Lisa Crawley on finding her place in Los Angeles and taking Kiwi songwriting to the world

Auckland born singer-songwriter Lisa Crawley has spent the past few years carving out a life and career in Los Angeles, a city known for its endless ambition, creative energy and fierce competitiveness. After making the leap from Melbourne just before the pandemic, Crawley has embraced these challenges and the opportunities that come with life in one of the world's music epicentre's. From collaborating with acclaimed songwriter Rob Kleiner to balancing the many roles required of an independent musician, she has continued to refine her distinctive brand of piano driven indie pop while remaining connected to her Aotearoa roots. As she returns to NZ for a one-off show at Big Fan on June 18th, we caught up with Lisa to talk about life in LA, creative growth, homesickness and what comes next.

How has your life changed now you're living in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles has something for everyone. I had a tough start, moving a month prior to the pandemic, but it’s a city that encourages and celebrates working hard and believing in yourself. I’ve been known to be a little self-deprecating, but in certain parts of LA the humour is a little different and people will take you at face value if you say something like, “I play a bit of music.” It’s forced me to back myself more while continuing to bring the genuine Kiwi vibe to whatever is thrown at me.

There’s a variety of opportunities and jobs in music here, and for someone who has worn many hats, it’s a good fit. I feel less embarrassed about doing a multitude of different things (songwriting, session work, events, teaching) to make ends meet, as that’s what everyone has to do here.

What pushed you to make the move abroad?

I went to Avondale College and, in my last year, our school band travelled to Los Angeles to play a music festival. I always had a good feeling about the city, but life took me to other countries. I continued to visit as much as I could and, when a few things came to an end in Melbourne, where I was living at the time, I decided to go for the artist visa so I wouldn’t have to live with the “what if”.

How would you describe the social fabric / culture of LA compared to Aotearoa?

Aotearoa has a warmth and groundedness that's hard to replicate. People are generally more relaxed and community-minded. LA is incredibly diverse and inspiring, but it's also faster-paced and more transient. You can meet someone from a completely different corner of the world every day. Both places have shaped me in different ways.

Would you say your sound evolved with your surroundings?

Definitely. Living in LA has exposed me to new collaborators, genres and ways of thinking about songwriting. I think my music has become a little bolder and more direct while still holding onto the storytelling and emotional honesty that's always been at the centre of what I do. I’ve played as a keyboardist and vocalist in pretty much every genre of music, so all of those experiences have helped create my own sound.

In your own words, how would you describe your music?

Heart-on-sleeve, mostly piano-based indie pop with sharp lyrics, big feelings, a little melancholy and a healthy dose of humour. I love writing songs that can make people laugh, cry, or hopefully both at the same time. I tend to figure out what I think about things by writing.

If there is one thing you miss most about NZ, what would it be?

The people. Marmite. Kiwi music. BurgerFuel!

You worked with Rob Kleiner on your most recent single. How has this collaboration elevated your songwriting?

Rob has an incredible ability to get to the heart of a song, and we both have different strengths that really complement each other. I’ll try to make the chords a little weirder and he’ll tell me whether it adds to or detracts from the song.

He is so clever and good at what he does, and I love that we have so much in common in terms of our musical influences, comedy and dark humour.

What does the future hold for Lisa Crawley?

More music, more touring and more adventures. I'm focused on continuing to build a career internationally while staying connected to my roots in New Zealand. I'm excited to keep collaborating, releasing new work and finding new audiences wherever they may be. I’d love to spend more time in the studio, both for myself and for others.