Liz Longley is a force to be reckoned with in the singer-songwriter world. A recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, she’s been touring non-stop and wowing audiences every step of the way. She’s got an engaging stage presence and has a lot to say with both her words and music. It’s no easy feat to win first prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest — competing against 9,000 entries.
To learn more about Liz, check out her website. Here’s a video to whet your appetite for more music by Liz.
- The list of songwriting awards keeps on growing and growing. Was the first one the sweetest?
- To be recognized by any songwriting competition is very exciting but the award that has meant the most to me is the BMI John Lennon Scholarship Award. In 2010, I was in my senior year at Berklee College of Music and entered the contest on a whim. I didn’t think I stood a chance but the idea of potentially being able to pay off some school loans was enticing. After graduating, I had never heard back so I eventually put it out of my mind. Several months later, I got the call that I won. I was in total shock and couldn’t stop crying tears of joy.
- Are you always working on new songs . . . in your head or on an instrument? Or do you take breaks from the songwriting process?
- There are definitely times when I write more than others, but I never intentionally take breaks. Life on the road makes writing difficult at times because I’ve got to be playing an instrument to hash out a full song. Of course, then there are days when I have all the necessary ingredients except for the inspiration. I’ve learned to look at the dry spells (which could be two days or a month) as my idea gathering days. Thinking of it that way takes the pressure off the writing and reminds me that I have to live my life in order to have something to write about. After those little breaks, I come back fresher and more emotionally available to write something new. I’m in a writing phase at the moment and it’s the best feeling in the whole world. Writing a song a day makes me feel alive!
- If you had some words of wisdom for a young songwriter just starting out, what would you say?
- Be yourself! People can see right through the fake stuff… they just want to be entertained by someone they can relate to. Stay humble. The learning never ends and growth is always possible. Most importantly, work your butt off! . . . Oh and team up with other artists . . . none of that competitive stuff.
- You’ve shared the stage with some pretty amazing musicians. Do you have any favorite moments to share?
- Recently I had the honor of opening for America at The Birchmere in Virginia. At the end they invited me up to sing with them on their encore “Horse with No Name”. I grew up listening to their music so it was such a thrill to share the stage with them. They are incredibly down to earth and supportive of upcoming artists. . . . I loved that about them.
- What’s this about you moving to Nashville? Do tell!
- When I was in college, I would go on the yearly spring break trip to visit Nashville. I always dreamed of moving there, it was just a matter of choosing the right time. In August, I had the chance to spend a few weeks writing, recording and getting to know great musicians in Nashville. It’s a place that energizes, motivates and inspires me. I’m so excited to be moving there at the end of November. Of course, the North East will always be my home and I will be back all the time.