LIZZIE SIDER, ARTIST OF THE MONTH, FEBRUARY, 2014 : THE INTERVIEW

LIZZIE SIDER : THE INTERVIEW

Trinity Lost: In your most popular song, Butterfly, you lyricize, "In shades of gray, I'd spend my days invisible because they'd always put me down, yeah I let them keep me down". What would you say was the turning point for you, where you decided that you were no longer going to be a victim of bullying, and instead, help other children and young adults learn to get through hard times and spread your message of love and friendship to the community? 

Lizzie Sider: I started to get teased in school when I was in kindergarten, and it lasted through about fourth grade. “In shades of gray, I’d spend my days so invisible because” I thought that I couldn’t be my happy, outgoing, fun and normal self at school. After years of enduring the exclusion and teasing (I was friends with kids both older and younger than me, but my own peers would not accept me), despite school assemblies where they talked about not bullying others, it continued. We had many family discussions about homeschooling or going to another school, but we otherwise liked my school very much and kept wanting to wait another year, hoping that maybe those kids would grow out of it and it would be different next year. Then one day, on the way toschool, my dad told me, “Nobody has the power to ruin your day.” It took me a while to understand it, but when I did it was life changing. I learned to be myself at school, and rise above the teasing. I have always been one to encourage others and stand up for others, but that time became my timeto be a butterfly. 

TL: What could we, as a community do to stop/prevent bullying? What do you think about the schools involvement with these issues? Do you think that they are doing enough? If not, what could they do to improve results?

LS: The schools need to understand that their role is no longer just to teach academics, but to focus on helping develop the character of the students as well. Holding occasional assemblies and merely talking in general to the kids about being nice to each other is admirable, but it shouldn’t stop there. The connection needs to go deeper than that. If the schools strive to really get to know their students and the issues they may be experiencing, then I think that it could help the bullying epidemic in schools tremendously. As a community, we can provide a friendly environment where a child will feel comfortable and safe to express what they are going through, whether it be in a school, home, or elsewhere. 

TL: Right now, you are making a huge impact with your Anti-Bullying Tour and easily the one to thank for confidence rises in Elementary Schools and Childrens Hospitals across the country. As you go further down this road of Role Modeling, what are some other causes or charities you'd like to get involved with, or other topics you'd like to touch base on?

LS: It’s crazy how much I love helping people and being involved with people, and I’ve been so fortunate to meet so many new, wonderful people through my Anti-Bullying Tour. I am already involved with a few outstanding causes: (1) GWEN (Global Women’s Empowerment Network), an organization that focuses on empowering and supporting women, men and children who have suffered any kind of abuse, (2) The Alliance For Eating Disorders Awareness, an organization that promotes self esteem, the true meaning of beauty and positivity, and helps provide solutions to those with eating disorders, and (3) PACER, Teens Against Bullying, an organization that offers resources to help others going through a similar situation. In the future, I’d like to get involved with not only organizations that help people, but also ones that concern the environment and animals. 

TL: On that note, do you and your family ever sleep?! :)

LS: Well…. 

TL: What do you think of the current role models we have in the music industry today? What would you like to see more of? Less of? 

LS: I think there are so many great role models in the entertainment industry right now, but at the same time there are some that are setting a poor example. I believe that if you are lucky enough to be come a person who your world looks to, then with it comes a responsibility to set not only a good example, but a great one. I think it is great to be different, and to show the world that you’re not afraid to take chances. But in my opinion, some people have taken that opportunity too far. 

TL: Who would you say is/are your biggest role model/s and what sort of advice continues to run around your brain during this exciting, and yet more than likely overwhelming journey?

LS: My biggest role models are Taylor Swift, Audrey Hepburn, Hilary Duff and Kelly Clarkson. I look up to someone not just because they have a great voice, but because they are wonderful people as well. I love Taylor’s charisma and how she has been “fearless”with her career. I admire Kelly because I have been watching her since she started her music career, and she has continued to be a positive role model through her successes in music, starting a family, and doing it all while staying true to herself. I have always loved Hilary, from the beginning as Lizzie McGuire because of her charisma, vulnerability and genuineness. Because of all of these things, I have always identified with her, and wanted to be like her. She is someone that I would love to meet and work with some day. Audrey Hepburn is so classy and iconic. Audrey did remarkable things to benefit the world, like being a UNICEF Global Ambassador. Like all of these women are, someday I want to be someone who is remembered as one who hugely impacted music history and the world in a positive way. I am enjoying this journey so much; I am one that jut allows myself to LIVE in the present, and love it. With the encouragement of my parents especially and others around me who tell me to just believe in myself and never give up, I am excited to see everything go up from here. 

TL: How do you approach education while on tour? What is a subject you absolutely love? Any you could do without if you had the choice?

LS: Because of my schedule, I am home-schooled this year. I go to school on my computer, which is easier than being in a regular school setting because I can travel and not have to worry about making up missed work. I really like all of my classes, but my favorite is geometry. Math has always been on the top of my list as far as subjects go. They say that math is very much related to music, so I guess that makes sense! 

TL: You once performed on The Queen Latifah Show. You seemed a little nervous on that performance at first but within a matter of seconds, you were right back to the Lizzie I've seen , full of confidence. What was going through your head during that performance and how did you manage to break out of your nerves? 

LS: I don’t remember being nervous, but I remember being extremely excited. That was my first time in a setting like that – performing in an indoor studio with a live studio audience. That day, I also got to spend some time with Queen Latifah! It was so wonderful to meet her; she is a fantastic woman. 

TL: How did you come together with Jamie O'Neal to work on writing Butterfly? Did she give you any particular advice that you'd like to share?

LS:  I was initially introduced to Jamie in June of 2011. From the very first time I worked with Jamie, I really enjoyed being around her and her family, and to this day, she is one of my favorite people to write with. Jamie, her dad Jimmy, and a great lyricist and friend, Lisa Drew and I wrote Butterfly in the fall of 2011. I was so excited when Butterfly was finished, and especially proud of it because I have such a strong connection with the song. I remember when I went in the studio with Jamie to record Butterfly, the high notes of the song were a little intimidating to me. Jamie kept encouraging me to push myself and to just let it go. 

TL: I saw that you enjoyed Ballet. What are some other things you like to get into when you're not involved in music?*

LS: Yes, I love ballet. Not only that, but a few of my other favorite styles to dance are contemporary, modern and lyrical. Other than dance, I also love to play tennis in my free time. *

TL: My 11 year old son wants to know, "Do you ever find inspiration on the road, and if so, what are some places that have inspired you in some way, whether musically or otherwise

LS: To me, inspiration can happen anywhere! I was on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, and I guess a major idea hit me, because I spent the next three hours with my eyes glued to my iPadwriting this song. Another time, when we were in NYC visiting friends, and all having dinner together, I was inspired out of the blue, and so I decided to sit in the corner of the restaurant; I knocked out TWO songs! One of those songs turned out to be the first original song that I ever performed on a stage. 

TL: What kind of advice would you give my 9 year-old daughter, a fellow victim of bullying, to be confident in herself?

LS: This is something that I sometimes share in my assembly, and I would like to share this with your daughter as well. Unfortunately, there will always be people I this world who will be bullies- in life, at school, at work, in sports… There are people who will tell you that you’re not good enough, or that you’re too this or too that. But I’ve learned to treat this as background noise. We need to rise above it, and what I mean by that is that we have the power within ourselves to decide whether or not someone’s words or actions get us down or make us feel less about ourselves. I want you to never give up, never stop believing in yourself, and never let anyone tell you otherwise. Be confident, be beautiful, be a butterfly.

Trinity Lost

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A special thanks to Brenda Brown Entertainment