Lisa Mitchell

Lisa Mitchell

Lisa Mitchell is an Australian folk and indie pop singer-songwriter from the City of Canterbury. Born in 1990, she moves to New South Wales at the age of three and grows up in Albury, on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, as the eldest of two children.

Early musical development

She begins taking guitar lessons at the age of twelve, with an interest in rock and folk. She later fronts a cover band called Chrome, which plays mainly in local cafés.

Australian Idol and early attention

At sixteen, Mitchell auditions for Australian Idol and gains attention for her performances. During the programme she sings songs including Collide, Diamonds on the Inside, Fall At Your Feet and Heart of Glass. She later performs See You Soon by Coldplay, as well as an original song titled Too Far Gone. Her playing and writing are described as recalling an early Joni Mitchell.

Recording and releases

After leaving the show, Mitchell turns down recording contracts because she does not want to make a manufactured album. She continues developing as a performer and songwriter, building a grassroots following through touring and online performances.

She signs with Scorpio Music and Warner Music, and later with Sony Publishing, with support from Dan Hume of Evermore. Her first EP, Said One to the Other, includes the tracks Slow and Incomplete Lullaby. It reaches number 27 on the ARIA chart and number 1 on the Australian iTunes chart.

Performances and touring

Mitchell tours with Old Man River and performs at National Youth Week. She also posts performances on MySpace, drawing a large audience, and tours with Sparkadia, The Hampdens and Evermore. She also supports Ben Lee on tour.

Style

Her work is associated with folk and acoustic performance, with a songwriting style rooted in guitar-led material.