By Jamie Sterling
Music And Paddling Go Hand-In-Hand!
Breakout music star Joylissa is known for her hit songs – such as her latest single entitled HOME – but beyond the music, she is all about exploring the planet and paddling.
Since she was young her parents would take her out camping, canoeing, kayaking and more, which blossomed into a love of adventure and the water.
We had an exclusive one-on-one chat with the rising music star and how music and paddling go hand-in-hand for her!
Why is paddling and being out on the water / outdoors so important to you and your mindset as a person and musician?
Growing up my parents often took us camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking. I learned to appreciate the peace that comes from being out on the water in nature at a young age. The world can shout at you from all directions but when you’re in nature, the shouting stops and you can finally hear what your soul needs. I need that peace as an artist to get past the layer of the superficial and get to the core.
When was the first time you paddled out on the water?
Some of my earliest memories are of my dad tying our seventeen foot red canoe to the top of our minivan and heading out to the lake for the weekend. We would head up there 2-5 times a summer to fish and explore the lake!
As a musician, do you ever write or think of songs while out on the water paddling?
I often get my best ideas for songs while out on still water. When the world is still, my mind is still and I reflect on some of my most personal thoughts.
What is your favourite song to listen to while out on the water, or that is about being out on the water?
I often prefer not to listen to music when I’m out on the water. I like to be present in nature when I have the chance to get away from the busyness of life. One of my favourite songs about water is ‘Swallowed in the Sea’ by Coldplay. That’s one of those songs that I listened to on repeat in high school!
What are some of your favourite lakes or places you have adventured on and explored?
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, my family often vacationed near Lake Chatcolet and Lake Coeur D’alene in Idaho. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful places in the United States!
Do you prefer paddling in a canoe or kayak, and why?
As an adult I find that I enjoy kayaking more because of the independence of paddling my own boat as well the design that allows for quick maneuvering but as a child, I loved going out on the canoe with my parents and two older siblings. There was something so heartwarming about packing a family of five into a canoe and experiencing everything together… especially having to work together not to tip over!
Any fun or interesting paddling stories you can share? Any neat adventures you’ve been on?
As I mentioned before, one of my favourite memories is strapping the seventeen food canoe to our minivan and then taking it out on Lake Chatcolet. We would paddle to the swimming hole with the rope that swung us out over the lake, and find the best fishing spots to catch dinner!
Where is one place you want to still explore most?
I would love to explore the San Juan Islands more. Though I grew up in Washington state, I lived on the opposite side of the state so I wasn’t able to visit the coast as often as I would have liked. The small amount of time i have spent kayaking there, I found it to be absolutely gorgeous!
What new projects for the rest of 2020 and into 2021 are you working on professionally?
I just released my song ‘Home’ and plan on releasing a few more before my full EP comes out early next year. This also includes a song I wrote entitled ‘Holding Me’ with a line ‘I’m a little row boat in a hurricane.’ It’s an introspective song that reflects on how life can be like being out on the water. Sometimes it can be the most comforting place in the world and other times it can be the most terrifying!
