We caught up with Lindi Ortega, one of Canada’s most interesting up and coming singer-songwriters on the eve of her tour with Social Distortion.

NT: When did you discover your love of singing and playing guitar, I think your self taught?

LO: When I was about 15/16 I learned how to play an old classical guitar my dad had bought for my mom.She showed no interest in it, but I sure did. My dad showed me two chords and I picked up the rest on my own. I started singing in high school, and the more I performed the assemblies and verity shows the more I was addicted to singing and wanted to do it more and more.

LO: Did you always know you wanted to perform for people?Yes, after the very first show I did in front of people I knew it was something I wanted to continue doing.There’s nothing that’s quite as amazing as connecting with an audience through music.

NT: Were you always a fan of Alt country?

LO: I was a fan of full on country. I loved the old Traditional tunes by Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. Then I got more into the outlaws. Country music was always present. It just played more of a role in its influence on my music the older I got.

NT: Who were some of your biggest influences that got you into songwriting?

LO: Well I also loved Leonard Cohen. Thought he was a brilliant poet and lyricist. For my record Little Red Boots, Johnny Cash was a big influence.

NT: Being a fan of the Kinks, I have to ask what it was like opening up for Ray Davies? Quite an accomplishment, lots of people would give anything to have that opportunity.

LO: It was amazing! He was a really cool cat!

NT: Having sang back up on a Brandon Flowers tour, do you find there’s much less pressure when it’s not your own show?

LO: I think its a completely different ball game. Personally I like the one where I am swinging the bat! I never let pressure get the better of me no matter what the situation.

NT: You wrote all the songs on ‘Little Red Boots’ were you involved with much of arranging the music as well

LO: Well I had the songs written on guitar, there wasn’t much difference in arrangement from my guitar versions to the full band versions. But I can say that the musicians brought their own thing to my music which I truly appreciated and was honoured to have a slice of their talent on my recordings.

NT: Some of the songs dealt with some pretty dark subjects, was it an emotional period for you when writing ‘Little Red Boots’?

LO: Life is emotional. There are always gonna be dark moments, they are unavoidable. I will always write about them!

NT: Can you tell me five of your favourite records

LO:

1) Johnny Cash Live from Folsom Prision
2) Timber Timbre Creep on Creepin On
3) Hank Williams (Box Set)
4) Ponderosa Moonlight Revival
5) Lightnin Hopkins The Collection

http://www.myspace.com/lindimusic
http://lindiortega.ca/