Lisa Larue

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Influenced by the likes of ELP, Yes, Genesis, Gong and Kansas, keyboardist Lisa LaRue has been playing progressive music for many years. After collaborating with Gilli Smith of Gong on a release called Dreamscapes she embarked on a solo attempt of signing up to a record label. This she successfully did with SOAR (Sound Of America Records). Her debut release is called Beloved Tribal Women.
I got in touch with Lisa and here is her story.
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Your biography has been covered in your 
ProgArchives profile so let's bypass the biography details. But what made you take up music ?
I didn't have much choice, it took ME up!!  I 
started playing by ear as a very small child and was entranced by the 
orchestration on the "Camelot" soundtrack, and was determined to make something 
that beautiful.  I would use a little tape recorder and a children's organ and 
try to write different parts that would go together - my first attempts at 
orchestration.  I would play at church, at shopping malls, and as a young girl 
was heavily influenced by the band Kansas who were from my hometown.  Then I was 
introduced to Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and well .........
You are from a Cherokee Indians heritage. How much 
and in which way has your heritage influenced your music and outlook on life ? 

I am a tribal member of a federally-recognized 
tribe, and it has influenced my music mainly in my philosophy of how our band 
should work together as a whole, and respecting each person and their ideas.  As 
far as my outlook in life, I appreciate everything I have been blessed with, 
even though there have been trials and tribulations.  I constantly thank the 
Creator for each blessing I have received, and am conscious everyday of those 
blessings.
You worked with Gilli Smith of Gong on a release 
called Dreamscapes before you embarked on your solo career. How was it to work 
with Gilli Smith ?
Gilli is a wonderful lady!  She is kind, 
intuitive and very creative.  I had written a very ambient piece called "Just 
Waiting" along with a poem which she narrated very emotionally one evening at my 
home studio while sitting on the floor while playing with my toddler son.  We 
spent time together back in those days which are great memories.  She was very 
encouraging, and I am honored to have had worked with such a legend in prog and 
made a memorable friendship.
Let's go to your solo albums. Please give us your 
views/some words on your albums, starting with.......

Beloved Tribal Women from 1994

This album was my first; I was signed to the 
Natural Visions division of Sound of America Records, a Native American record 
label.  The album is solo keyboards with the addition of percussion by Greg 
Ellis (Rocket Scientists) and was co-produced by Will Alexander.  It is very 
organic, in that there was little technical assistance in the composition, etc.  
Each song was in honor of a Native woman from history, and accompanied by a 
painting (in the booklet) by internationally-known Creek artist Joan 
Hill.

That Ol' Sofkee Spoon from 2002

This was an album done by myself and Creek Indian 
flute and guitar player John "Yafke" Timothy.  Most songs were written in the 
studio together, some recorded as they were written.  It features Native 
American flute very heavily with my keyboards.  I loved doing this album, and 
one of the tracks, "256 Leagues Above New Orleans," was nominated for 
instrumental song of the year by the Hollywood Music Awards.

Transformation 2012 from 2009

Again, mainly solo, this album was my entry into 
progressive rock, the genre I have always loved.  I was joined on a few songs by 
other musicians, such as Tommy Zvoncheck (former Blue Oyster Cult) and local 
bassist Marc Nelson.  John Payne (Asia ft John Payne) sang vocals on the track 
"Save Me."  The album was a 'concept,' and explains how even though some people 
feel December 21, 2012 (the end of the Mayan calendar) will be the end of the 
world, the real teaching of the natives is that it will be a time of 
'transformation.'  And who doesn't agree, the world needs that??

Project 2K9: World Class from 2009

I decided to bring together musicians from around 
the world, where we would all add our own parts to the tracks without any 
musical direction and see what we come up with.  What we came up with was 
phenomenal, in my opinion.  I was joined by musicians such as John Payne, Jo 
DeBoeck (Beyond the Labyrinth), Steve Adams and Merrill Hale (ARZ), Svetlan 
Raket (Par Lindh Project) and many more with what turned out to be a wonderful 
showing of prog that I still enjoy listening to today.  We received lots of 
great reviews, and it turned into a stepping stone for my permanent band, which 
is called Lisa LaRue 2KX.

Fast And Blue from 2011

For those of us unknown with your music; how would 
you describe you music and which bands would you compare yourself with ? 

As described in the above recaps of my albums, 
alot of my earlier music was very ambient - and at the time cataloged as New Age 
- but through time I have made the transition to following my heart and lean 
more to the genre I love, which is progressive.  And, in the true spirit of 
progressive, it is ever changing and combining elements of many genres to make 
the whole.  Influences such as Native American, jazz, orchestral, classical, 
even Middle Eastern.  It's all there to produce the final product in whatever 
manner expresses the theme or thought behind the song.  Many reviews and 
comments have compared alot of my solo pieces on piano and all keyboard to be 
reminiscent of Rick Wakeman, and as a whole, our band has been mentioned to have 
elements of Pink Floyd, Asia, Yes, and many others.  Our guitarist, Steve Adams, 
has been likened to Steve Hackett and Steve Howe, but the true element is what 
we sound like as 'ourselves.'  The 'Asia' comments, of course, come from the 
more commercially oriented songs we have done which have John Payne on vocals, 
so the comparison is very authentic in that way.  I invite readers to listen to 
Lisa LaRue 2KX and form their own opinions!  We love to hear what the fans 
think!

What inspires you to write new music ?

Anything.  But mostly, from an interest in a 
particular subject, and how it inspires my mind to paint an audio picture.  I 
acknowledge that I have been very blessed throughout my life by the Universe 
through some very synchronistic events, and the awe and marvel of these 
happenings usually react through my creativity in the form of music.  Sometimes, 
though, it can be something as simple as striking a chord on a new patch and 
taking off from there.

You are also kept pretty busy in other projects. 
What is your main projects and cooperations besides of your own solo career ? 

I am a writer; I have written several books on 
history (mainly Cherokee oriented), I am a graphic designer and photographer, 
and I love to cook and work on making our home comfortable.  My significant 
other is a musician as well (John Baker of progressive band Mars Hollow), and 
together we have a beautiful family of cats that we enjoy, and we also cherish 
taking walks and enjoying simple free time, as well.

You have a pretty large following among other 
musicians and the rest of the music fraternity. Does this mean you can live of 
music now or do you have another job to get food on the table ? 

I think times have changed and it's very hard for 
any musician to live completely off music.  However, I am self employed and work 
on music as often as I can.  I have been fortunate to have been asked lately to 
do some great collaborations with other bands, for example, progressive metal 
band Quester.

What have you been up to since the release of this 
album and what is your current status ? What is your future plans ?

We have been promoting Fast and Blue quite abit, 
and Lisa LaRue 2KX has been nominated as Instrumental Artist of the Year at the 
21st Annual LA Music Awards!  We are also talking about ideas for the next 
album, expected in 2012, and I am also talking with Ryo Okumoto about a 
keyboard-duet album, and Don Schiff and I are planning a keyboard/Stick 
album.

To wrap up this interview, is there anything you 
want to add to this interview ? 

I am proud to be a part of the progressive rock 
resurgence, and always happy to talk to fans and publications, such as this 
interview.  I want to thank you for this opportunity, and invite readers to come 
check out our ever-changing music.  And, as always, thank the Creator for the 
blessing of music, good friends, wonderful fans, and the chance to share our 
gifts with the world.

Thank you to Lisa for this interview

Her PA profile is here and her homepage is here