Lizzie No: Intimate Folk at the Englert

Lizzie No couldn't resist saying yes to a career in music. When she was working at a Stanford research laboratory, No had a stable job over ten years ago.

I really liked what I was doing," No stated while speaking from her home in Nashville. "When I was at the lab, it provided me with new insights as I dealt with large amounts of data regarding voter behavior. I was working on a programming project focused on opinions related to the birther movement.

Nevertheless, the Stanford graduate felt driven to compose music, even while programming. "While I was working, songs kept entering my mind," he stated. "I simply couldn't help but write songs."

No, who will be performing on Friday at the Englert Theatre, has stayed true to her inspiration. She moved away from the lab in Northern California into the unpredictable realm of Music City, where she feels like she's got nothing but open space around her. “Leading this kind of lifestyle, you often question where your next meal will come from,” No mentioned. “But I’m doing exactly what I have to.”

It comes as no big shock that No chose to become a musician. Growing up in affluent Princeton, New Jersey, she was surrounded by music, and her parents had a deep appreciation for the arts, supporting her artistic pursuits from an early age.

No, 34, grew up playing the violin and harp and composed music at a young age. Nevertheless, No didn’t start playing the guitar until 2016. “The main reason I eventually picked up the guitar was because I won the American Songwriter Lyric Contest in 2016,” No explained. “The reward was an amazing guitar. After winning, I got a brand-new Gibson guitar. I thought, ‘I really need to figure out how to play this instrument.’”

No quickly grasped the nuances of guitar playing because she has always been drawn to stringed instruments. "I've always been passionate about strings—my musical journey began with the violin at age three and then the harp at ten," No explained. "These instruments have greatly influenced my life."

A young woman whose father played the church organ received critical acclaim for her first album, "Hard Won" released in 2017. Her subsequent release, "Vanity" from 2019, gained airtime on college radio stations and made it onto the North American College and Community Top Adds Chart.

Nine tracks from "Vanity" tell grand stories about self-importance, showcasing changes in compellingly developed personas. The variety of main characters spans from a charming bachelor in "Narcissus," to a struggling musician seeking success in "Pity Party," to an aloof and larger-than-life rock star in "Loyalty."

"The Halfsies," No's most recent album, is a bold and creative collection that highlights her skills as a harp-playing singer-songwriter. "The Halfsies" is a varied, heartfelt record that is both expressive and full of mood.

"I desired to have disorder and emptiness coexisting throughout 'Halfsies,'” No stated. “I believed that approach would work well.” “I aimed for chaos and nothingness to be present together across 'Halfsies,’” No mentioned. “I felt that would be impactful.” “Throughout 'Halfsies,' I wanted both confusion and void to exist simultaneously,” No explained. “I considered this strategy to be successful.”

Gentle melodies are succeeded by chaos. It's unexpected yet engaging. The main point is that it functions well for Number.

If you go

What: Lizzie: Not With Michael Schodin

When: 9:30 PM on Friday, July 18th

Where: The Englert Theater, located at 221 East Washington Street, Iowa City

Cost: Student price: $10, adult price: $23

Tickets: (319) 688-2653; englert.org

I view this album as a Jackson Pollock artwork," No stated. "There is no shift from disorder and quietness.

There are no assertions that silence and sound coexist within her intricate thoughts. “I want to demonstrate how things feel inside my mind,” No stated. “This is where I find myself because of PTSD.”

The distress experienced by this Bronx resident stems from daily realities. "It arises from the reality of being a Black woman," she stated. "We face discrimination, harassment, and lower pay. Black women must safeguard themselves in an extremely difficult environment."

Nothing resolves the trauma via music. This has always been the case since she was a child, and her life took a turn after witnessing the late legend Aretha Franklin perform her iconic songs.

I knew Aretha as a recording artist before anyone else," No stated. "She was incredible. Later, I became interested in folk music. I really enjoyed the Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman, and Ani DiFranco. These are female musicians who talk about the world, delivering their messages with sincerity. I hold great admiration for these performers.

Nobody acknowledges that there are moments when she considers returning to the lab and the stability provided by a regular salary.

it's appealing," no stated. "still, i truly can't envision going back to that way of living because i've committed myself so fully to this artistic path. it would be challenging to shift gears again. i prefer staying engaged with what i'm currently pursuing in my creative journey. being a musician isn't easy, but starting over in another field would be even more difficult.

No feels grateful towards her parents as she believes she wouldn't have pursued a career as a musician without their encouragement. "Everything began with my parents, because they believed at a young age that playing stringed instruments was beneficial for cognitive growth," No explained. "These stringed instruments and music have turned into my entire life."

No's performances consistently bring energy and optimism. "I believe that's how it should be," No stated. "Attending a concert shouldn't feel like sitting through a lecture. A live performance should offer an immersive and enjoyable experience."