Catch Of The Week: Liz Bills And The Change
Meet Liz Bills from Haverhill, MA
Photo by Hunter Stamas
Sometimes you open the door, and are blinded by brightness. Over the threshold enters an artist who shines so radiantly, you know she was destined to perform. That’s what happened when Liz Bills walked into our studio. She looks like a star, and beams with a dazzling confidence. I couldn’t wait to hear and see what was to come. Liz Bills’ vibe is cool, but her approach is definitely warm. She’s like the coolest kid in the room, who has no idea she is.
Then it happens. She sings, she moves, she performs. She is a star. Got it all happening; the voice, the vibe, the songs, the swagger. There’s a funky weirdness that’s pretty infectious going on here. Liz’s website describes her sound as “3-part vocal harmonies. Twangy folk mandolin. Jangly tambourines. Driving djembe. in your face power vocals. wailing lead guitar. Liz Bills and The Change do it all, and they’re excited to share their sonorous stylings with you!” Imagine Janis Joplin collaborating with Grace Potter, and maybe Patti Griffin and Lenny Kravitz crash the party.
Thinking rock star? Already done that. Liz is part of the band, Analog Heart, who won Rock Act of the Year in the 2018 New England Music Awards. They band opened for Bon Jovi in 2017 at Mohegan Sun , and was runner up in the Aloft Rising Star with Daughtry in 2016. Liz also was a top 30 female finisher in the 2013 season of American Idol. Now, armed with her own band and her own brand of music, Bills is ready to branch out and shine her light. She came up with the name for the band for the obvious reason that her last name lent to a pun. But the not so obvious, is what Liz explained, “the change is what we want to make in the world through love and connection.”
Look out world!
Let Liz In
Liz, accompanied by her backup vocalist, Jessica Olson, sashayed into our studio to share some original music
Take a listen to “The Train Song”
Here’s “Somebody Else”
Spare Change
- Describe your sound: I have quite the eclectic mix. Soul, R & B, folk, pop, alt. country. Sometimes I refer to it as blue eyed soul
- Who inspires you: Grace Potter, Brandi Carlile, Delta Rae, Lake Street Dive, Freddy Mercury, Janis joplin, James Brown.
- What’s in a name: Sometimes people ask me if my real last name is Bills, and yes it is. My solo stuff is often performed with my solo
band “Liz Bills and The Change.” - Awards/accolades: American Idol finalist in 2013 . Rockin Roll Rumble semi finalist in 2016. New England Music Awards ‘Rock Act of the Year’ 18. Aloft rising star finalist (opening for Daughtry)in 2016. Opened for Bon Jovi 2017
- All- time favorite country song: “Wanted (Dead or Alive)” by Bon Jovi (if that counts. Has a nice country flare to it)
- Favorite country concert: Delta Rae
- What songs do you like now on Country 1025: Girl and My Church by Maren Morris (obsessed)
- If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing: yoga teacher…life coach
- Day Job (if applicable): music teacher
- Most proud moment: Figuring out how to live a peaceful and loving life. (come from self hate and depression)
- Craziest thing that ever happened in your music career: Opening for Bon Jovi
- Other things you like to do: Cooking healthy meals, riding my bike, yoga, meditation, spending times with the ones that I love. Traveling
- Fun facts : I used to be emo/goth/punkin high school. I’m a yogi. I am obsessed with health and overcoming my physical and emotional issues
- Mantra: The one I’ve been reciting lately is, we are human beings not human doings. And “if you live in the future you will be anxious.. if you live in the past you will be depressed.”
Photo by Hunter Stamas
Got Bills
- July 27th: Ossipee Valley Music festival – Maine
- July 28th: Yankee Homecoming -Newburyport, MA
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August 30th: Club Passim (Campfire Festival)- Cambridge
- September 13: Wormtown- Greenfield, MA
Look It’s Liz
Every week, Kruser’s Local Catch highlights New England’s homegrown country music talent, and tells you where to catch them locally and in Nashville. Click here to view previous catches.
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*Singer/songwriters with original music: Please submit for consideration on The Local Catch by emailing Kruser at carolyn.kruse@bbgi.com
