Catch Of The Week: Lena Stone
Meet Lena Stone from Carlisle, MA
Photo by Logen Christopher
For those worried about the future of women in country music…don’t.
Lena Stone is the future.
Her brand of smart, sassy, bright and bold country pops with freshness. Think Miranda Lambert meets Meghan Trainor, or Kelsea Ballerini meets Katy Perry. Think perfectly palatable hooks carrying stylishly sharp lyrics. Stone’s vocals are strong, her writing is smart, and her spirit is courageous.
It’s true, the top of the country music charts sure looks like a boys club, at the moment. But, there is a beacon of light far too bright to overlook. It’s signaling the way to the future, and an ocean of smart, talented singer/songwriters who happen to be women. You can practically “hear them roar, in numbers too big to ignore,” to quote the late Helen Reddy.
Lena left Massachusetts at 18 years old to pursue her singing, songwriting and performing dreams in Nashville. There, she helped to form the now popular Song Suffragettes. The Suffragettes are a collective of women songwriters who perform their original music, in a writers round, live, every Monday in Nashville. The rotation of women changes each week. Lena serves as not only one of the creators of the movement, but also a host.
This talented Sassachusetts girl is paving the way for change. And change is good.
Listen to Lena
Lena laments on a love she let go in this emotionally charged ballad, “Out of My Hands,” from her Princess EP
The title track of Lena Stone’s Princess EP is blonde-ambition-big on production, spunky country with a message that being a princess isn’t necessarily what little girl dreams are made of. Lena doesn’t need a prince to save her, she’s doing just fine on her own, and by the way “RIP chivalry,” she’s “glad it’s finally dead. ” This “Princess” is on-point, easy to love and doesn’t take herself too seriously. Need a song with a sense of humor and a show of strength, this is it.
Written in Stone
- From/grew up in: Carlisle, MA
- Currently resides: Nashville, TN
- Current EP: The Princess EP
- What lead you to music: I grew up with so much music around me; my parents were always singling and listening to music, and my sisters and I all took piano lessons and sang in the church choir starting when we were 5 or 6. We always joke that as a baby I sang before I spoke, and i just never stopped!
- What age did you start performing: High school was when I started taking my love of music really seriously, it’s also when I learned to play guitar so I could accompany myself for my own original songs.
- First country song learned: “Leave the Pieces” by the Wreckers, which was actually the first son I learned of any genre.
- Instruments played: Guitar and piano
- How would you describe your sound: Country love of storytelling with a true 90s baby love of pop music and production
- Who inspires you: James Taylor, Sara Bareilles, Maren Morris, Taylor Swift
- Dream duet partner: I would love to collab with John Mayor someday, he’s one of my all time favorite artists to listen to
- All-time favorite country songs: This is SO hard to answer, but I always love “The House That Built Me,” and “When You Say Nothing At All.”
- What songs do you like now on Country 1025: I’m loving the new Carly Pearce single, “Next Girl,” and “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s” by Sam Hunt
- Most proud moment: Anytime someone sings along to a song I wrote at a show, it’s the best feeling in the world!
- Crazy thing that happened in your career: Seeing a tattoo that someone got of lyrics I wrote!
- Other things you like to do: Go for runs, host game nights with my friends, drink red wine, read/watch Harry Potter
- Fun facts: I’m left handed, I have a degree in economics from Vanderbilt, and I’m 100% addicted to cheese
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Photo by Logen Christopher
Lena On Line
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.
Singer/songwriters with original music: Please submit for consideration on The Local Catch by emailing Kruser at carolyn.kruse@bbgi.com
Photo by to Logen Christopher
