| I grew up admiring the stunning vocals of sensational | | | | move forward and make a completely new start |
| artists like Lauryn Hill and Mariah Carey, trying to mimic | | | | without looking back? |
| their soulful songs as I sang in my room. After hearing | | | | [Lorraine Reid] I don't think we can separate ourselves |
| Lorraine Reid's new album "Lessons Learned," my | | | | from who we are; I think those that try end up living in |
| ears were happier than they'd been when Lauryn Hill | | | | denial and pain, and sometimes we sit up and watch |
| was still making records. This 7-time Juno nominee and | | | | them on reality TV...I believe we're all a mosaic of our |
| breakthrough solo star not only poured her heart into | | | | previous thoughts, choices and experiences, and I |
| her album, which served as both therapy for the past | | | | thank God for that. I am so thankful to Him for the |
| and inspiration for the future, but also shared the details | | | | opportunities I've been blessed with so far in my life. |
| behind her success as today's voice of R&B and soul | | | | [Liz Singer] How have your career transitions and |
| with an edge. More importantly, the wise teacher | | | | hardships with your health, with your vocal nodule |
| singer/songwriter offered some lessons of her own | | | | surgery, provided inspiration for this album? How have |
| for all audiences to reflect upon. | | | | these challenges influenced your attitude towards life? |
| [Liz Singer] Every time I listen to Lessons Learned, I | | | | [Lorraine Reid] I had vocal nodule surgery in the fall of |
| become more and more in love with your amazing | | | | 2005, and this record was recorded once I retrained |
| voice. When did you begin singing? And when did you | | | | my voice and found my new sound...I'm still getting |
| know you wanted to pursue music as a career? | | | | used to this new voice. I try to take each day at a |
| [Lorraine Reid] Wow... well, my first public performance | | | | time and I'm very humbled when it comes to my |
| was on Parents' Night in Junior Kindergarten... (I sang | | | | voice...always have been. |
| the "ABC's" while my teacher played it on the piano). | | | | [Liz Singer] Overall, what would you like listeners to |
| I remember always singing in church, and loving church | | | | gain most from listening to your record? What is the |
| hymns as a child... I've always had a knack for hearing | | | | primary message you would like to send out to all your |
| a melody or lyric once, and being able to mimic the | | | | fans who will listen to Lessons Learned and fall in love |
| vocal. I'd obsessively harmonize with songs on the | | | | with the beautiful melodies and influential lyrics? |
| radio, or commercial jingles on TV, and it's always | | | | [Lorraine Reid] The primary message I want to share |
| been really easy for me to pick that kind of stuff up. I | | | | is that no matter where we are in life, it is important for |
| think once the 'Whitney/Mariah' era hit, I knew that I | | | | us to keep it real. That may mean admitting truths that |
| wanted to pursue music as a career. | | | | are embarrassing, or appearing vulnerable at times, but |
| [Liz Singer] It is truly astonishing that Temperance was | | | | that is when we are most human. I am still learning this |
| nominated for 7 Juno awards, a feat that no other | | | | lesson. |
| dance group has achieved to date. How did your | | | | [Liz Singer] What artist or band do you remember |
| previous experience with the group influence your | | | | being influenced by as a child? And how have those |
| readiness to make the switch to a solo career? | | | | impressions affected you into adulthood? |
| [Lorraine Reid] I did so much learning and even more | | | | [Lorraine Reid] Michael Jackson; Mariah Carey (in her |
| growing - personally, vocally, emotionally - during my | | | | 'Vision of Love' days); Sam Cooke; Whitney Houston; |
| experiences with the group Temperance. Those years | | | | Mary J. Blige...perfect combination of soul, texture, |
| were the absolute best 'lessons' I've had in my life to | | | | emotion and grit that I strive to emulate. |
| date. That being said, it was never easy... quite the | | | | [Liz Singer] Who are your favorite artists/bands? What |
| opposite, at times, in fact. I mean, I was young when | | | | are the last 3 CDs you listened to? |
| we started out- about 17, still in high school - and quite | | | | [Lorraine Reid] Faves: depends what day you ask |
| naïve to the harsh realities of the biz... But thankfully, | | | | me...today, they are Mary J. Blige, Jaheim, Alicia Keys, |
| because I was young, I was also still fairly resilient. It's | | | | Sarah Vaughan, Tracy Chapman...I could go on & on... |
| taken me some time- several years - to come down | | | | Last 3 CDs: Amy Winehouse's Back to Black; LJX's |
| from it all and find myself again (still working on | | | | Two Chord Skankin'; Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of |
| that)...and recording this album was part of that | | | | Lauryn Hill. |
| process. The R&B was always there; the soul was | | | | [Liz Singer] In regards to your personal life, how have |
| always there, so that transition was not difficult at all. | | | | you been balancing a music career and personal |
| As for pursuing an R&B career, I had no idea | | | | relationships? Has it been a challenge to "do it all" while |
| whether or not I'd record on this level again; but I did | | | | pursuing your dream of recording a solo album? |
| know that certain conditions would have to be met | | | | [Lorraine Reid] I'm always challenged by the demands |
| before I'd even consider it...so the rest is now history. | | | | of my schedule and my desire to connect with the |
| Doing this record has helped me reconnect with my | | | | important people in my life. It was especially hard for |
| passion for music. | | | | me during the writing process to be emotionally |
| [Liz Singer] Since you have been involved in the | | | | available to others, because everything for me was |
| education world as a teacher, do you feel that your | | | | living on the surface, you know? Very cathartic, yes, |
| time spent in the field has influenced your music career, | | | | but also very emotionally taxing. Plus, I essentially have |
| in terms of providing content suitable for all ages, much | | | | two full-time careers, so sometimes, even now, I'll just |
| unlike many contemporary artists? | | | | go MIA - you know, to preserve my sanity... maybe |
| [Lorraine Reid] Definitely...I am very conscious of the | | | | even sleep in??!!!...and people don't know that I'm in |
| fact that my students will listen to my work...and I teach | | | | overload because I don't share a lot. My family, |
| all grades from Kindergarten to Grade 10, so no age is | | | | especially my mom, is very understanding and |
| really 'safe'. Generally, I've never really been | | | | supportive; my close friends...they are the ones who |
| interested in supporting any material with overt | | | | truly 'get' me, and respect why I am the way I am. |
| connotations - I don't consume it, [and] would never | | | | [Liz Singer] As an artist, what has been your greatest |
| produce it. | | | | accomplishment? And in your life in general? |
| [Liz Singer] On Lessons Learned, which track did you | | | | [Lorraine Reid] In my life in general, I think my greatest |
| enjoy recording the most? Which is your favorite to | | | | accomplishment has been being a mentor and role |
| sing? And which will be most influential to listeners? | | | | model to others. As an educator, you really have no |
| [Lorraine Reid] Enjoyed recording the most: "No More" | | | | idea who you've inspired, and sometimes once you |
| (most challenging vocal to deliver). Favorite to Sing: "No | | | | find out, you're more than surprised! I'm also really |
| Coming Back." Most influential: I actually thought that | | | | proud to be able to say I have two baby |
| "No Time to Throw Stones" would be the most | | | | brothers...they're 23 and 25, far from babies, but I just |
| influential...I wrote it to say something about the state or | | | | like saying it. |
| our communities...but it turns out that "How Can I Keep | | | | [Liz Singer] What are your main goals for the future? |
| Him," the first single, is striking a chord with many...that | | | | Do you see yourself recording more R&B albums, or |
| song's a pretty personal one for me, and people are | | | | are there different plans in the works for your music |
| being inspired in so many different ways by it. | | | | career? |
| [Liz Singer] Clearly all of your fans will appreciate such | | | | [Lorraine Reid] I just wanna sing...I don't really concern |
| a brilliant effort made on Lessons Learned. What | | | | myself enough with the business aspects of things, |
| aspect of this project gives you the greatest sense of | | | | and although that probably isn't very savvy of me, it is |
| pride? | | | | part of what keeps me passionate about performing. |
| [Lorraine Reid] This record is really my baby. It's been a | | | | We've already begun to conceptualize and pen tracks |
| multi-step process, and we didn't take the short road | | | | for the sophomore album so music is here to stay. I |
| with it, I'll tell you that. This project is also a true | | | | look forward to hearing how my sound will change as I |
| reflection of my 'new' voice, which I've had to embrace | | | | gain more writing experience and maturity as a |
| and get to know all over again. It's the first project I've | | | | vocalist. Plans for the future...well, I'm game for anything, |
| been attached [to] that I actually feel represents me | | | | as long as I get to stay true to me... |
| completely. I don't even listen to it that critically | | | | [Liz Singer] As your album is clearly an inspiration to all |
| anymore, and for me to reach that level of comfort | | | | aspiring, honest artists, is there any other advice you'd |
| with my own work? ...that almost never happens...that | | | | like to give others who want to follow in your |
| means a lot to me. | | | | footsteps? Is there anything you wish someone would |
| [Liz Singer] I got the impression that Lessons Learned | | | | have told you when you were starting out as an |
| is really about the ability of an individual to make it on | | | | artist? And in your life, what has been the most |
| their own; to move past heartbreak and become even | | | | valuable lesson that you have learned? |
| more independent than before. I also felt an overall | | | | [Lorraine Reid] Thank you, Liz. Life is just one big |
| attitude of optimism for the future, despite whatever | | | | classroom: some of us are the teacher's pets, some |
| pain had been suffered in the past. Was this your | | | | of us are unpopular, some of us get the lesson the |
| intention for the album's message? | | | | first time, every time; some of us need to experience it |
| [Lorraine Reid] You are absolutely bang on. The last | | | | again, or pay closer attention; some of us even go try |
| thing I wanted - and something the team was very | | | | the remedial classes and still, nothing clicks...lol. But |
| concerned about - was for this to come across as | | | | seriously, the most valuable lesson of all for me has |
| another 'All men are dogs' record. Granted, on it I | | | | been that on this journey called life, sometimes if we |
| don't have much positive to say in the relationship | | | | are not careful, we can miss the lesson, which is |
| department, lol...but I'm thankful for every painful | | | | different for each of us. I wish I'd known that earlier - |
| experience I thought I'd never recover from... they not | | | | although I have no regrets. My advice to other aspiring |
| only made me stronger, but they inspired some real | | | | artists is to take the time to figure out what your life |
| emotion in studio...and on this record. The optimism | | | | lesson is; the rest will fall into place. |
| you sense is very real, and I'm glad we captured the | | | | You can expect to see the highly anticipated Lessons |
| emotions I've experienced, 'cause I don't plan to stay | | | | Learned to be released this summer, and while you're |
| there much longer!! I almost can't wait to hear what my | | | | anxiously awaiting that day, go see Reid live at |
| writing sounds like once I change phases again. | | | | Michigan Reggae Festival this coming August. This |
| [Liz Singer] How do you feel that your own past has | | | | follows on her successful performance at the Montreal |
| influenced the album's content? Do you think that one's | | | | Reggae Festival on July 12. |
| past is always incredibly influential, or is it possible to | | | | |