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Exclusive Interview with Lisa Matassa

About Lisa Matassa

Why country music ?
~ I grew up listening to country music when I lived in South Florida and I always loved the story telling of country music. To me, it feels like home.

What song on your new EP Me Time is your favorite song and tell us why.
~ My favorite song would have to be “Wouldn’t You Like to Know.” It was such a fun song to write with (Don Rollins and Jody Gray), and is a blast to sing live.

Who would you like to write a song for you?
~ That’s a tough one, because even though I love writing my own songs, it would be incredible if a song was written for me by either Diane Warren, Dolly Parton or Billy Joel.

What do you consider the most important change in country music during your career and what are your thoughts about it?
~ I definitely think country music today has become more pop oriented, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. Legendary country music artists like Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash were the pioneers of their time and to this day when you think of classic/traditional country music, you think of them along with Patsy Cline, Jerry Reed and so many more. But as time passes and the world we live in changes, country music lyrics, and even instruments, have changed to reflect what is happening today. I’ve always felt that country music is “America’s Music” and now that there are younger country artists like Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band, they are all bringing their own personal style to country music. So now more recently, people of every age are taking notice and saying, “wow, that’s a great song, the lyrics are exactly how I feel,” and they begin to see that country music can to speak to them on a different level than what they were probably used to hearing. Bottom line, if you write music and songs that people can really relate to, it’s a win-win situation.

If you could turn back time to make only one change, what would you change?
~ I would have saved my allowance money for guitar lessons at 12 years old instead of buying a bike.

What is the question interviewers never seem to ask you and…you wish they would? (Please provide your answer as well.)
~ So far, no one has asked whether or not I get nervous before I perform and I always think that’s funny because if you only knew what I do before a gig you would laugh! I recently had the opportunity to talk to Vince Gill about this and he told me he also gets butterflies before certain performances, so that made me feel better coming from someone as successful and talented as him! Yet, it still amazes me that after all my years performing, not a gig goes by that I don’t have a sea of butterflies in my stomach. I think it’s a combination of excitement and wanting to give my audience the best of me and not disappoint anyone.

Describe the ultimate recording studio (not the technique but the facilities)
~ I have recorded at a number of top studios throughout the years and each one had their own unique pluses and minuses. But, I have yet to record in a studio that also has sleeping accommodations! Some of my recording sessions have gone well into the early morning hours and it would have been great to crash somewhere instead of the community couch in the control room.

Johnny or June ?
~ I love Johnny Cash, but what I really loved about him was how much he adored June and he wasn’t shy in letting people know what she meant to him. For that reason I would say every girl should feel like “June.”

Give us your top 3 country songs ever.
~ “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette and I really love “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Atkins.

What was the most memorable day in your musical career and tell us why.
~ That would have to be March 31, 2011. It was the night of my release party for ME TIME and I shared the moment with my husband, my children and my entire family. I knew it was just the beginning of my taking that “leap of faith” to reach for my dreams, and to have the love and full support from people who mean so much to me was an incredible feeling.

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