Catching a Tiger

“I’ve fallen in love with Lissie—head & shoulders above anything I’ve heard in a long time.” Now, I’ll forgive you for not trusting my judgement—hell, we’ve only just begun—but that opening statement came from the man behind Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks and Wild at Heart. Yes, Sir David of Lynch. The Lynchmeister. The outsider’s outsider. This is the word of our Lord. So, it’s with great trepidation that I lower the needle onto Lissie’s début and dip my quill nervously into the black. Would I forsake our leader like some younger, hipper Judas?

With her freckles and flaxen hair, Lissie Maurus conjures up images of her native Midwest, full of unruffled country charm. But in reality, the Illinois-born singer grew up listening to gangsta rap. By age nine, she was starring in the musical Annie. She then headed to LA to work on her music, which attracted some cool connections; after the EP Why You Runnin', produced by Band Of Horses bassist Bill Reynolds last year, she returns with her debut album. It's helmed by Jaquire King, best known for his work with Kings Of Leon.

When Elisabeth Maurus aka Lissie released her debut EP, Why You Runnin', in fall 2009, it seemed a new voice was emerging in indie folk. After years of playing around Los Angeles and performing guest vocalist duties for house artist Morgan Page, Lissie was gaining ground as a recording artist, introducing herself online with acoustic video performances of understated folk songs, including a cover of Hank Williams' "Wedding Bells". Her voice stood out more than the actual songs: at times raspy and at others full and precise, like Grace Slick or Neko Case. After the EP's release, Maurus switched to the electric guitar and gathered a backing band.