On February 20, 2012, Suite101 chats with Long Island native and rising country star, the ever-talented and stunning, Lisa Matassa. With looks reminiscent to those of country songstresses Jamie O’Neal and Heidi Newfield and a powerhouse voice like Jo Dee Messina’s, Lisa opens up about her new single “Me Time,” upcoming album Sunrise Highway, and talks about balancing motherhood with music.
Lisa Talks About Plainview, New York
“I was born in New York, but I was really raised in South Florida, and that’s where the country influences came in. I didn’t return to New York until I was a sophomore in high school. I moved back to Plainview in 1994, so I’ve bounced all over Long Island,” she says with a laugh.
Lisa Talks “Me Time”
Lisa Matassa’s latest radio single “Me Time,” has already charted on the Billboard Indicator Chart, and several weeks ago its music video secured the top spot on CMT.com. “It’s amazing. I’m so blessed and fortunate that people are responding to the song! People would be surprised to know that there are more country music fans in Long Island than one may think,” she shares.
“It is actually the first single that we released. It interprets my life in three minutes. A lot of mothers in general can relate to it,” she says. “The video was picked up by CMT and GAC a few weeks ago, and it’s been getting a great deal of video airplay, and it’s doing really well.”
Lisa Talks “Sunrise Highway”
Her debut record entitled Sunrise Highway is expected to be out this spring, via her label, Nine North Records. For this project, she collaborated with two-time Grammy nominated producer Bobby Guy Graziose, as well as Joey Sykes and Tony Bruno, and legendary songwriter Don Rollins, who co-penned the Alan Jackson hit “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere.”
Lisa reveals that her album title is inspired by “Sunrise Highway,” and New York State Route 27. “It is also a metaphor for the dream at the end of that road, and knowing that I have that vision in my mind of what I wanted to be, and how to fulfill the dream of a recording career,” she adds.
Lisa Talks About Performing at “Vets Rock”
On September 18, 2011, Lisa performed at the “Vets Rock Festival” at the Brookhaven Amphitheater, situated in Farmingville, Long Island.
“That was so incredible! Opening up and playing with Eric Church, J.T. Hodges, The JaneDear Girls and Thompson Square were great. They are very talented musicians, and it was a special moment for me, both for my family and friends who came out to watch me. The support I have from Long Island overwhelms me,” she admits.
Lisa Talks Balancing Motherhood and Music
In addition to her singing duties, Lisa is a wife and mother of two teenagers. “I have an incredible support system from my husband and my parents. I have a great family, who pick up all the loose ends when I have to go out on the road. It’s really important that I touch base with my children, and we talk all the time when I am touring,” she acknowledges.
In her spare time, she volunteers in an animal shelter in Long Island, and notes that if she weren’t a singer, she would be working with animals in some capacity.
Lisa Opens Up About Dance Music
Prior to becoming a country singer, Lisa had modest success in the dance music scene in the late 1980s. At 19, she had signed a contract with Emergency Records and released two singles “I’ve Got the Hots For You,” as well as “Rock Me Baby,” both of which became Top 10 hits in the Dance Charts.
“It was a lot of fun getting my feet wet, and performing live in front of thousands of people, and it was a wonderful experience until the record label ran out of money, and then it was back to square one. That’s when I got married and had a family,” she states.
Lisa Addresses her Fans
“I appreciate all of my fans, and I thank them for their support. I feel so blessed! I wish that everyone takes care of each other,” she concludes.
For more updates on Lisa and her music, visit her official website, and follow her on Twitter.
Markos Papadatos - Markos Papadatos holds over six years journalism experience, authoring over 700 articles, many of which are feature profile interviews.
Join the Conversation