Rising artist Lia Caton chatted about “The Only Thing Missing is You.”
You just released your debut album “Someone Like You.” How does it feel to persevere through the pandemic to launch your debut album that you initially kickstarted in 2020?
It is an amazing feeling to finally be able to share these songs with everyone. We started writing and recording in 2018. The anticipated release was in the spring of 2020. However, these songs all take on a new meaning to me after going through the challenges of the pandemic.
So many people lost loved ones during that time, and I hope the song The Only Thing Missing is You will bring peace and healing to those who have suffered a loss. The song Hell or High Water is about overcoming adversity and struggles, which rings true for all people who have suffered during the pandemic.
There are so many other songs on the album that have a deeper meaning after the pandemic. Songs that were written with different intentions have a more impactful message behind them now.
How did you get connected to Sean Giovanni, a producer with credits who include John Legend, Tim McGraw, and Big & Rich?
As I researched different recording studios in Nashville, I called and spoke to many, but I wasn’t making a true connection. Gio was the last studio I called. He was the only producer that asked me questions about my project, vision, inspiration, and goals. Our initial conversation was almost an hour long.
He really focused on getting to know me as an artist and the importance of pre-production of the songs before we recorded. His approach was unique compared to other studios, and that made him a great match.
You often co-write with Benji Harris, a writer/artist who has penned hits that have landed on CMT. What was it like opening your ideas to him and were there any unique stories throughout the project that stand out?
Benji is an amazingly talented writer and an equally wonderful person who made me feel so comfortable within minutes of meeting him. He really took the time to listen to my stories and get a strong understanding of the message I was trying to convey with each song.
Within a half hour of meeting, we wrote our first song together called The Only Thing Missing is You, and the emotional process brought us both to tears. Benji perfectly captured the emotion behind the song and helped create beautiful visuals to tell the story. Our first day of writing was a full spectrum of emotions.
We laughed and cried while writing and had a very prolific co-writing experience. Meeting a co-writer and creating songwriting magic on your first day doesn’t happen very often.
As a leading, breakout independent artist on the country scene, describe how it feels when you see organizations like the Academy of Country Music getting behind your project and spotlighting you among the chart-toppers?
As an independent artist, receiving validation from the ACM on my project is an absolute dream come true for me. There is such a huge number of amazingly talented artists out there creating music, and to be spotlighted in the same company as Grammy winners is such a gift. I couldn’t be more appreciative.
You often showcase your pets on your socials. How many do you have; are they rescues and tell us about the one you featured in your Hell or High Water video?
It has been a tough year for pets in our home. Marley, the yellow lab, and Bella, the Chihuahua, both passed away suddenly. It left a huge hole in our hearts and home, especially for their fur siblings Wrigley, a Maltese rescue, and Cash, a rescue kitty.
Marley was featured in the video Hell or High Water. She was playing my yellow lab Winnie from childhood. Marley, unfortunately, passed away in March before we finished filming. She was such a loving and happy dog, and I’m so grateful that we have her captured forever in the video.
In April, we welcomed Layla, a black lab puppy, into our family. She is the sweetest and is so full of energy. We lost our beautiful Bella in August. We adopted her in 2011 when she was about 2 years old.
Bella was our baby and had been with us the longest, so she is deeply missed by us all. Now have Layla, Wrigley, and Cash keeping us busy and making our fur family complete for now.
On the charity/community front, you often advocate for the homeless community. Why does that resonate so strongly with you?
My father struggled with addiction for most of his life and became homeless at one point. He was found on the streets back in 2002 and almost lost his life. It was through nothing short of a miracle that he survived and went on to be sober for 15 years before he passed away a few years ago.
Everyone on the streets has a story. My father was a Veteran, husband, father, brother, and friend with a great sense of humor and love for music and for his daughter.
My hope is that by bringing awareness to the crisis of homelessness, people will take time to recognize our friends without an address as fellow humans with a story and a need for kindness.
You are premiering the video for ‘The Only Thing Missing is You’ with us today. Tell us about that track.
This song was written by my co-writer Benji Harris and was inspired by personal loss as well as the losses suffered by close friends. One of the common narratives I heard was about the pain, and sometimes guilt, involved with moving on in their lives after the initial grief had passed.
This song is about the love and memories we hold onto while continuing to live without the ones we’ve lost.
If you could land an opening slot opening for any artist, who would you choose and why?
I would love to open for Wynonna for a few reasons. She has a natural talent and gift for songwriting and is a true artist. She has been through a lot of challenges and pain in her life which I can truly relate to.
I think our songs and sound would complement each other. Opening for Wynonna and getting the audience pumped for her would be such a cool experience and an honor.
To learn more about Lia Caton, follow her on Instagram.
