“I think I’m in Season Four of my life,” says singer-songwriter Liza (pronounced LEE-zuh) when we catch up with her. “The episodes have been really wild, so I’m excited for the next project, for sure.”
Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait to find out about the current adventures in Liza’s life – on her forthcoming material. In the meantime, we’ll just have to be content with what Liza terms her Season Three offering: her latest EP, The Alternate Ending.
Select the image to play the YouTube video of the Liza song “Shades”
Picking up where her stellar last EP Done Is Done left off, with its theme of mourning relationships that are over, The Alternate Ending leans into the TV- and movie-inspired concept the title implies. “We have a new ending, and I think it’s just understanding and acceptance,” she says, “but from a more hopeful, happier place.”
The Alternate Ending finds the Ethiopian-Canadian singer collaborating again with the winner of the 2023 JUNO Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award, Akeel Henry (LOONY, Savannah Ré). Henry has production credits on half of the EP’s six tracks, including the current single and opening EP song “Shades.”
“He’s someone who I’m very comfortable with, who understands me musically,” says Liza. “I grow a lot, because we’re constantly challenging one another to try new things – lyrically, melodically, production-wise. I think that existing friendship and musical synergy has allowed us to sort of continue building on that.” However, for the most part, The Alternate Ending finds Liza forging collaborations with a host of new songwriters and producers – including fellow Canadian Jack Rochon, who recently produced for Beyoncé, and Marcus Semaj, who’s written for Tyla and Snoh Aalegra.
For Liza, working with these collaborators was a way of pushing herself outside of her comfort zone, and experimenting with different sonic palettes. The access to these new creative relationships is also linked to Liza making the move from Toronto to Los Angeles, to pursue music full-time, moving on from the juggling act between her job as an oncology nurse and her music career.
“Back for More,” another song from The Alternate Ending, is a collaboration with another L.A.-based Toronto transplant, TOBi – which features the two singers detailing a toxic relationship, over a hypnotic, uptempo beat. “That day we just had a lot of fun making that song,” she says. “And then I didn’t really think twice about it, until a friend of mine heard it and was, like, ‘Why don’t you put it out?’ And then I was, like, ‘I guess I’ll put it on the project.’”
The fact that Liza’s music tends to organically resonate with others is demonstrated by the syncing opportunities she’s enjoyed. “I wish I could say it was strategy,” says Liza. “Like, I want this thing to come out exactly at this point to help amplify the rollout, and contribute to the momentum – but it’s so random. The first thing I ever got was a music supervisor reaching out to me, asking if they could use the song, and that was the first song I ever put on Spotify, and it wasn’t even mixed or mastered. It was just uploaded and that song [“Here To Stay”] was on Grown-ish [on ABC].”
Select the image to play the YouTube video of the Liza song “In The End”
The irony is that Liza has taken part in songwriting camps specifically to create songs to be synced, and none of those have been chosen to this point. Meanwhile, she’s also previously synced songs for Harlem (Amazon Prime), Raising Dion (Netflix), and Twenties (BET), and already has more coming down the pipeline.
“All these things kept on happening for songs that I would write about break-ups, and make-ups, and relationships, and love, about myself, and about my life,” says Liza. “And I’m, like, ‘Oh, I guess you guys want to use it on this major scene… OK.’ It’s the weirdest thing, but I can say that I think writing from my own really genuine, authentic experiences, really vulnerably, has allowed me those opportunities. I’m just grateful for them, because they definitely help bring the music to new ears.”
It’s no small coincidence Liza’s music has translated particularly well to the small screen. A case in point is the impressive and visually arresting Kit Weyman and Chrris Lowe-directed clip for Liza’s tennis-themed “In The End” video. It mines Liza’s storytelling for romantic tension, to dramatic effect, giving credence to her case for her life being like a television show.
“I’m not kidding,” says Liza. “There’s a whole summer spinoff. There’s a finale. It gets really juicy. It’s really crazy. Honestly, let’s call Shonda Rhimes and Issa Rae!”