An Interview With The Toronto-Based Pop Singer LIZ LOUGHREY!

The Toronto-based Soul/Pop artist Liz Loughrey recently released the inspiring visual for her new single ‘Rise Up’. With over 2 million views on her Youtube channel, Loughrey has managed to create a devoted and growing fan-base by winning their hearts with her soulful sound blended with uplifting lyrics. Greatly influenced by Etta James and Sade, Loughrey is a genuinely old soul who creates a brand of pop that speaks to the past and signals a bright future.

Written and produced in Miami by Liz Loughrey, Adrian X (The Weeknd, Drake, Kylie Minogue) and Supa Dups (Drake, Party Next Door, Mary J Blige) Rise Up! is a catchy and refreshing song which stands for positive change. It is a call to action that says it’s time to stop living a life of complacency or in the words of the song, it’s time for us to ‘take less and give a little more’. Loughrey adds ‘Rise Up! is more than a song, it’s a movement. The #RiseUpMovement is all about telling the stories of people who are positively impacting the world and encouraging people of all ages and walks of life to Rise Up in their communities. We turn on the news and are constantly bombarded with negativity and so it’s easy to feel powerless, but the #RiseUpMovement is spreading the message that we can do amazing things when we work together.. when we make LOVE our theme, and PEACE our goal’.

With that objective in mind, Liz Loughrey has created the Rise Up Workshops. She is currently visiting schools across the country to encourage youth to think outside the box and start making their own positive impact on their community. The stories collected throughout her workshops will be shared on her website. Anyone can take part in the movement by submitting their own story on Social Media using the #RiseUpMovement hashtag.

Learn more about Liz in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! Now that we are in the fall of 2016, what are some words you would use to describe this year?

Hustle season! I’m grateful for the knowledge I’ve acquired this year.. about myself as an artist, the industry, and where I see all of this going for me in the years to come.

What have been some of the highlights for you and your music? 

Starting the #RiseUpMovement and going into schools for the ‘Rise Up! Workshops’ have been the most exciting projects in my career so far! I believe that music is what I was born to do, and to be able to use this gift to directly impact the lives of young people is really the most rewarding experience.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

Always! I remember winning my first big singing competition with I was 9 years old. That was a big moment for little Liz. That was the first time I thought, “Hey this is something you’re really good at.”

You recently released the video for your song “Rise Up.” Where did the inspiration for this song come from? 

I didn’t write Rise Up! with the intention of being a political activist or anything like that, but Nina Simone said it best: “You can’t help it. An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.”Unconsciously or not, that’s exactly what happened with ‘Rise Up!’.

What was it like working with such big name producers like Adrian X and Supa Dups on it?

The vibe working with Adrian and Dups was amazing! We got together in Miami and just started jamming. Those heavy grooves are Dups’ specialty and no one brings a sweeter guitar tone than Adrian X.

How creatively involved were you with the making of the video for “Rise Up”?

Shout out to my friend Ramon! I like to be as involved as I possibly can be. I had a vision in mind and I knew that Ramon Charles would create the powerful visual that this song needed. We spent weeks passing ideas back and forth and talking about the things that move us. I couldn’t be happier with the way it all came together!

Can you talk about the workshops that you have created in schools to encourage kids to think outside of the box? 

It’s so important that this up and coming generation knows how important they are. The idea behind the ‘Rise Up Workshops’ is to encourage young people to acknowledge their strengths and explore the ways they can use those qualities to better themselves, and the world around them. I’m sharing my story; the ups and downs I’ve seen in the music industry, and why it’s so important that I chase my goals with everything I have. It’s incredible to see the kids get up in front of their peers and express their desire to do amazing things for themselves and their community.

Where did the motivation for this #RiseUpMovement come from?

The #RiseUpMovement all about sharing the uplifting stories of those who are making positivity their focus. Every day we have the opportunity to Rise Up in our own lives and in the lives of others. By submitting a photo, sharing their story, and nominating 1 friend to do the same, the movement is growing and encouraging people worldwide to ‘Rise Up’ in their own unique way.

When do you hope to release the EP that “Rise Up” will be on? Are you currently working on finishing it?

I’ve been writing a lot this year in Toronto and LA, and I’m heading to the UK early next year to continue the writing process. I still have so many stories that I want to write about for this project. Summer ’17 has a nice ring to it for an EP release don’t you think??

Who are some of your favorite artists and what bands continue to inspire you and your music? 

Mind if I expand into a few art forms? Musically, Sade is my muse. Visually, I’ve really been into drawings by Frederic Forest and lately, I can’t get enough of looking at cool Debbie Harry/Blondie photos.

Who would you still love to work with in the future? 

Go big or go home right? SADE would be a dream and I can’t wait to work with Salaam Remi one day.

When you aren’t performing, working in the studio, what do you like to do for fun? 

A cup of tea or a glass of wine with really good friends is always a good time! (Except I always find their stories to be perfect songwriting material and usually have to disappear to get it down on paper)

How do you unwind from it all?  

I love cooking, baking, yoga and training. That’s therapy to me! I also get my nails done a lot.

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

Unity and Love will always be the common denominator in my music. How my message is received is out of my hands, I can only make sure that it’s always sent sincerely. All I hope is that listeners feel that truth and sincerity in my music.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

Much love & I hope you’ll join in on the #RiseUpMovement 🙂