Liz Stringer Talks New Single, New Album And More

Venerated Australian singer-songwriter Liz Stringer announces her new album ‘The Second High’ on Friday 28th March 2025. Her new single ‘To Survive’ is out now and she kindly chatted to us at JLTT: 

You have just released your new single, ‘To Survive’ which was inspired by a youth worker from Melbourne. What made you decide to write this song about them?

People are often the inspiration for songs for me as a songwriter. Everyone has an interesting story, because we’re all complex, multi-faceted individuals. This particular person has a sad, difficult but ultimately triumphant life’s arc of overcoming early loss and a lot of pain as a younger person and going on to become a youth worker now themselves, supporting young people suffering from the housing crisis in Melbourne. His story has stuck with me and was strong inspiration as the basis of a song. 

 

We understand that Melbourne is also your hometown. Could you please describe it in five words?

The cultural hub of Australia 

 

The track is from your new album ‘The Second High’ out 28th March 2025. How did you want to approach the making of the album?

I wanted to work with Beni Giles who works out of a London studio, hence why I came to London in the first place. I wanted to make an album that was a sonic departure from my other records, and I wanted to learn as much as I could from the producer I was working with. 

 

 What was it like recording with Beni Giles at Iguana Studios in Brixton?

The experience of working with Beni was an inspiring one. He’s a hyper-talented musician and engineer/producer and I learned a lot about recording, arranging, and producing, one of the outcomes I’d sought from the project. He’s also now a good friend and we spent hours chatting about our lives, the music industry, politics etc etc. It was a process I enjoyed a lot. 

 

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the album recording sessions?

I would say that the most memorable thing about recording with Beni at Iguana was that Beni’s dog Raffi was there every day. I am a MASSIVE DOG PERSON and was missing my own dog (who lives in Melbourne). Basically, every photo I took of the sessions was of Raf, often selfies of the two of us while she was lying on top of me on the sofa in the control room. Heaven.  

 

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a certain sound/tone for the record?

My records, until this one, have been heavily guitar-based. This album I wrote and recorded on keys, so we used the beautiful upright piano in the studio a lot as well as the Rhodes. 

 

Was it a difficult album to write? 

I think writing, in general, is often a difficult process for me, unless I’m in a really clear flow and songs are coming out almost fully formed (which happens occasionally). So I don’t think this one was more or less difficult than my usual process feels. There were some songs which took longer to finish the lyrics for (like I’ll Never Abandon Myself Again) and a couple we needed to work on the arrangements for in the studio (When You Met Me, To Survive). 

 

One of the singles is the title track ‘The Second High’. What was the story/inspiration behind that track? 

I’ll be nine years sober by the end of 2025 and the song speaks to my seemingly baked-in proclivity to want more and more all the time, which has, as in the case of drinking, gotten me into a lot of trouble in the past. That want exists in various other facets of my life, though, and the song is a reminder to myself to stay in the moment and be grateful for what I have right now, rather than constantly trying to push on to the next thing all the time. 

 

That song is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

The video is devised and directed by producer/director couple Alicia and Archie (Alicia Easaw-Mamutil and Archie Chew) who are Australian film-makers living in London. They also made the video for ‘Coming Home’, the first single from The Second High. They’re an absolute powerhouse and a joy to work with. I love that the Second High video features six other dancers (as well as me) and is shot in black and white. The studio we shot in in (Interlude in Stoke Newington) also just happened to have a white upright piano in it, so it was meant to be!! 

 

 

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

My happiest song (or at least the one in which I’m in my most contented place) on the record is probably While I Was Dying (ironically, ha). The song is about having overcome the struggles of the few years preceding and following getting sober and the massive transformation I had to go through to become a much happier and more stable person. The song ends in a hopeful place, which is where I find myself now. 

 

 Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025?

I have some EU dates opening with Irish artist Susan O’Neill and I’m currently planning some UK dates to celebrate the new record for later in 2025. 

 

Who is in your touring band?

My amazing band is Fred Claridge on drums and Jason Tebble on bass. 

 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage? 

My aim is to have connected with the audience. Music, and art in general, is a place where everyone finds common ground and moments of real connection, so if I have facilitated that in some way then I’ve done my job. The other great hope is that will have played a show and gotten off stage without spilling something (which will always be a miracle). 

 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I have a Flint Strymon guitar pedal which is a reverb and tremelo pedal in one. I just love it and have one in the UK and one in Australia now. 

 

How do you look after your voice? 

I look after it by not battering it constantly with alcohol and cigarettes like I used to for years!! And also just keeping myself as hydrated as possible when I’m singing a lot/on the road. 

 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Ooo, great question. Probably Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert. I love the drama. And a female villain. 

 

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Joan Armatrading is a huge singing and guitar inspiration and influence. Also Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin, The War on Drugs, Martha Wainwright (I could go on) and I’d highly recommend William Crighton, my friend and fellow Aussie who tours in the UK regularly. An incredible artist. 

 

When did you begin songwriting?

Before I could talk. My family is very musical. 

 

What is your earliest musical memory?

Sitting on my dad’s lap as a very small kid watching him play piano with my little hands resting on his as he played. 

 

What makes Liz Stringer happy and what makes her unhappy?

What makes me happy are days off with my beautiful boyfriend where we just cook and watch crime thrillers and go for walks. What makes me unhappy is any kind of social injustice. Not just unhappy, but very angry. Why the rich should have more access to everything, while punching down at every opportunity, is wild to me. It’s cooked.