Alisha Liston – Beautiful Illusion

By starrymag | December 7, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I know people have said that for them I am a combination of Rachel Platten, Avril Lavigne and Ashley Tisdale.  While I like to create music varying in both tempo and style, I think what really defines me as an artist and my sound are my lyrics and ethereal vocal performance.  I use a ton of symbolism in my lyrics.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences? 

 

A) Recently, I’ve really been inspired by songwriters like Sophie Pecora, Nightbirde and Cavetown.  I love the complexity of their songs and the lyrics.  However, when I was younger, I would listen to Grace Vanderwaal, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons and Alan Walker quite a bit. I think their styles have influenced me as well.  And, of course, Kelly Clarkson is one of my musical influences too.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Whose Definition.” 

 

A) Great question!  While many of my songs were inspired by a specific story or event, some came together through a combination of things.  “Whose Definition” is one of those perfect storms of a lot things combined into one.  It started last year when I had lost both my grandmother and great grandmother within a short period of time.  It was really chaotic, especially with COVID.  Needless to say, I wasn’t in a good place.  While people meant well, I felt an enormous amount of pressure to put on this outward appearance of being happy and positive.  But I wasn’t.  I was grieving.  And what I really needed was for someone to let me know that it was okay to grieve to help me get through the process.  To cope, I started starving myself.  I don’t know why. I think it just felt like something I could control at a time when I felt life was out of control.  At that same time, I became acutely aware of toxic positivity and the impact it was having on people like me that we’re going through a rough time.  That awareness opened my eyes to all sorts of other ways people are feeling pressured to be “this” or “that.”  I started writing “Whose Definition” to help me persevere through my own recovery.  Over time I kept slowing adding to it and wanted it to be an empowering song for anyone whose feeling pressured by unrealistic social and beauty standards.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I think there are a couple of things.  First, when you get past the first verse, “Whose Definition” is a really fun, upbeat song that you just want to get up and move to.  I also think everyone at some level can relate to the feeling like they don’t fit in or belong.   So, I think it’s this combination of fun, upbeat and relatable lyrics that fans really connect to.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) I really wanted the music video for “Whose Definition” to support the message of the song.  To do that, I wanted my audience to be able to visualize the feeling of not fitting in or being accepted; but, more importantly, I wanted it to be a celebration of people and diversity.

To do this I reached out to a few of my friends.  We started with Izzie Flórez, the girl in the hat, who desperately wants to be friends with the trend setters, Abigail Zoe Lewis and Victoria Rose Mueller.  They, of course, want nothing to do with her because … well, pick a reason.

Then I come in as if to say, “Let me take you to a place where you can just be you and loved for who you are,” then we pop into the beauty salon which is just this safe place, free of judgment and tons of fun.

There are tons of symbolism throughout the video including the color rooms, the beauty salon, which was actually a barber shop, the bouquet of flowers, the yellow roses and the list Izzie was carrying.  Along those lines, it was really important to me to encourage the cast, especially those in the Beauty Salon scene to bring with them, their own unique sense of style.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) My song writing process can start anywhere.  Sometimes I will just be playing around with chords, or I will be thinking about something, and I will put some lyrics together.  Eventually, when I decide to develop an idea into a song, I will write down what I know about it and I will start asking myself questions such as: “What do I want to say?  How do I want my listeners to feel when they hear it?”  For example, with “Whose Definition,” I really wanted my listeners to feel empowered.  From there, I will start developing it out with either my guitar or piano.  I will put together the first few drafts of the lyrics, chords and melody.  Then, I will get together with my producers Idrise Ward-EL and Adrian Lopez.  I will share my ideas, and we will brainstorm together on how to build it out.  Adrian is a master when it comes to the instrumental, and Idrise is a master at melodies and vocals.  It’s a great team.  I love the way we all work together.

 

Q) What are some themes you explore on your new EP Beautiful Illusion?

 

A) Beautiful Illusion is a collection of songs about perseverance, growth and healing.  Themes explored include:

* Healing is a process, and it takes time (“Hourglass”)

* It’s okay to feel hurt (“Yellow Rose”)

* Letting go of things that are toxic such as an unhealthy relationship or emotional state (“Paint on A Cloud”)

* Emotional extremes (“Distorted Reality”)

* Unrealistic ideals (“Whose Definition”)

* Realization that difficult times are also times of transformation.  They help make us stronger and give us the opportunity to become an inspiration for others.  (“Beautiful Soldier”)

* Fun, feel-good song (“Static Record”)

 

Q) What tracks on the EP challenged the most creatively and how?

A) Ooh!  I love this question.  I’d have to say two songs:  “Paint On a Cloud” and “Distorted Reality.”

“Paint On a Cloud” was the first song I started writing and it was the last song recorded.  Early on, I came up with the chorus for “Paint On A Cloud” and I just loved it.  The challenge was figuring out which one of the many ideas I had I should go with.  I must have re-written that song twenty times before I finally settled on using a story I created about a little girl who lives underground.

“Distorted Reality” was challenging because half way through the creation process, we (my song writing team – Idrise Ward-El and Adrian Lopez) shifted gears.  Usually, I will create the initial chords, lyrics and melody, which will drive the creative process.  But with “Distorted Reality,” Idrise had this amazing idea of building this track a mix of emotion, so that the song literally feels like you’re going through a distorted reality.  To do that it uses dark instruments like deep cellos with a happy melody to create this weird vibe.  It was a lot of fun to create, but challenging because of all the varying dynamics driving the process.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new EP as a whole?

 

A) I really hope listeners will hear my music a feel in some way comforted.  I want them to know that they are not alone and it’s okay to hurt, to grieve and to take time to heal.  I want them to know that those feelings won’t last forever, and they can persevere.  I want them to feel strengthened and empowered.  I want them to know there is hope.  I want them to understand that there is no shame in hurting, and that our stories and hardships make us who we are today – and, whose knows, it may be what makes us someone else’s inspiration.

 

Q) Are there any upcoming plans for a tour to help promote it?

 

A) Not currently.  I don’t know how other artists are feeling right now, but about the time we were getting close to the release of Beautiful Illusion several tours were being postponed or cancelled.  In fact, I wasn’t sure if the Orange County Fair, where I was scheduled to perform in August, was going to remain open for the duration.  Fortunately, it worked out; but the uncertainty of whether or not events would continue to remain open made us nervous about touring.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) I think my favorite place to perform is the Orange County Fairgrounds, and I think it’s because I grew up with it.  When I was little my mom would take me to the fair and it just became this special place for me.  In addition to the fair, I really like performing at venues where I can go into the crowd.  It’s not unusual to see me jump off the stage and start singing up and down the aisles.  I love doing that, and I love venues where I can do that.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) That’s another really good question.  I love my team.  I love working with Idrise Ward-EL and Adrian Lopez.  They are insanely talented and just incredibly supportive people.  They are the ones I would most like to continue collaborating with in the future.  I also think it would be really cool to collaborate with another teen artist.  I think at the top of my list, I would love to collaborate with Sophie Pecora.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

 

A) Lately, I’ve been listening to Cavetown quite a bit.  I really connect to Robin Skinner’s lyrics and I think all of his songs are so well written.

 

Q)You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Yes, I am currently on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter with my main platforms being YouTube and Instagram.

I think social media is an important way to connect with fans because it helps them to get to know you outside of the music itself.  For example, social media gives you a way to show your fans what happens behind the scenes, inspiration for songs, other things you are doing and insight into new releases, upcoming events, etc.  Social media also give you a way to reach and engage with people from all over the world.  It’s really amazing when you think about it.

 

Q)What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Thank you!!!  I really can’t thank you guys enough.  I remember when I started this journey way back when.  It was this passion I had.  And just all the love and support and belief in me and what I was doing was incredible.  Thank you.  And, I guess, the other thing I want to say is – if you have something that you are meant to do – go for it.  It may not always be easy, but it will be worth it.