Lior - Capturing the honesty

Lior is a craftsman.He takes words and a guitar and crafts them into amazingly complex but intensly raw and simple songs. In a time where some songs are produced and computerised within an inch of themselves, Lior manages to retain the essence of his instruments, and what power those tools carry. His intricately woven lyrics and music wrap around your heart, with his silken voice singing with such honesty and thought. Even still, you can't help but marvel in how far he has come.

Last year, 2005, was Lior's year. He may not have intended for it to be that way, but like a stone thrown in a pond, the ripple spread.

The list of accolades is impressive – he was the first nomination for national radio station, Triple J's, J Awards; the most successful independent release of the year; one of the few Australian Independent debut artists to have a Gold Album; was nominated for 3 ARIA's; and his song This Old Love, voted onto Triple J's Hottest 100 and was part of Ministery of Sound's Chillout Session release. Ask Lior about how 2005 was for him and you find he was equally in awe of his success but like the true professional he is, managed not to get swept up by the hype.

“It was a surreal year. At the end of the year I could have been sitting here giving myself pats on the back but now I am moving on and looking towards the future,” Lior says.

“I feel the music succeeded because I managed to capture something.”

Capture he did. Fans of Lior's music proceeded to use his beautiful songs to mark some of the most important moments of their lives, with 'This Old Love' becoming a modern day favourite for many a couple's walk down the aisle. Question Lior on his intentions for this track and you can see that he too is surprised by people's reactions to it.

“'This Old Love', took me by surprise. I wrote it as a little ditty and I didn't point radio stations and people to this song. I felt that it may have been oversentimental. But people reacted - people were writing to me about using it as their wedding song,” he says.

You can hear in his voice that he is sincerely touched that his music is the soundtrack to people's “special moment”.

“It's the greatest reward, music that marks a moment in someone's life, there is no greater feeling for a musician.”

Lior speaks highly about the National radio station, Triple J, that has played a part in launching his career.

“To have the succcess with Triple J, such a response on the ground level is great. They (Triple J) say here is a new artist, feature my album and the response was great...they followed through.”

Ask Lior about what inspires his lyrics in an attempt to obtain some deep and meaningful response, and again he answers with simple honesty.

“My lyrics are inspired by people, and relationships, they can be traced back to the person. I often find it difficult to go with a lyric unless I love it – you need to be honest in your lyrics as you will be singing the songs many times,” he says.

Lior will have a platform to discuss his songwriting craft at at the APRA Songwriters Speak sessions at The Great Escape in Sydney over the Easter long weekend. He discusses the event with a casual excitement.

“I haven't done too many of these types of discussions. This will be my first official, previously they have been informal. I just go with the flow and I'm looking forward to it, I'm pretty comfortable with talking about my songs, its fun, there's no right or wrong answers.”

Quiz Lior on what can be expected at his upcoming gigs with the talented David Gray, a musician who's music has a great affinity with Lior's sound, and at Sydney's The Great Escape and his answer is straight to the point.

“A live performance, a dynamic live repition of Autumn Flow, new songs, old songs...and playing with the band”, he said.

For him the crowds are about to increase pretty dramatically, but Lior seems to be taking it all in his stride.

“I have been playing at theatres with a 1000 plus capacity and now I am opening in stadiums with a capicity of nine to ten thousand.”

He doesn't seem to be fazed by his ever increasing audience but admits he does get nervous when he doesn't play for a while. With Lior's touring schedule for 2006, playing at The Great Escape, touring with David Gray and travelling around Australia with his Doorways of My Mind Tour supported by Triple J, I don't think he will have time to get nervous.

With the release of his live Doorways of My Mind album, writing and recording his new album (with a tentative release date of early 2007) and discussions about Europe and possible tours there, this year, like the last, looks like the sky is the limit for Lior.

On a personal note, 2006 has heralded the arrival of Lior and his wife Melanie's new son, a new brother for their two year old daugther, Lucca.

Lior is such a humble and genuine artist, its hard to imagine what the future will hold for this talented musician who brings the art of “letting things just be” flow into such a brilliant and promising career.

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