Review Fix Exclusive: Michelle Lewis Talks ‘All That’s Left’ And More

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Michelle Lewis, who gives us all the details on her goals, creative process and new album, All That’s Left.

Pre-Order the album here.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

Michelle Lewis: I started playing piano at age 8, and moved to guitar around 14. I sang in the chorus at school and the choir at church. When I was 16 or 17 I realized music was all I wanted to do after high school, so I went to Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating I started touring and making my first record. I’ve been singing and songwriting ever since.

Review Fix: What artists have influenced you the most?

Lewis: Some of my favorite artists are Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, and Patty Griffin. When I was younger I’d listen to my dad’s record collection of James Taylor, Bob Dylan, and Jim Croce. When I was a teenager I couldn’t get enough of female singer/songwriters like Tori Amos, Jewel, Ani DiFranco, or Fiona Apple. I think all of these artists have influenced me at different times of my life.

Review Fix: Was music always your first choice in career?

Lewis: Yup. I never really considered doing anything else.  

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Lewis: I tend to start by finding a chord progression or finger pattern I like on the guitar. A melody usually forms pretty easily, and I’ll start experimenting with different vowel sounds and usually a single lyric will form that I end up basing the whole song around. From there the rest of the lyrics can either happen very quickly or sometimes take months for me to finish. Lyrically I usually write about something that’s troubling me or on my mind. I don’t typically set out to write about a certain topic, I let my emotions guide me.

Review Fix: Why is this a special time in your career?

Lewis: Releasing a new album is always really exciting. I’ve been working on these songs for a while now and it’s great to finally be able to share them. 

Review Fix: What have been the biggest lessons you’ve learned? 

Lewis: You don’t get what you don’t ask for. And trust your gut, it’s never wrong.

Review Fix: What’s your five-year plan?

Lewis: I find making a five-year plan in an industry that is constantly changing isn’t all that helpful. But in the next year I plan on touring the new album in the US, UK, and Europe. I plan to do more cowrites with friends in LA and Nashville. I’d also like to do more collaborations in the studio. 

Review Fix: How does this project help get you there?

Lewis: I think putting out new music is a good way to reconnect with fans or peers. It always seems to open up doors to new venues, cities, writing sessions, and collaborators. 

Review Fix: Bottom line, why must someone listen to All That’s Left?

Lewis: I try to make music that is honest and relatable. I think sometimes that catches people off guard and they end up really connecting to a song in a way they never expected. 

Review Fix: What’s next?

Lewis: I just got back from a month-long CD release tour in the UK and Europe, so time for a few Mai Tais on the beach in Hawaii. I’ll be back on the road late October and November for CD release shows in the US.

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