New Artist Spotlight: Lucy
Malheur
Malheur
Lucy
started to play guitar as a teenager, teaching herself how to play,
and writing new songs whenever she found some new chords.
started to play guitar as a teenager, teaching herself how to play,
and writing new songs whenever she found some new chords.
After
a short while she founded her first band.
a short while she founded her first band.
In
those days, girls were not so common in bands, and if there were any,
they were mostly singers who swung a tambourine in a decorative way.
And then came Lucy – brash, loud, playing her electric guitar.
those days, girls were not so common in bands, and if there were any,
they were mostly singers who swung a tambourine in a decorative way.
And then came Lucy – brash, loud, playing her electric guitar.
Years
came and went, and so did her bands and musical styles.
came and went, and so did her bands and musical styles.
Lucy
became more sophisticated, and at
one point, she had to make a decision. Since she couldn’t stand the
thought of sacrificing musical quality on the alter of success, she
packed the whole thing in and got herself a job.
became more sophisticated, and at
one point, she had to make a decision. Since she couldn’t stand the
thought of sacrificing musical quality on the alter of success, she
packed the whole thing in and got herself a job.
After
having had lots of bad luck in her private life, she
suddenly realized that she herself was the only person who could help
her. She
also realized how much she missed her music.
having had lots of bad luck in her private life, she
suddenly realized that she herself was the only person who could help
her. She
also realized how much she missed her music.
So
she went to a recording studio belonging to two friends of hers and
started to record some old songs – just for fun, to find out whether
she was still able to do this.
she went to a recording studio belonging to two friends of hers and
started to record some old songs – just for fun, to find out whether
she was still able to do this.
Between
recording sessions she began to write new material.
recording sessions she began to write new material.
This
hadn’t happened in years, and it made her feel better and better all
the time.
hadn’t happened in years, and it made her feel better and better all
the time.
Encouraged
by her friends at the recording studio and her record label, she
decided to share her music with others.
by her friends at the recording studio and her record label, she
decided to share her music with others.
It
was around that time when she wrote
her first Country and Bluegrass songs.
was around that time when she wrote
her first Country and Bluegrass songs.
Having
recorded more material than she actually needed for one album in the
meantime, she chose some songs and published an album. Because of the
mix of styles, this album has to be perceived more as a kind of
musical introduction, a compilation of things yet to come.
recorded more material than she actually needed for one album in the
meantime, she chose some songs and published an album. Because of the
mix of styles, this album has to be perceived more as a kind of
musical introduction, a compilation of things yet to come.
All
of this was like a coup for her, hence the name “Therapy”.
of this was like a coup for her, hence the name “Therapy”.
However,
it took her yet another album called “Little Blue Devils”
which was a Blues album, until she finally wrote and recorded new
material for her third album, a Country and Bluegrass album which she
called “I Can Wait”.
it took her yet another album called “Little Blue Devils”
which was a Blues album, until she finally wrote and recorded new
material for her third album, a Country and Bluegrass album which she
called “I Can Wait”.
The
lyrics of Lucy’s songs always have a personal meaning.
lyrics of Lucy’s songs always have a personal meaning.
They
are happy, sad, contemplative, ironic – just like Lucy.
are happy, sad, contemplative, ironic – just like Lucy.
As
Lucy would put it herself:
Lucy would put it herself:
“I
want to reach out to the people, and even if there are only few whom
I can touch with my music, it’s worth the effort.”
want to reach out to the people, and even if there are only few whom
I can touch with my music, it’s worth the effort.”
Lucy Malheur:
“There’s a
story behind every song on I Can Wait. Here are some excerpts.“
story behind every song on I Can Wait. Here are some excerpts.“
About "Micky's Marker": "Micky's Marker" is a song about Micky, the guy who was the Recording Engineer of most
of the songs on "I Can Wait", and about the markers in the audio recording software. About "Southern Comfort On My Mind": I like Southern Comfort, but I hardly ever drink it these days. About "My Old Home": This song is about the time when I was living with my grandparents, and every word is true. About "Short, Fat And Ugly": Picture a group of Highschool girls. There's the beautiful "princess" and her
"ladies-in-waiting". This song is written from the perspective of an "Ugly Betty"
type of girl who would like to join this group. About: "Blame It On The Change": Once a woman gets to a certain age, things change. This song looks upon this difficult time in life with an understanding smile. About "Barrister Blues": Based on a true story. By the way, I won. About "Braggartsville": This town exists, and the people there are real too. Only the name is my own creation. About: "I Am A Stranger": I wrote this song when I was a teenager. Sometimes I'm led to believe not much has changed since then. About: "Mister Albert Lee":
Wishful thinking.
However, I would love Albert to come round my place and have a cup of
tea with me. And I wouldn’t mind if he brought his guitar with him.
However, I would love Albert to come round my place and have a cup of
tea with me. And I wouldn’t mind if he brought his guitar with him.