ISSUE #32 MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT asano F Jeff LINDI ORTEGA A move to Music City results in a burst of creative energy WHAT A DIFFERENCE A MOVE Secret Sisters). The strategy brings new can make—just ask singer-songwriter energy to her music. “When I write, my songs Lindi Ortega. “When I was living in Toronto, are pretty skeletal, just me and a guitar,” she I’d come off tour, get into my onesie, says. “The producer and I will go through watch reruns and eat Cheerios,” says the each one and figure out what instrumentation Canadian native. “Now, living in Nashville, works best. We used a Mellotron on this I come home, see what people are up to, album, which is something I’ve never done. and that kicks my butt into being more We also used a vintage drum machine productive and less complacent musically.” that had samples of actual drumbeats—not That late 2011 change of address digital, programmed drumbeats. We used Issue #32 also jump-started her creativity on her new that with a real drummer, so they were M MUSIC & MUSICIANS album, Tin Star, and is reflected in its title playing together—it sounded interesting.” track, describing the no-man’s-land between Recording live in the studio, Ortega MAGAZINE glitzy Music Row and the local bar scene finished most songs in just one or two takes. where musicians play for tips. Her lilting, “I like capturing the excitement of the first Dolly Parton-esque soprano can quaver on few takes,” she says. “There’s a spirit there the macabre, serve up the tender “Lived that might get lost if we did a song 20 times. and Died Alone,” and occasionally break into And recording live makes it feel more like a a rockabilly rave-up like “All These Cats.” show, and more of a full-band effort.” Ortega’s self-described “strange brew” of Though Tin Star and its critically country, Americana, blues, rockabilly and acclaimed predecessor, 2012’s Cigarettes gospel has led her to open for diverse acts & Truckstops, have launched Ortega to the including Social Distortion, Dierks Bentley forefront of the Americana scene, she does and k.d. lang. her best to ignore the pressures that come Where many artists prefer the comfort with rising stardom. “I don’t think I’d be of employing the same producer and band, able to write songs if I was paying a lot of Ortega works with new personnel on attention to living up to others’ expectations. every new record. For Tin Star, she sought I focus on living up to the last thing I did.” out producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, –Juli Thanki 18 M mag 32.indd 18 1/13/14 7:54 PM.