Happy Monday!
Our Track of the Week today comes from BIMM Institute Dublin Singer/Songwriter Lisa Keane with her debut single ‘Crown of Thorns’.
Her music blends together into an emotive and calming sound and is the perfect way to ease into your day. Take a listen and discover more about the track below.
What was your inspiration when you began writing the EP?
I actually wrote ‘Crown of Thorns about four or five years ago. The inspiration for it came about when I was watching an episode of American Horror Story and one of the characters said something that sparked an idea for the song. They said: “The devil is real…. He can be beautiful. Because he’s a fallen angel, and he used to be God’s favourite.” The whole song really stemmed from that quote and I ended up finishing the song that same night.
Are there any artists that inspire you when writing?
I don’t remember what exactly I was listening to at the time of writing ‘Crown of Thorns’. However, some of my main inspirations when writing now are Taylor Swift, Maggie Rogers and Dermot Kennedy. I also think Alex Turner is a fantastic lyricist. Honestly, there are too many to chose from.
What is key to your sound and how do you make your music stand out?
I listen to a variety of different genres and definitely take inspiration from each of them. I often find myself blending different elements of those genres into my own songs. I try to stick with whatever I think sounds best for the song without confining myself to a particular style or genre.
How does your songwriting process work?
I don’t really have a set way of writing songs. Sometimes, I’ll start with lyrics and figure out the music afterwards, or sometimes I’ll start with the music and the lyrics follow.
When writing ‘Crown of Thorns’, I came up with a general idea and brainstormed around it. I then went to my guitar and played around with some chords and it all flowed from there. I’ve had various arrangements and played around with different versions of the song for years. I was never fully happy with it until I brought it to Adam in Flaked Studios who made it into what it is today.
Describe your sound in 3 words…
Honest, emotive, chilled.
How has studying at BIMM helped you develop as an artist?
Studying at BIMM really helped me focus on my music and create songs that I really love. I also learned about the production side of music ar BIMM. I became really interested in learning more about how it all works and I now produce a lot of my own songs. I learned a lot from those around me too and it definitely pushed me to work harder.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on more new music at the moment and hope to release at least two more singles this year.
