For me, I wrote this song a good few years after the event happened and it acts as a very cathartic way to close chapters in your life and fully allow yourself to move on and process the situation.
Q: As someone who’s made a name for yourself in the North East music scene, how do you think your regional identity shapes your music?
Lizzie: I think it’s shaped me more in how I work than what I produce. I think we’re constantly being taught and having to live with the reality that, you just have to work harder up here. There are so many amazing champions of the North East music scene, however, the opportunities and funding compared to other parts of the country make the journey to getting noticed nationally a bit more of a struggle, but the gap is definitely closing and I look forward to the day where that’s no longer a reality and the distribution of the music industry is more even across the country.
Q: “Wait Too Late” from the EP addresses the climate crisis. What motivates you to write about global issues, and do you feel music has a role to play in raising awareness for causes like this?
Lizzie: Music and politics are always heavily intertwined, and as I said previously, my main aim is always to be as honest as I can and speak about things that matter deeply to me. It wasn’t really a purposeful act to write a song speaking on these issues, but the nature of my songwriting process meant that these thoughts and worries were coming out organically when I was making music. I do think it’s generally important to speak up for what you believe in and do whatever you can, however small, to make a change.
Q: You’ve been writing songs for over a decade. How have your songwriting and sound evolved over the years, and how would you describe your current musical style?
Lizzie: I think I like to be constantly evolving and never put myself in a box of a specific genre for a specific period of time. I think it’s incredibly limiting and I like to be as free as possible in the writing process. Currently, I’m definitely more in the alternative pop world but I’m never afraid to step out of that and go wherever the next song I love takes me.
Q: You’ve performed at major festivals like Glastonbury and BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend. What has been your most memorable live performance so far, and how has performing at large events impacted your career?
Lizzie: Opportunities like Glastonbury have changed everything, it’s so incredible to be able to play at big festivals and expose yourself to wider audiences. We’ve been so lucky with festivals for the past few years as well as touring but I think apart from Glastonbury our last headline tour in November was particularly memorable and I’m looking forward to doing another headline tour in the near future.
Q: You’re set to perform at The Rise in London on November 21st. How do you feel now that your tour is coming to an end?
Lizzie: We really love touring and it’s always so sad when a run of dates comes to an end. We’ve been doing lots of support gigs for two bands we love (South Arcade and Soft Launch) who have taught us a lot so it’s nice to be ending these few weeks of touring with a headline show to make it extra special.
Q: What’s next after the release of Spilling Out The Truth? Can we expect to see more releases or collaborations soon?
Lizzie: We currently have lots of plans for touring early next year and I’m currently writing a lot too (as always). I’m really enjoying taking time to form new ideas and plans for the next year so be sure to keep an eye out on my socials for updates and spoilers!
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