Lisa Theunissen
Pronounced ‘Tennyson’…a South African singer-songwriter raising the roof...
Vocals, Keys and Songwriter
Performing in musical theatre, shows and TV from a young age. Studied Creative Music Technology at Brunel University and Musical Theatre at Pretoria Technikon (studio production, music business, composition, and performance). Runs a music company, Stuff Like That There: http://www.myspace.com/stufflikethatthere, which manages booking the various function bands Lisa plays in (originals/covers); session vocalist; voice-over artist; songwriter; vocal and performance training; and hosting the 15 Minute Club to promote artists.
During 2008 Lisa has...
* Performed over 100 gigs including respected festivals like GuilFest 2008 and venues like The Pigalle Club, The Bedford, The Halo; headling the Halfmoon Putney; and supporting Never The Bride who wrote the single ‘The Living Tree’ for Shirley Bassey.
* Dressed by designer, Vivienne Westwood, for GuilFest 2008, Aylesbury Festival 2008 and the Halfmoon Putney (20th November 2008). For photos please go to at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60407&l=1335a&id=10573911026.
* Independently released the debut album, HerStory, in May 2008 on iTunes and Amazon, which was subsequently featured on Amazon in June as 'New and Emerging Artists for 2008'.
* Asked to perform in The Commitments show as one of the lead singers.
* Selected as the voice for Fable II, a new game by Xbox, for commercial use in South Africa.
* Nominated 'Best Pop Rock Act' in the Exposure Music Awards 2008 (sponsored by TourDates.co.uk) and also received a nomination as ‘Best Female Solo Act’ for the Guildford Brits Awards, from her local area.
* Organised all the promotion around HerShows this year for national radio (please listen to the last two tracks at http://www.lisatheunissen.com) and press (please view press clippings at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60407&l=1335a&id=10573911026). Industry and fan reviews can also be found under the section ‘TheirSay’ on the official website http://www.lisatheunissen.com.
View live performances:
- Tell Me How To Love: http://www.youtube.com/v/4cUsR3Br7m4
- HerStory: http://www.youtube.com/v/r2OfH0V1ItI
- Sweep Me Off My Feet: http://www.youtube.com/v/sPFH-pZg4CU
2009...What's the plan?!
Writing a new album, finding the right team of people to work with, and seeing lots of number 1 songs! Seriously though, there's a lot of work to be done to sail past the competition. So whether it's a publishing or record deal, that's fine, as long as it's in the charts, on film/TV and performed live, Lisa will work and work to achieve it :>
Influences include:
Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Alicia Keys, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary J Blige, Timbaland, Diane Warren, Brian McKnight, Beatles, Cathy Dennis, R Kelly, Babyface, Sheryl Crow, Michael Buble, New Radicals, Colbie Caillat, Norah Jones, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, George Michael, Lou Rawls, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson and Barbra Streisand!
Soul to raise the roof, rhythm to shake your soul and smooth melodies to make you go 'aahhh...sweet'. Lisa Theunissen is an artist to keep your eyes on...
Industry Quotes:
"We heard the debut performance from Lisa Theunissen whose beautiful voice floated through the packed basement as she played some great piano at the same time." Tony Moore at the Kashmir Klub, 7th December 2002
"Great voice and songs" David Stark from SongLink, at The Bedford for the Songbirds Showcase, 19th November 2006
"All the songs were her own well constructed compositions, and she was at home in every tempo and genre." Peter Coulston, LAST WEEK IN LONDON - Here Come the Girls, Seatwave, 31 March 2008
"What struck me immediately was her astonishing voice. It’s as rich and sultry as a smoky blues lounge but simultaneously raw and emotional; bare as a room stripped of everything but the grand piano. Thankfully, Lisa is also an outstanding songwriter, a talent that comes to the fore especially on the slower songs. HerStory is a well-balanced mix of styles and emotions, but I reckon it’s the ballads that will make Lisa a household name." Christo Valentyn, Mamba Online - Album Review of HerStory – Lisa Theunissen, May 2008
"A soulful voice with plenty of range and accompanying herself on the piano, she had the audience entranced from the start." Lisa's Soulful Showcase at the Fox and Pelican, Grayshott, Tuesday 1 July - Live Gig Review by Vic Cracknell, Published in Petersfield Post, 9 July 2008
"Her lyrics are heartfelt, her sound is full of rhythm and her voice is silky-smooth - a grittier and more soulful Norah Jones." Charlotte Talbot, Woking Review Newspaper, 5 July 2008, HerStory, Debut Album Review: Soulful Answers to Life's Ups and Downs
Shake your pom-poms of support...join TheirSay...thank you, thank you, thank you!
LT
XXX