Album Notes

Growing up in the highly creative and music-filled community of Salt Spring Island on Canada’s west coast, Lisa Maxx developed a unique and powerful musical style and is known for evoking deep emotion in her audience.

Though Maxx is a seasoned performer, Still Hold True is the long-awaited debut album consisting of all original material for this much loved singer-songwriter.

The opening track I Ya* is buoyant and uplifting and contrasts well beside Shadow Dance which takes the listener immediately to a place of deeply evocative contemplation. Terra Nova is a poetic and moving lament, while Listen with Your Heart is a reassuring peppy country-flavoured love song. The strong grooves of Old House with the haunting back-up vocals of Jekka Mack are immediate in nature, while the lilting Canadiana story in Song for Mikley is zesty and fun and moves through an historic time capsule. Raven-Haired Boy is full of yearning, amplified by the edgy harmonies of Christian Stonehouse. Ode to Ogis Rose is upbeat, cheerful and full of dreams come true, while the poignant and lingering vocals of Joshua will surely tug at heartstrings and tear ducts. Still Hold True lifts us again with its bright musical elements which seem adroitly juxtaposed at times to the songs lyric. And then, we are taken somewhere completely different with Farðu Draumaveginn, the closing track. Sung a cappella, laid atop a mournful drone, it is a ballad worthy of becoming a national treasure in Icelandic communities around the world.

* note of interest for track 1: When Lisa's daughter was 1 ½ years old she learned to say I love you; she said, “I ya.”

In 1994 Lisa was debilitated by the sudden and severe onset of rheumatoid arthritis. She is now proudly a part of the widely growing global movement for disability arts and culture. Through the years even when she had to be carried on stage, Lisa Maxx never let health challenges get in the way of doing what she loves to do best - share the music that feeds her soul.