In My Own Words..

"I have always been totally enraptured with music and I love all kinds.  For me there seems to be something about traditional song and music that I can't quite describe, some strange property, some enigmatic attraction, but which always pulls me in and holds me there.  As a child and young adult I always had music around me.  Played the violin, guitar, always sang to myself, but I have felt compelled to sing these songs ever since I first came across this music.  

After many years self imposed 'apprenticeship' in various Irish sessions, folk clubs, people's kitchens, a few workshops and classes here and there I finally recorded two songs; 'Blacksmith' and 'Bonny At Morn' on 'Diversions'; Gerry Diver's debut solo album.  I absolutely loved it!  Eventually my own album, made up of mainly folk songs with a couple original/collaborative pieces, was released to a pleasingly positive reception. 

Gerry and I now have a beautiful, 7 year old daughter and I continue my passion; for singing, and playing, for folk song and more recently in writing original pieces and collaborating with other artists.  I am looking very, very forward to releasing new material soon. 

Btw, I am based where I grew up, here in South West London.

Email me to ask me anything or just say hello."  

 

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Follow my footsteps...

"Lisa has a rare and untamed quality to her voice ...  Tapping deep into the well of tradition, she keeps her feet firmly on the ground of the current singer songwriter/ alt-folk renaissance , creating a uniquely timeless sound.  Raw in emotion and feel.  Beautiful!" - Youth (Producer; Paul McCartney, Killing Joke

                                                                          ***** 

“Lisa Knapp has discovered and embraced the folk tradition with an almost ravenous desire. Her singing and fiddle playing are emotive and full-bloodied and her inventiveness is fresh and genuinue. The album is underpinned with an innate sense of drama'.   A major discovery." - Mojo - Colin Irwin

                                                                           *****

“Lisa Knapp, I believe, has a bright future....  Her talent and good judgement make for a winning
combination - and when she sings, you willingly go with her into another world. Lisa certainly has the heart of the matter in her.“  Shirley Collins


 

BIO

Named by MOJO 'Best Folk Album of the year' (2007) and BBC 2 Folk Award double nominee for Best Track (Blacksmith - Youth Mix) and Horizon Award - London based artist Lisa Knapp's debut album 'Wild & Undaunted' (produced; Gerry Diver) was released to much acclaim.

Inspired for many years by traditional ballads, songs and music of Britain and Ireland, 'Wild & Undaunted' remains a refreshing and unique collection of traditional songs.   From the archetypal folk song 'Blacksmith', seamlessly sung and given contemporary treatment with Diver's dramatic and poignant arrangement, to the distinctive, stark vocal and plucked fiddle on 'Beggar Beggar', a Scottish ballad of disquieting and subtle mystery.  However, flecked with the rekindling of Lisa's promising foray's into original writing including the invigorating 'There u r', a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist, long time creative partner and producer Gerry Diver; also 'Little Bird', a folk tinged, intimate song with banjo and accordian accompaniment; Wild & Undaunted asserts a wide ranging artistic vocabulary, deeply inspired by traditional song, un-afraid to stretch the imagination and re-invent, always keeping a beady eye on bringing out the beauty within the material; revealing a unique talent both within the folk scene and beyond.  Performances at many major UK festivals including Green Man and Cambridge Folk Festival main stage in 2008.  Touring the UK subsequently followed as did radio appearances and sessions on all main BBC stations with regular plays on Late Junction (Radio 3), Mike Harding show (Radio 2) and BBC 6 music.

Lisa participated in BBC Electric Proms 2008 for the 'Tribute to Lal Waterson' concert where she sang with legendary singer Mike Waterson, and alongside the Waterson/Carthy family and James Yorkston.  Lisa has also played numerous times at London's South Bank Centre; with the likes of Folk Supergroup Bellowhead (Christmas 2007);  A Tribute to Sandy Denny in the Royal Festival Hall where she sang with fiddle legend Dave Swarbrick;  'Close of Play', a weekend of both traditional music and new music inspired by it, curated by long time heroine of Lisa's, Shirley Collins, which culminated in a Royal Festival Hall appearance where she performed two songs with Gerry Diver and also sang with Linda Thompson and Shirley Collins.  Lisa took part in the last 'Daughters of Albion' production singing alongside Lou Rhodes, Kathryn Williams, national treasure Norma Waterson and Bishi.  A highlight was the version of 'Scarborough Fair' with legendary Martin Carthy and Lou Rhodes.

In May 2009 as part of 'Tune Up' tour of Scotland Lisa played with the talented singer/songwriter James Yorkston and the Atheletes (Sarah Scutt, Reuben Taylor and Doogie Paul), with whom she also played for the duration.  

In September 2009 Lisa was commissioned by Sound UK to take part in an intriguing project called Canal Music.  This was in collaboration with Electronics artist Leafcutter John and included a series of perfomances along the Grand Union Canal starting in London and finishing in Birmingham.  The material for this was entirely written by both Lisa and John and was performed mostly on canal boat 'Chiswick'.  

In Autumn 2009 Lisa took part in her first televised recording for BBC 4's Alternative Christmas Session programme aired in Dec 2009.

Lisa is continuing to write and scource new material and has also enjoyed collaborating with other artists.  She is looking forward to releasing new material and an eagerley awaited second album in 2010/11.