Award-winning singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer/arranger Lisa Brigantino is an engaging performer whose eclectic approach to songwriting spans groove, genre and topic. Brigantino’s latest album I’ll Waltz Before I Go released continues Brigantino’s tradition of producing albums containing her eclectic original songs which span a wide range of genres including Folk, Roots, Americana, Old-Time, Country, Pop, and Rock.

I’ll Waltz Before I Go was co-produced and arranged by Brigantino and husband Thomas Millioto, and was recorded and mixed by Millioto. The album contains 13 tracks. Twelve tracks are written by Brigantino, and two of these songs are co-written. There is also one cover song on the album. The album contains guest performances by Thomas Millioto, Lori Brigantino, Susan Haefner, and Gus Morgan – Brigantino’s former Lez Zeppelin bandmate. With a majority of the instruments played by Brigantino, the arrangements show her versatility as an artist; ranging from mellow vocals and finger picked acoustic guitar, to full band arrangements with Brigantino deftly handling guitars, bass, keyboards, accordion, mandolin, and more.   ‘Round Magazine says “It’s hard to find an album with more variety than I’ll Waltz Before I Go…Brigantino’s voice itself is something truly special. It combines the brightness and clarity of a precocious twenty-something, with all the range and control of a woman with decades of practice under her belt….Nearly every track is a standout…This is a stunner of an album.” The Daily Country says “Throughout the thirteen tracks, Lisa seamlessly blends genres from Folk to Americana, Country, Rock, and Old-Time, even incorporating some Gypsy-Jazz for good measure.”

Lisa performs regularly at venues ranging from intimate house concerts and coffeehouses to clubs and large theaters. She has been selected to appear at a number of music festivals and conferences including The New Jersey Folk Festival (Singer/Songwriter Showcase Winner), The Ladybug Music Festival, The Florida Music Festival, Maplewoodstock, The Rockland-Bergen Music Festival, The Pleasantville Music Festival, The Black Potatoe Festival, Wellfleet Porchfest, Folk Alliance International, Singer Songwriter Cape May.

Lisa often performs her original music with her sister Lori Brigantino, also a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. In addition, the two sisters also perform in “The Vickie & Nickie Show” a wacky, self-contained theatrical musical/comedy act.

In addition to being a performing songwriter and musician, Lisa is a trained composer with a Master of Music in music composition and music theory from SUNY Fredonia, and she composes music for television, film, theatre, dance and new media.  She also writes solo vocal and choral ensemble music as well as a variety of instrumental music and provides music supervision services via her company Hidden Pond Productions, Inc.  Brigantino recently released a single entitle “I Can’t Stay Anymore” written for the short film “Dolhouse” which she also music supervised.

Lisa is a former original member of Lez Zeppelin, the world’s first all girl, all Led Zeppelin tribute band and toured internationally with the band for a number of years playing bass, bass pedals, keys, mandolin and doing backup vocals. The band played A list venues and festivals around the world including Bonnaroo (US), Download (UK), Rock am Ring/Rock am Park (Germany). The band’s self-titled debut CD was released in 2007, recorded and produced by the legendary Eddie Kramer. Lisa co-wrote two of the original songs on the album. Lisa left the band in 2009 to focus on her own original music.

Lisa Brigantino is proud to be a Kurzweil Endorsed Artist. She is a member of SESAC, The Songwriters Guild of America, The International Singer Songwriters Association, Inc., New York Women in Film and Television, a voting member of NARAS (Grammys) and serves on the Advisory Board of Women In Music, Inc.

I think in addition to being passionate, tenacious and not giving up, you need to surround yourself with people that love and support you and are not dream-killers. If you do get discouraged, you just need to focus more on the things that can propel you forward. You need to practice and study and be the best musician/writer that you can be. You will always have more to learn – not only about the craft of music but about the business, itself. The more you can educate yourself about how the business of music works, the better off you’ll be and the less chance you’ll have of someone taking advantage of you. You also need to network like crazy and be confident about who you are and how you present yourself. Also, keep your ego in check. No one likes working with a diva. You may get that first job, but if you’re difficult, you’ll never be asked back and word spreads quickly in the industry about how easy or hard it is to work with someone. Show up on time, know your parts for group rehearsals. It sounds so simple, but be kind and say “please” and “thank you”. Remember, kindness is not a sign of weakness. Most of the music opportunities and jobs that I’ve gotten through the years have come through referrals because people know my abilities, that I have a good sense of humor, I’m easy to work with and I’m a professional. That goes a very long way.

Your personal experience / relationship with songwriting

I’ve been writing music since I’m about 13 years old.  I continued through high school and received a BA in music theory and Master of Music in music theory and music composition from SUNY Fredonia.  I moved to NYC after getting my Master degree to pursue writing and performing.  Writing music is something that I can’t not do.

In addition, I’ve worked for years in the business side of the industry doing music licensing, music supervision and rights clearance.  That has really informed the business side of things as they relate to songwriting and has also allowed me to get placements of my own music in moving media.

Your process

My writing process changes depending on what I’m working on.  If I’m songwriting for myself, sometimes I start with a musical idea, sometimes a lyric idea.  It changes.  I can use the guitar or piano to sound out what I’m working on, but I often write with just some staff paper handy.   I even have a small notebook of staff paper that fits in my bag that I always carry with me.  If I’m on the subway and I want to work on something, I’ve got my tools with me.

If I’m writing for a client, the process is different.  There I’m given all kinds of parameters I need to work with including composing to/for what the visual will be, what the length of the piece will be in minutes and seconds, what genre of music the client is interested in, tempo of the piece, etc.  There are those wonderful moments when songs seem to write themselves, but for the most part, I consider composing and songwriting a craft.  If I’m being hired to write something, I have to be able to write music when I need to.  If I have a client that needs a :60 TV commercial in 5 days, I can’t sit around, starry-eyed waiting for the lightning bolt of inspiration to hit. I have to be able to write something right away and turn around a finished, polished product.

Your style / genre of music and preferences

I songwrite in a variety of genres – including Rock, Folk, Pop, Country, Old-Time, etc.  I think it comes from me being a multi-instrumentalist and really being in love with so many different musical genres.  They can’t help but show up in my original music.

Aspects of music that excite you most (performances, collaborations, etc)

I do love that feeling when a song is being birthed – creating something that didn’t exist before, and also fleshing that out in the studio.  But I also love performing for live audiences and sharing music in real time.