bio
In reference to her collection of pieces of rusted metal, Lis Soderberg says she loves it because "it marks that place between 'what man hath wrought' and nature taking it back. Plus, the colours are incredibly rich and beautiful. Sometimes you don't see the beauty in something unless you really stop and look, really pay attention," she says, echoing the sentiment expressed in "Little Bird" on her debut solo CD "Refuge".
The songs on "Refuge" are an accessible mix of traditional and off-the-beaten-path, with haunting melodies and compelling storytelling delivered in a voice that has been compared to Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, Jann Arden and Annie Lennox; they reflect Soderberg's lifelong fascination with the overlooked, the undiscovered, and life's continuing transitions and transformations.
Songwriting and performing have likewise been an ongoing transitional process; a diverse career thus far has seen Soderberg on symphony and rock stages as well as in coffee houses, recording on live broadcasts, in commercial studios and living-rooms, and has garnered her numerous awards, guest appearances on dozens of other artists' albums and feature performances on film soundtracks, television and radio.
She regularly performs in front of 2000-4000 people or more in the acclaimed Jeans 'n Classics symphony series and her credits include appearances on Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe, Babar (the movie), Manson (drama-documentary), and others; among the many artists she has performed and recorded with are Kevin Breit, Gwen Swick (Quartette, the Marigolds), Rik Emmet, Blair Packham, Kathryn Rose (Wind May Do Damage), Andrea Koziol, Russell DeCarle, Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors), Alan Frew, Rodger Hodgson (Supertramp), Lorraine Segato (Parachute Club), Lisa Dal Bello, Lawrence Gowan, Steve Bell, Ivan Neville, and many others; her songs have won numerous awards and have been pitched to international artists (including Bette Midler) and in 2009 she co-wrote and sang "All I Need" with producer Brent Barkman, a song which was the first track on a celebrity holiday compilation that included offerings by Huey Lewis and the News, Richard Marx, Dennis DeYoung … and William Shatner.
Music is not her only passion; she is an ardent fan of art in general. "I think art, or any act of creation, is entirely necessary. There are times when we're overcome or overwhelmed, beyond logic or reason, and the only thing that seems to make any sense is when we let ourselves get 'inside' with some kind of creative act. I remember Sue (Patrick-Breit, a longtime friend and collaborator and fellow member of singer/songwriter quartet “Lushus” with Soderberg, Andrea Koziol and Rique Franks) talking about how writing a song can perform this alchemy where you transform painful emotions, for instance, into something healing, beautiful, even redemptive. She so perfectly expressed how it feels to be immersed in making something, or resonating with something someone else has made."
Soderberg has a particular weakness for collage and mixed media, since it often merges many seemingly unrelated things into a unified whole. "Refuge" came together in a very collage-like way, in bits and pieces over a period of about three years. She had some concerns that the end result would feel disconnected, but is thrilled with how it turned out and credits her producers, Brent Barkman and Scott Boyling, with pulling all the elements together.
"Refuge" is a collection of songs about love, loss and yearning, stories told in a caramel voice with a constant underlying theme of transformation. In the title track, we are given a glimpse into immobilizing loneliness, while the closing track "Treasure" finds bounty and a kindred spirit in a chance meeting. Achingly vulnerable "Girl OK", recorded live with just voice and guitar, is one side of a conversation with the object of one's desire, and Latin-tinged "Easily Embraceable Me" seduces with sultry vocals and spare production.
Soderberg is looking forward to ongoing live performances and collaborations with other artists, in music as well as other disciplines, and is contemplating what her next project will be. "I’ve been asked numerous times about a solo acoustic CD, so perhaps that's the next thing ... for now I'm just looking forward to doing some writing and playing live after finishing 'Refuge'.
