Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Lia L. Shoshann
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
What a nice question. I immediately feel a sense of warmth in my heart thinking about it. I have vague early childhood memories of the sense of comfort anytime I sang. I can still recall that feeling of being content then. Later, I used to turn on scenic music when I played. I remember I had a favourite soundtrack for playing pirate on my bunkbed.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
My passion for creating music started with singing and a curiosity around sound making as well as a creative way to work with language. I always loved rhymes and poetry and the way you can bend language into something that has a melody/rhythm. I started writing little poems and singing them as soon as I learned how to write.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
My second album Josefin Sans is a collection of songs about restlessness and turning points that have both shaped my life in the past few years. But like handwriting, there is also a love story that runs through the songs like a common thread. That’s why I named the album after a font. Although the new album features other artists, Lia L. Shoshann currently is a performance centered solo project of mine. I am that guy by the campfire you know from your youth, but I skip the cheesy lovesongs. I draw inspiration from strong women*, honest anger, the twilight of travel days, and the chaos of interpersonal relationships.
Also, on a more matter of factly level this is my first album with a bigger band set-up, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with the amazing musicians.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music
before?
Imagine somebody who is raised by music by the campfire finds a passion in percussive guitar strummings and is inspired by anger sometimes. The outcome is a mix of the approachability of Pop, the comfort of Folk, the groovyness of Reggae, the variability of Indie-Rock, and the attitude of Punk Rock.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
It may not have been a complete turnover, but I lived in the US for a while and the city I stayed in had an amazing music scene with an abundance of open mics. I got so much input in how other people create music, and I was just swimming in inspiration and had so much space to experiment and grow. I would say it didn’t change the way I make music but really opened the door for me to perceive myself as a musician fully.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
My guitar, a space for myself, a piece of paper and a pencil (I really prefer pencil to pen). Very old-school, very analogue.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Oh, where do I start? For years I can’t help but stick with Stereo Naked – a cologne-based Folk Duo. I love their sound and the sense of humor they show in their lyrics. I have my favourite female rage tune ‘Touch me again’ by the Petrol Girls; a british punk band. Also, recently I was touched by songs by Jade Bird, Ben Caplan, Amythyst Kiah, Ondara/Spanish villager, Bukahara, Il Civetto and Kerosin95. A lot of folks, some fusion-pop and queer-feminist Rap.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I’ll ask back: how did they not? Music is an outlet for me. Most things that move me turn at least into some pieces of Poetry. Some of these pieces become songs. My songs are deeply personal and contain a lot of detailed observations. My goal is for people to relate to what I sing about, feel seen and followingly at rest. One of my personal topics that finds its way into my music over and over is restlessness. I wish for my music to be a place of rest for people.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope people can find a sense of home and belonging in my music. I sing about my search for these things, but music always is that place for me. So, I hope people can sense that. I also sing about interpersonal stories and observations a lot and hope for people to be able to relate and feel understood.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
You do you! There are always opinions on how to do things differently. For example, somebody told me once I should avoid switching between languages. At first, I always felt insecure but, in the end, I learned to keep my head high and stick to what feels right for me.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Fabrik, Hamburg
There is an Acoustic path at Rocken am Brocken, GER I would love to be part of.
Zermatt Unplugged Festival
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Canadian Folk Musician Ben Caplan. I feel like there is a shared joy in going a little crazy or KT Tunstall – just because she’s an idol to me.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website, Spotify, IG, links)
www.lialshoshann.de – warm invitation to sign up to my newsletter
Instagram @lialshoshann
For any music link see: Linktr.ee/lialshoshann
https://lialshoshann.bandcamp.com
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical
journey?
I want to savor this release and then start a band again. Maybe around the music I already do or maybe something a little different. Also, I am looking forward to recording a couple of singles. And I want to work with women and queers more.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That they found their favourite new version of the guy by the campfire and that it won’t take long until I play a show nearby.
representative Youtube Video
