By Lynn Venhaus
After a triumphant cabaret at Blue Strawberry last month, singer-songwriter-actress Lisa Ramey will perform at The Dark Room on Friday, July 26.
The Dark Room show is part of Fresh Fridays, and starts at 8 p.m. at The Grandel, 3610 Grandel Square in St. Louis. For tickets ($15) — https://www.metrotix.com/events/detail/live-at-the-dark-room-lisa-ramey
She will be part of the Festival of Nations on Aug. 24.
She is in the cast of the upcoming “Ragtime” at Stages St. Louis that begins Sept. 20 through Oct. 1.
St. Louis-born and New York-based artist Lisa, who is known as contemporary soul and pop artist, competed on NBC’s award-winning “The Voice” in Season 16 in 2019, selected by John Legend for his team, where she made it to the live shows as part of the top 24.
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Her debut album “Surrender” was released in 2020, and was named one of Good Morning America’s “Top 50 Albums of 2020.” She has performed live with Lauryn Hill and James Taylor, and was part of The Roots Jam Session, hosted by Questlove. She’s been involved with charity benefits, and has worked on political advocacy and social justice. She participated in The Virtual March on Washington, billed with Macy Gray and H.E.R.
She has been described as “exuding gritty soul and passion with a soul meets rock vibe that emphatically captures her roots.”
Her second album, “Broken Smile” re-imagined the songs and music sung by civil rights activist Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer.
She is focused on her music career, and writing new songs while she is home in St. Louis this summer. She plans to tour with new music that she’s been working on this year. Next up?
“Tour! Tour! Tour! It’s time to get this music up and in front of people,” she said.
She is available on Spotify, and streams have been going well.
“I have almost 33,000 listeners and over 600,000 streams,” she said.
For the latest, visit www.lisarameymusic.com.
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Q & A with Lisa Ramey
1. What is special about your latest project?
For me it’s special because it’s the first time I am writing and releasing music without any limits. No one telling me how I should sing or what I should sing about. Total freedom in these new releases and I am loving it
2. Why did you choose your profession?
Destiny. I was made to do this. It makes more sense to have a job that pays every other week. With my job you never know when the money will come. It’s insane. I would not have chosen this but it’s my destiny. I don’t know any other way to happily exist.
3. How would your friends describe you?
Fun, energetic, great listener, moody, a vibe, loyal, dedicated to my craft, hardworking, unstoppable, limitless, authentic, love who I am and free!
4. How do you like to spend your spare time?
Beautiful drinks served in a gorgeous setting with the greatest foods. Making food and working out.
5. What is your current obsession?
Essential oils! I cannot get over how powerful they are
6. What would people be surprised to find out about you?
I was home-schooled from K-12th grade. I used to be known for my tap dance skills over anything else. I used to do musicals despite my voice not sounding like it. It took me a minute to get it off my vocal cords 😉 and I’m allergic to strawberries and apples.
7. Can you share one of your most defining moments in life?
When I realized that I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. I’m really good at what I do, so let’s party. Don’t take anything too seriously. Especially yourself.
8. Who do you admire most?
Critical thinkers.
9. What is at the top of your bucket list?
Singing my songs all over earth at outdoor huge spaces where everyone knows my songs and sings with me. Whoa!
10. What is your favorite thing to do in your hometown?
Hang with my family and close friends at a house
Favorite quote/words to live by: There’s no crying in baseball -Tom Hanks in A League of their own
A song that makes you happy: It’s such a sad song but currently Zayns song “How If Feels” makes me have all the feels and I love it.
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Lynn (Zipfel) Venhaus has had a continuous byline in St. Louis metro region publications since 1978. She writes features and news for Belleville News-Democrat and contributes to St. Louis magazine and other publications.
She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic, currently reviews films for Webster-Kirkwood Times and KTRS Radio, covers entertainment for PopLifeSTL.com and co-hosts podcast PopLifeSTL.com…Presents.
She is a member of Critics Choice Association, where she serves on the women’s and marketing committees; Alliance of Women Film Journalists; and on the board of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. She is a founding and board member of the St. Louis Theater Circle.
She is retired from teaching journalism/media as an adjunct college instructor.