Lisa Li-Lund has spent most of her life living an international Indie-Rock dream. The Franco-Swedish musician first made her way into the music world as a teen in support of her brothers’ influential group Herman Düne. In the years since, the multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter has traveled the globe, performing and collaborating with DIY and anti-folk legends like Jeffrey Lewis, Daniel Johnston & The Cairo Gang.
The prolific songwriter and composer has released 10 albums and a “slew of EPs .” She has explored the musical worlds of California Lo-fi Pop, Alternative Electronic music and the many flavors of Indie Folk and Rock. Though she has lived all over the world, Lisa is now back at home in France and after a 5 year hiatus she is once again making music. On April 23, 2021 she will release the long awaited album “Glass of Blood.”
The album’s first single, “Janet” was released worldwide to all major streaming services on January 21, 2021. The track has a timeless feel with modern Lo-Fi Indie production and instrumentation and a vibe that exists somewhere between singer/songwriter Alternative of the 1990’s and the meditative psychedelia of the 1960’s. As Lisa sings an esoteric narrative of pain, memory and resilience, the band jams on a rolling but mellow downtempo groove. Their Grateful Dead-style improvised guitar, bass and piano interplay creates a cool canvas on which the singer paints a stream of consciousness portrait with subtle harmonies and wistful melodies.
We had the opportunity to chat (virtually) with Lisa Li-lund about the past, the future and her new album “Glass of Blood.” Read her answers to our 8 questions, below. And check out the video for “Janet.” You can also hear the track on the Deep Indie Dive playlist. Follow the links at the end of this article to connect with this talented and versatile artist.
8 Questions with Lisa Li-Lund
The Static Dive: Where are you from?
Lisa Li-Lund: I am French-Swedish-Moroccan-Jewish raised between the suburbs of Paris and the North of Sweden. I’ve travelled all over the world for my music and lived in NYC and California for a quite long and blissful time.
SD: How long have you been making music?
LL: For as long as I can remember, as it’s always been a family affair. And I was in junior-high when I recorded professionally for the first time.
SD: Who are the musicians involved in your project?
LL: I write and compose my music on my own. That being said, on my last record I worked in tandem with french producer Guillaume Léglise, we did all the arrangements together and he produced and mixed the record. We both played guitar, upright piano, synthesizers and other fun toys on the record.
I have a plethora of incredible musicians, whom I call my knights, that played on this record with me. Each of them is as much of a musical instrument to me as the one they hold in their hands. That is to say I chose my knights according to what type of musicality they are going to bring to the project and not according to their technical skills.
Maxime Delpierre played guitar, Clémence Lasme played bass guitar, Ben McConnell played drums, Rémi Foucard played the violin and Gaspar Clauss played cello. Special guests on a couple of songs were Romain Turzi on guitar and synthesizers, Etienne Jaumet on saxophone and synthesizers, Maxime Sokolinski on vocals and bass guitar.
SD: Who are your biggest musical influences?
LL: Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Presley, John Frusciante, Black Sabbath, PJ Harvey, Regina Spector, Willie Nelson, The Shangri-Las, Aaliyah, Songs Ohia & Jonathan Richman are those whose music influences mine the most I think.
SD: What is your greatest non-musical influence?
Blood, Shadows, any body of water, the Moon always, and mostly ghosts.
SD: What inspired you to create this project?
LL: This project came after a long period (a few years) of musical silence inside and out of my heart. My sole wish was to one day write and record ONE more song, and for it to be heard by ONE person I do not know.
When Arthur, my record label’s boss, offered me a whole record, I was like : well this time I’m not going to try to experiment, write anything new or eccentric, I’m just going to try to get to the bottom of what is MY music, what is MY sound, and who are the knights who will better tell my melodic story. You can call it a melodic-ego-trip, maybe.
SD: What are your plans for the future (musically)?
LL: My plan is a dream that I wish to become a solid plan, I have started to write my next album and would want nothing more than for it to be produced by Lukas Nelson (AKA Lukas Nelson and Promise Of The Real).
SD: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Lisa Li-Lund: Yes, I could use a glass of Blood.