Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Liz Labelle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Liz, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
First, I just wanted to thank you for having me and allowing me to share my story!
When I was 25, I moved to Nashville to pursue my dream of becoming a successful singer, songwriter and artist. Working toward being part of the music industry, I was always told I needed to hustle, work hard and then work even harder. In order to stay in Nashville and make a sustainable living, per work permit requirements, I got a job playing on Broadway with an entertainment company. I applied all I knew about working in the music industry and, what with pays not being the greatest playing cover gigs on Broadway, I worked many shifts in a week. Work comes and goes and you need to get it while the getting is good. That mentality led me to overwork myself, which led to the dreaded diagnosis of vocal nodules two years into playing these gigs.
Most vocalists would quit, but I was determined to overcome this; diagnosis aside, all I could hear, from my doctors, ENTs, vocal coaches and speech pathologists, was that I needed to change my habits and treat my voice and body a lot better. That allowed me to learn so much about how I am supposed to maintain, care and nurture my body in order to have a sustainable career as a vocalist.
All that to say, my self-care is crucial to my livelihood. Without it I couldn’t sing, my mental health would continually be impacted negatively and, by having a routine, I feel far more focused.
This involves proper sleep every night, drinking plenty of water, physical exercise, eating well, daily vocal exercises, limiting my vocal use (avoiding loud environments when I can, not talking on the phone for too long, taking breaks during extended vocal activity, etc), limiting vocal irritants (lower acidity intake, managing post-nasal drip, little to no alcohol and caffeine, etc.), to name a few.
I am sad my voice has forever changed, but I am grateful for the learning experience. I truly believe I am a better musician for all that my vocal trauma I’ve suffered has taught me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a Canadian pop-rock singer, songwriter, musician and artist. I was born and raised in Montreal, but have been calling Nashville home for the last 6 years. My first few successes started back in 2014. I wrote for a band called Alter Ego, which some of those singles charted. That same year I followed the Vans Warped tour with nothing but a stack of copies of my brand new record Tanqueray Dreams and Greyhound/Megabus tickets to each city. That got the attention of Kevin Lyman who got me on the tour for a few dates.
Following a couple tours, I found myself in Nashville where I did A LOT of growing up. Immigrating all alone to America, vocal trauma, heartbreak, depression, isolation, COVID, job insecurity, all those things turned my formerly bright-eyed and too-optimistic-for-my-own-good self into the person I am today.
I’ve always been passionate about mental health awareness, neuro-divergence acceptance and self-love. As a kid I never felt like I fully fit in, so I try to operate with the utmost openness and respectful curiosity, so as to make people feel seen and comfortable.
Though my vocal issues have slowed me down these past few years, I’m back and ready to release new music (3 singles and an EP) over the next 6 months. I have 4 EPs written, in various phases of production, and am looking forward to making my comeback even stronger than my debut.
Life peeled me apart, but I’m still here: barebones and proud of who I am.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I used to give a lot of hell to the young arrogant kid I was when I started gaining traction in my VERY YOUNG music career. I acknowledge there is beauty in my errors and embrace the outcome, which to me, that is a skill. I use it to create art. Forgive yourself and embrace the journey.
My ability to relate to people and just sit and listen is another skill I am thankful for. Especially in the music industry, people like to hear themselves talk. Sometimes they feel like they’re obligated to always be talking. I love that I can listen, learn and soak in other people’s ideas, thoughts and stories. It makes space for other viewpoints and topics in songwriting and story-telling.
I love that I can disconnect when I’m on stage. When I’m not, I often find myself deep in thought, overthinking and stuck. I refer to the person I become on stage as my alter ego because I let loose. I don’t think about anything but the music and the people I am with in that moment. My ability to communicate while performing is something I am very grateful for because in turn, the audience gets so much more of the message within the song.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I think being in a completely new city I face the struggle of finding people with similar journeys and artistic references to help me bring my vision to life. My references are not as common with most of the people I encounter in Nashville. Currently I’m in LA, pop music central, hoping to make new connections and meet new collaborators. So far, it’s been amazing!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LizLabellemusic.com
- Instagram: @whyisLizLabelle
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/LizLabelleOfficial
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/LizLabelleOfficial
Image Credits
Orange backdrop: Tammie Valer Live @ The Cobra (2 photos): Tammie Valer Live @ Eastside Bowl (laying on floor): Jordan Dziekan Pink backdrop: Kasey Rees
