By Jim Barber
Transferring isn’t straightforward. Transferring nations is endlessly anxious and irritating. Transferring from a rustic that has a restrictive, isolationist authorities to 1 the place ‘freedom’ is well known and mythologized, and making an attempt to start out a brand new life in these unfamiliar and generally chaotic environment – that’s a troublesome experience for anybody.
Think about you’re a proficient, extremely inventive and delicate artist or musician, not solely striving to adapt to this new life, new environment and new tradition, however making an attempt to additionally join with audiences on this new atmosphere along with your music.
That’s what the 4 members of Cuba-American rock band Candy Lizzy Undertaking have been doing since they left their homeland and emigrated to the USA greater than eight years in the past. It’s been a whirlwind, principally a constructive one, ever since, because the band has settled down in Nashville, one of many music capitals of North America, increase a fame all through a lot of the U.S. for his or her extremely energetic and compelling dwell reveals and the excellence of their craft as songwriters. They’ve written, recorded and launched three full albums, and often host on-line reveals from their rehearsal house on numerous social media platforms, increase an viewers the old school approach – by way of expertise and laborious work.
However in some unspecified time in the future, all of the change, all the novelty, all of the adrenaline and targeted vitality, the journey, the steep cultural studying curve catches as much as even the hardiest of souls. And it’s occurred to frontwoman Lisset Diaz. A powerhouse of a performer, and a superb lyricist, she together with accomplice Miguel Colas type the inventive coronary heart of the band. And that coronary heart is almost definitely to be discovered on the sleeve and deeply embedded into the songs created Diaz and her accomplice.
Nicely, with their newest album Objects In The Mirror Are Nearer Than They Seem, the fallout from the stormy emotional battering and the curler coaster experience of life since coming to America has gushed out in a robustly compelling, enchanting and galvanizing approach.
It’s an album about change, about development, about dealing with one’s demons and being unafraid to speak about not solely the great, however the dangerous and ugly of life. It’s dripping with authenticity and fact telling, and is as boldly introspective, as it’s extremely identifiable for anybody who has had sophisticated relationships with the vagaries and vicissitudes of life.
One important change is a most evident one to those that have been following Candy Lizzy Undertaking for any size of time. When their album Technicolour was launched in 2020, there have been seven folks within the press photographs. As we speak, two albums later, there are simply 4.
“Once we got here from Cuba almost 9 years in the past, we have been seven. Altering to a brand new nation is a giant deal. And never solely a brand new nation, however the way of life is a lot completely different. It was a giant change, so I don’t choose. I don’t blame anybody. Individuals react in another way to emphasize and simply life. So, we misplaced two members by the tip of the Technicolour recording. Most likely after we final spoke we have been down to 5,” stated Diaz over Zoom from the again deck of her house in Nashville.
“Then extra just lately, like a yr in the past, our earlier bass participant lastly was in a position to carry his spouse right here from Cuba, and he determined to go the household route. It was not a great match with the entire touring life and the musician’s life. So, that occurred, however once more, we’re tremendous completely happy for him.”
The opposite two members of Candy Lizzy Undertaking are bass participant Wilfredo Gatell, and drummer Angel Luis Millet. Objects In The Mirror Are Nearer Than They Seem is the band’s fourth album general, and third since coming to the usA. Heaven was launched in Cuba in 2015, and Technicolour coming in 2022 after the transfer to Nashville. Pirate Radio was launched in each English and Spanish in 2022.
One other seismic shift within the life and profession panorama for Diaz and the band is that this new album was launched independently. After two years on a small, however well-respected boutique label, Candy Lizzy Undertaking band members needed to have full inventive independence, but additionally to have full management over the extra sensible and business-oriented decision-making course of.
“After Pirate Radio, we went utterly impartial. That is out first full-length album that we’ve completed utterly independently. I feel, on the entire, the file deal was good for what it was on the time. However we felt that it was simply not a great match for us any longer. Once we fulfilled our dedication, which was these two data, we determined that we needed to attempt one thing completely different. Nothing horrible occurred, however whenever you work with file labels they make selections that you simply didn’t all the time agree with. I felt like we have been ready too lengthy to place music out, for instance, and that’s one thing I didn’t like. And it’s one thing that we modified instantly after we went impartial, so we have been in a position to begin placing music out into the world after we needed to, as typically as we needed. We needed to have the ability to create music after which put it out straight away. Why wait a yr or two to create a full album after which put it out. For this file we simply began releasing singles after which the album,” Diaz stated, including that she and the band are grateful for what the label did for them in navigating the music enterprise in a brand new nation.
“Once we obtained that file deal and we have been working with the folks on the label, they helped lot, particularly after we first obtained right here from Cuba. Due to that file deal, we landed in Nashville. In order that was a giant plus. On the time, we didn’t know something about something. They have been our introduction to this nation, not solely within the skilled sense, however even within the private world as nicely. It took us a short while to search out our footing, to search out out what we needed and the way in which we needed to do the work, and it took some time longer for us to comprehend the issues we have been truly able to. Which is what we’re doing now. We’re not saying that we’re not open to the potential for working with a file label once more sooner or later. It’s simply that we’re not there anymore. So, we determined to go impartial.”
There has additionally been a noticeable change in Diaz herself. Because the frontwoman and one of many major songwriters alongside Comas, there’s a new air of earnestness, a steelier exterior, and this provides a gravity to the songs on Objects In The Mirror… The extra introspective tone, the extra passionately expressive lyrics, the extra insistent instrumentation, displays a shift in thematic and emotional centre of what’s driving the band at this level of their careers, and notably the phrases and melodies Diaz is creating.
A eager observer would see that in case you have been to look at the album artwork and promotional and advertising and marketing materials from each Technicolour and Pirate Radio, there’s a vibrancy, a way of joyousness. The album cowl, promotional photographs and advertising and marketing supplies for Objects In The Mirror Are Nearer Than They Seem virtually completely black and white, with shades of grey. It’s not that the music is darkish and gloomy, it’s simply that the bubbly positivity that has been a trademark of Candy Lizzy Undertaking has been tempered and infused with these proverbial shades of grey on an emotional degree.
“I feel it was only a pure consequence of our course of and evolution as people and as artists. I truly didn’t discover that distinction, to be trustworthy. To me, this album could be very private. We labored on it for 2 years, and I’m counting that from after we did ‘Any individual Wake Me When It’s Over,’ which was the primary single. That one we put out in October 2023, which is after I depend after we began engaged on the album. However the theme of this album is absolutely the story of the band throughout the years since Pirate Radio got here out. We’ve been collectively for 12 years and the final eight of these we’ve been right here in the USA. I feel that although it’s been eight years, there are emotions and feelings and conditions that you simply don’t course of instantly, particularly whenever you’ve been as busy as we’ve been,” stated Diaz.
“The method of turning into an immigrant, of separating your self from every thing you used to know and form of turning into a brand new individual – as a result of it’s positively a brand new life – takes its toll otherwise for everyone. And it takes time to course of that. It takes time to comprehend, that I’m not the individual I used to be eight years in the past or 9 years in the past. I really feel like that’s the complete cycle I skilled when penning this album. I really feel like in some ways the music is new as a result of we’ve advanced musically. However on the identical time, I feel we additionally went again to the start of the band. I really feel like I’m making an attempt to course of the way in which I’ve managed to dwell this journey as a part of band. That’s what I like about this album. So, yeah, it’s black and white as a result of it’s uncooked and trustworthy.”
In a way, as Diaz says, it’s as if her thoughts, physique and spirit are simply now catching as much as all the emotions of newness, of tension, of dislocation, of sorrow from lacking family and friends, but additionally the countervailing emotions of pleasure, freedom and the joyfulness of getting a courageous new world through which to dwell, love and create.
“It may well get darkish after I discuss it. I really feel like I’m nonetheless figuring all of it out. Twelve years in the past, I used to be in school. I grew to become a biochemist. My life was utterly completely different in Cuba. Simply the actual fact of being in Cuba and being utterly remoted from the remainder of the world in so some ways, that was my life again then. After which, for some purpose, I began writing songs. So, that is me processing my journey. I began writing songs and really rapidly that grew to become one thing utterly completely different for my life. After I give it some thought now, the folks I used to know, the chums I used to have, the routine I used to have is totally completely different. That life grew to become a unique nation, with a unique language, with issues like automobile insurance coverage and 50 manufacturers of bathroom paper, you title it. The modifications from one life to the following go from the very small ones to very large ones,” she stated.
“From a private standpoint, it’s been laborious. I’ve skilled despair. I’ve skilled nervousness. I’ve skilled an identification disaster. I just lately went again to Cuba for private causes, a household emergency. It was very unhappy to see what my nation has change into. However on the identical time, seeing my folks once more, and I imply my folks in a really romantic approach, as a result of I’ve met actually nice folks right here. I think about them my household; they’re my greatest associates now. However seeing my Cuban folks, their battle, the way in which they’re residing their lives – that might have been my life as nicely. It’s like having the tradition shock once more, however in reverse. It was a really highly effective sense of group that I had not skilled shortly, as a result of I hadn’t been again to Cuba for about three years.
“It’s virtually like a PTSD scenario [there’s a song on the new album called ‘Ptsd’]. Not at all do I need to sound like I’ve obtained my shit collectively. I’m not there but. However I’ve gotten to the purpose the place I’m like, ‘okay, that is what is occurring,’ and I’m taking accountability for all these emotions. I’m going to put in writing them down and I’m going to sing about it. I’m going to place all of it on the market as a result of it’s a part of my course of. So, yeah, that is what the album is. It’s about taking accountability for all these emotions and acknowledging what’s occurring, and what has been occurring for some time.”
It’s a well-worn cliché, however sayings and cliches change into such as a result of there’s often deep-seated fact behind them. For Diaz, the method of taking these ideas and emotions and experiences and emptying them on the metaphorical web page into phrases and melodies is really ‘remedy.’
“It truly is, and I additionally love that it’s been remedy for different folks as nicely. Each time I put a tune out that’s so private, like ‘Any individual Wake Me When It’s Over,’ folks will say, ‘what are you speaking about? Why are you so sad? Why are you depressed? What’s occurring? Why are you so darkish?’ However for that tune, I obtained an reverse response. The tune resonated with lots of people. They have been telling me the tune helped them get by way of this or that. I’m completely happy that it was additionally remedy for them, however on the identical time it makes me really feel, okay, I’m not alone – they usually’re not alone both. It helps to place issues on the market and have the ability to talk by way of music with different folks,” she stated.
“I’m a unique individual as I stated. We talked, perhaps 5 years in the past? It’s not that way back, however I do really feel like I’m a unique individual now. Again then, it’s not like I used to be pretending, however I did really feel like I all the time wanted to color my phrases or my emotions to make them extra digestible for folks. Now, I’m not like that anymore. That is who I’m, that is what I need to say, and you’ll prefer it or not. And that is my journey. This album is my journey, our journey as folks and as a band. And the album, all of the songs it’s all a part of that story. For me, the entire album appears like a narrative from begin to end. From a musical standpoint, Miguel tried to make it as cinematic as attainable with the music, and having the intro and outro. So, I hope it comes throughout that approach for folks after they take heed to it. However for me, it’s like completely different phases of my story.
“And it goes from that, from nervousness, from frustration, from feeling form of alone so much. However I hope that individuals who take heed to the album see that it’s not darkish. The final word feeling that I need folks to really feel is that it’s a celebration of our journey, as a result of I really feel very happy with what we’ve completed as a band and as people. And that’s additionally about myself – I really feel very happy with myself. It’s essential to acknowledge the issues that you simply’ve completed, and you might want to really feel proud about your self. That is the message I need to put out for everyone listening to the album. Take into consideration and give attention to the great belongings you’ve completed and what you’ve completed and really feel happy with your self.”
The title monitor for Objects In The Mirror Are Nearer Than They Seem didn’t begin life as a full-on tune, in response to Diaz.
“It was simply alleged to be the intro for the album. However then it grew to become a tune. Once we recorded it, we realized that it needed to be a full tune and the primary tune on the album, but additionally the primary tune for the dwell present. And it type of grew to become the theme too. The attention-grabbing factor about this album is we launched 5 songs earlier than it got here out, after which the opposite 5 songs solely got here out on the album. ‘Participant 2’ was one of many final songs we added to the album, however it’s truly the oldest tune on the album. I wrote that tune again in 2020 and we by no means used it for Pirate Radio. Once we put collectively Pirate Radio, it was a unique theme. We have been speaking about Cuba, and it was an idea album, so ‘Participant 2’ was not a great match. However I all the time beloved that tune, and I assumed it might be nice to have form of an older tune as a per of a file that’s speaking a few journey. So, it was nice to have that one on the file,” she stated, earlier than discussing one of many tracks on the album producing probably the most constructive acclaim from followers and audiences, a real banger referred to as ‘How You Like Me Now?’
“That tune? That’s a tune about revenge. It’s about feeling vengeful and the way we battle it and the way we’re taught that it’s dangerous and that you simply shouldn’t really feel that approach. Nevertheless it’s additionally so pure, it’s human nature, and never in a brilliant evil approach, whenever you form of hope disagreeable issues occur to those who did one thing dangerous to you. And it doesn’t should be as severe as loss of life or most cancers. It might be, ‘I hope she will get bubble gum caught in her hair,’ or one thing like that. Just a few type of punishment. And that’s what this tune is about. As a result of as a lot as I perceive that these will not be wholesome emotions, these have been a part of my journey as nicely. After I felt attacked. After I felt like life was unfair, that dangerous issues have been taking place to me for completely no freaking purpose, these emotions have been there. And I used to be, like, ‘how am I gong to speak about my journey and my emotions with out being this trustworthy;’ the place I’m not simply ‘candy’ Lizzy, the place I’m not simply speaking about stunning issues, however the place I’m placing myself within the place of a sufferer or an ideal individual that’s blaming others for the band issues which might be taking place.’ No, I’m additionally human and I felt issues I’m not happy with.
“However on the identical time, I’m fairly certain everyone out there’s not a saint. So, everyone’s felt this manner in some unspecified time in the future. In order that’s what the tune is about. And it’s referred to as ‘How You Like Me Now?’ as a result of I’m asking are you continue to going to like me after saying that I felt this manner? And I’m dreaming about folks needing me in the identical approach I wanted them in some unspecified time in the future, however they didn’t assist. Am I going to be in that place of energy in some unspecified time in the future? Once more, these will not be fairly emotions, not emotions I’m happy with, however sadly these are actual emotions too. And after I stated I really feel attacked, I’m not speaking about one individual. Typically you are feeling like life is attacking you not directly. Issues will not be taking place the way in which you’re anticipating, and naturally you are inclined to blame others. However like I stated, a part of this album can also be about me taking accountability for my very own errors and the issues that I did improper. So, I suppose being underneath assault might be self sabotage. I might be attacking myself, my very own head, my very own ideas, my very own thoughts. I’m generally my very own worst enemy.”
The tune ‘Lusion’ was one of many earlier tracks launched earlier than the album got here out, and in the mean time, Diaz says it’s her favorite tune on the album.
“Though my favorite modifications once in a while. Each time I write a brand new tune, that turns into my favorite for some time, however then I form of return to when the emotion of the brand new creation fades, and I am going again to my all-time favorite. And I feel that’s been ‘Lusion.’ I like the music. I like the lyrics. I like the completely different elements of the tune. I feel it’s a really entertaining tune as a result of it modifications. The verses are all completely different. I used to be listening to quite a lot of Falling in Reverse after I wrote that tune. It has quite a lot of anger, and it was one of many darker songs on the album,” she stated, including the tune was born out of the frustration the band was feeling after Pirate Radio failed to fulfill their business expectations.
“Once we completed Pirate Radio, it was additionally out there in Spanish as Radio Pirata, I skilled quite a lot of frustration and anger. All of us did, as a result of we thought that the album was going to get so much greater than it did. We thought it was going to get much more help. It was alleged to get much more help than what it truly obtained. And it was form of the tip of our relationship with our earlier workforce, the workforce we had been working with. It felt like the tip of the band for us. That was the primary time I considered quitting. I didn’t suppose I needed to be doing this anymore. So, that tune got here out of these emotions. That’s why I sound so offended. It was a really highly effective and empowering tune to put in writing. And, once more, after I put it on the market, after I’m saying what I’m feeling, it felt so a lot better. Okay, perhaps I gained’t give up now. I simply wanted to speak about it, to get these emotions out within the open.”
‘Buzzkill’ is among the more durable rockin’ tracks on Objects Within the Mirror Are Nearer Than The Seem and commenced life from some distinctive musical concepts that got here from the creatively fertile thoughts of Comas.
“That one was dropped at the desk by Miguel. For some songs, after I provide you with the concept, I really feel extra like I do know the tune already as a result of it’s all in my head. This one took me a minute as a result of Miguel stated, ‘I’ve obtained this concept.’ So, we labored on it. I used to be not tremendous satisfied at first, however then after we actually began to dig into it, I completely beloved the tune. And it turned out to be one of many fan favourites, as a result of it’s so nice dwell,” Diaz defined.
“Once more, it’s a tune about taking accountability for the issues that we’ve completed improper. I type of take the autumn once more. I’m speaking about feeling like I’ve been locked in a cage too lengthy, however it’s my fault; it’s one thing I’m doing improper. Why is it taking so rattling lengthy, like I’m on the scenic route. When is it going to click on? When am I alleged to really feel like I belong? It’s extra about that private expertise of the truth that we’ve been doing this for therefore lengthy, when is it going to click on. And we named the tune ‘Buzzkill’ as a result of at first the rhythm of the tune and the should made us suppose we have been going to be writing about one thing completely different. We thought it was going to be extra a few journey – that it was going to be extra of a chill form of tune. However then my lyrics have been form of extra private and darker – once more. It was about that frustration and what a buzzkill that was for us. We thought it was going to be extra like a celebration tune after which that is what we’re writing? So, we’re our personal buzzkill. We’re self-sabotaging once more. We’re spoiling our personal get together.
“I feel after getting quite a lot of these emotions out by way of the file I’m in a great place now, or at the least I feel so. If you take a look at the actually dangerous moments, they usually have been some time in the past, you notice you’re nonetheless right here and you’re feeling like, ‘oh, I made it.’ I feel what I’ve realized is that some emotions will not be going to go away. I simply want to deal with them and simply notice that it’s all in my head and I simply should preserve transferring. I’m making an attempt to rationalize all these issues that occur every single day. I feel that’s what everyone does on some degree; I feel that’s a really human factor to do.”
What additionally helps preserve the emotional darkness and intrusive, detrimental ideas at bay is the dwell present, having the ability to have the reference to audiences and the discharge of vitality, emotion and existential angst onstage.
“That’s one of the best a part of what we do. It’s one of the best, and the tour for this new album has been wonderful. You recognize, connecting with followers and assembly a few of our followers for the primary time has been wonderful. We’ve an unimaginable on-line group that we’ve constructed through the years, particularly after Pirate Radio, after we have been able to give up and all that, they supported us. Now we’re assembly a few of them for the primary time on the highway, and it’s simply wonderful. It’s meant quite a lot of hours in that goddam minivan, I’ve to let you know, however it’s completely value it,” Diaz stated.
“And that’s what I like about occurring the highway, as a result of you may truly be human and discuss to folks for actual. You may hug folks. You may have actual conversations in individual, which is, as you recognize, getting increasingly bizarre as of late with know-how. So, I like doing that. I like listening to folks’s private experiences. We’re on this world for a really restricted period of time, so if we will get to as many locations as attainable and meet as many individuals as we will – that’s our aim.”
Candy Lizzy Undertaking is working to get reveals alongside the U.S. west coast, notably California, and Diaz stated Canadian reveals are a chance down the highway, as is Europe.
“That’s one other dream we have now, to recover from to Europe. We are going to see, you by no means know, it’s positively one thing we might like to do. And we have now been speaking about Canada for subsequent yr,” she stated.
For extra data on Candy Lizzy Undertaking, their touring plans and new music, go to www.sweetlizzyproject.com.
Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and writer based mostly in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Apart from his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising and marketing specialist and is an avid volunteer in his group. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
