Lisa Lambe’s first album was recorded in Nashville. Her second album is to be released in January 2020 and this time round the recording venue that trumped Music City USA was none other than Donegal.

“I went up to the wilds of Donegal,” laughs Lisa. “Just to keep it in Ireland, because I guess the album was written here and it is lyrically very much about the landscape of the West of Ireland. I wanted to immerse myself in it as much as possible throughout the whole project.

It is lovely to get a chance to have a long walk and work on other projects, find a bit of balance to the busyness

Born, bred and based in Dublin, Lisa enjoys escaping from the capital’s hustle and bustle to the west. “I always try and get out of the city when I can, when I have time off. I just head for the west, head for the Atlantic Sea. To quieten the mind and find some time. It is lovely to get a chance to have a long walk and work on other projects, find a bit of balance to the busyness.”

Describing her music as folk that lends itself well to the 70s and Stevie Nicks era, Lisa first started out singing with Celtic Woman, whom she toured with for three and a half years, finishing up in 2014. It was this experience that first introduced her to American audiences, hence why Donegal missed out on the first album.

Two loves

However, Lisa is by no means just a singer, in equal parts she is also an actress. Having completed a Bachelor of acting studies in Trinity College, Lisa’s first foray out of university was on the stage, but now she says she can’t choose between her two loves.

“Singing and acting are certainly very married for me. There are periods of time when I might be doing one more than the other, but really I feel whole and balanced when I can do both. I see them not as separate things, I see them as very similar,” Lisa explains.

“Of course in a way they are different, but it is essentially telling stories, even through song you are telling a story. If I don’t do one, I really miss it. I always strive to try and keep part of both in my life. At the moment it is great, because I am in the Abbey for the summer and I am still working a lot on my own music as well.”

This summer Lisa is one of 15 women making up the cast of Unmanageable Sisters, a play running in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, until 3 August. This is the second summer it has run in the Abbey.

Storytelling-wise, it is incredibly funny and incredibly dark at the same time. It has all the colours of great drama

Underneath the comedy of the piece, Lisa says there are important political and social messages.

“Storytelling-wise, it is incredibly funny and incredibly dark at the same time. It has all the colours of great drama. It is a really important story I think, it is depicting a very strong potent image of Ireland in the early 70s and what it was like for women at the time. It is political in its own way.”

“Also, 15 women on the stage, I think it is amazing. I think 15 women on stage is very unusual. It is certainly a real highlight.”

Billie Barry

When Lisa speaks about singing and acting she is full of exuberance and passion. A quick glance at her background and it is clear why. She has been on the stage her whole life. Attending the famous Billie Barry Stage School, Lisa started at no less than three-years-old.

“My childhood was very much about going to theatre school, doing lots of acting. So I knew it was something I loved and was very exhilarated by. Once I was in secondary school I looked into pursuing it as a career after my Leaving Cert.

I now look back on my childhood and it was a really privileged childhood to get to do all the things I did

“From a young age it was instilled in me in a very easy way. I think my mum, if I had different hobbies that I liked, she would have encouraged me to follow those as well. I just happened to take to the stage so well.

“I now look back on my childhood and it was a really privileged childhood to get to do all the things I did. It certainly has instilled in me the craft and love of the theatre from a very young age. Even the smell of the theatre, it just takes me back to being a kid.”

With both singing and acting in her repertoire, Lisa can turn her hand to a vast array of roles. But after all, she is most definitely a born entertainer.

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Lisa Lambe: 'Music is hugely important to me'

Only a woman