The singer is on tour in support of his latest album.
After finding success over the past five years with her first two albums, “Hard Won” and “Vanity,” folk artist Lizzy No released her latest effort, “Half Seeds,” in early 2024. This has already become her most successful work. date.
“Some albums are like stories, and some albums are like movies. This album is a video game,” No said, adding that these songs are the journey of No's signature character, Miss Freedomland. , described it as a journey from a place of exile, both at home and abroad, to liberation. “This album is meant to be immersive. These songs inhabit not only the singer, but also the person receiving them.”
No is scheduled to perform at Jammin' Java on March 23rd with Eliza Edens as the opening act. The last time she played her Jammin Java was on her birthday, so she has fond memories of this venue.
“We're going to play a lot of songs from the new album,” she said. “This is a concept album about moving from personal loss, heartache, and trauma to collective freedom. The hope is that the set will begin in its presumed location, with people sitting to the music and telling stories. That when we listen to them, they feel included and we walk out of the room arm in arm.”
The goal of every No performance is to have people have a moment of reflection and feel ready to take action in their communities and lives.
“The album begins with a kind of personal and political isolation from which it seems impossible to escape, but as Miss Freedomland raises the bar, whether mentally or physically, , I wanted to surround her with the community,” she said. “I started writing it in 2016 and continued writing until 2020. I started recording it during the first lockdown.”
That meant converting an apartment closet into a makeshift recording studio, where savvy listeners can hear car horns and other outside noises depending on the song.
“Once things started opening up a little bit, we recorded some of the music in Nashville and finished it in New York City, so it's been a patchwork experience, and I think you can hear that on the album,” No said. Ta. “There are several different snapshots of my life, but they all tell one story of hers.”
No studied statistical research at university, but from an early age he felt destined for a career in music, writing songs and poetry.
“I kept trying to find a job that I enjoyed, but no matter what job I got, I kept writing songs all day long and getting distracted,” No said. “When I was in my 20s, I realized that if I didn't want to regret too much, I had to give it a try. I've been full steam ahead ever since.”
Achieving her dream took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, including many waitressing jobs, and making a living performing and recording whenever she could. No recorded her own music for the first time when she was living in Washington D.C. in 2014. She then loves putting her music out there.
“It feels like just yesterday we released our first album,” No said. “What I enjoy about playing live is that I get to be myself, which I don't always have access to. When I'm performing, I can't help but feel uncomfortable with my own physicality.”
She admitted that she is always nervous about being misunderstood when speaking, but that worry goes away when she sings.
“I'm creating an experience for other people, so I'm not worried about whether or not every word I'm saying will resonate with them,” No said. “I can share my spirit with others. That is the true form of communication that I have access to.”
After the Jammin Java gig, No will head to the North East for a series of shows before heading to the UK for a month-long tour.
“I always have fun and I’m really excited to be playing in Northern Virginia again,” she said.