Lindi Ortega
TORONTO-BORN CALGARY RESIDENT LINDI ORTEGA is releasing her fifth album, Liberty, a concept album about a personal renaissance in an effort to help others. Some hidden challenges include navigating the business side of music. “Now, I am much more aware of it and I think it would have been to my advantage to have that knowledge when I was younger,” she says. Produced by Nashville’s Skylar Wilson and recorded at East Nashville’s Battle Tapes studio with the band Steelism and Charlie McCoy, Ortega’s Mexican and Irish roots manifest in her recent tunes — she sings in Spanish to give the music an authentic connection with her Mexican heritage. Liberty will be released on March 30 via Shadowbox Music/ Cooking Vinyl.
What are your current fixations?
I was watching a [Netflix] show called Ozark that I got really into. The last book I read was Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, and the last music I listened to was Colter Wall. I’ve just started to really get into cooking; I made this dish called Teriyaki Brussels Balls and it’s pan-fried Brussels sprouts with meatballs, and then there is garlic and teriyaki; I just kind of put the Brussels spouts over the meatballs and it is quite yummy.
What have been your career highs and lows?
Career high: Playing the Grand Ole Opry twice. It was cool, because a lot of my musical heroes have done that. Low: The industry is a difficult one to try to survive in. At the level that I exist at, there are always highs and lows. Sometimes you don’t know how much money you are going to bring in. It is not like a regular job — it can be a little bit difficult to financially survive in this business. That actually almost drove me to quit music one time. Another low is getting sick on tour. Nobody likes that.
What’s the meanest thing ever said to you before, during or after a gig?
Somebody yelled at me that I suck during a gig. I had somebody who once, a long time ago, wrote a blog post just laying into me after I played a show, and it was more than just them not liking the music. It was a personal attack. That wasn’t very nice.
What should everyone shut up about?
“Y.O.L.O.” I think that can be retired. I am kind of over that.
What traits do you most like and most dislike about yourself?
I’m pretty resilient whenever I am faced with any kind of adversity; I usually just keep going and try to rise above. My worst trait might be that I have moments, just like everyone else, where I doubt myself or doubt my abilities. I have to learn to have more confidence in myself.
What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday?
I just like hanging out with my husband and watching movies on Netflix and getting in our pyjamas all day and eating. Ordering a pizza, eating some good junk food, having some wine.
What advice should you have taken, but did not?
I should have taken the advice to know the music business a bit better. I was more sort of focused on creating and all the fun parts — the business part is kind of boring. But I was a kid, so I didn’t think that it would be as valuable to know the inner-workings of the business.
What do you think of when you think of Canada?
Poutine. When I was living in the States, I craved it so much, because I am such a huge cheese addict, especially cheese curds. I love maple syrup, too. Can I add the Rocky Mountains? I love the Rocky Mountains.
What was the first LP/cassette/ CD/ eight track you ever bought with your own money?
This is going to sound really weird but it was actually a rap cassette, because my friend whose mom babysat me listened to rap and she told me I needed to listen to this cassette. So, I bought a cassette by Big Daddy Kane. My dad found it and got really angry because there was swearing and vulgar language and I was really young — maybe, like ten or something.
What was your most memorable day job?
I worked at a photo lab. I had great bosses who treated me really well — they let me do studio portrait photography. I thought it was just cool to see people’s vacation pictures of places that I have never been to. Every once in a while you’d see somebody dressed up as KISS, but naked.
How do you spoil yourself?
I like to go to flea markets and buy myself presents. I like to look for treasures; usually it’s jewellery or clothes.
If I wasn’t playing music I would be…
Either be an air crash investigator or a storm chaser.
What do you fear most?
Worms. I don’t like worms, I have a worm phobia. Spiders are a close second, but I think I would prefer a spider crawling on me to a worm.
What has been your strangest celebrity encounter?
Rachel McAdams came to one of my shows in L. A. one time, and I mean, it was awesome, but I was totally an idiot because I am a huge fan of her and I couldn’t speak properly when I was trying to talk to her. So, I just ended up stuttering and being an idiot.
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
I would like to have some Mexican food with Frida Kahlo, the painter.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
“Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” by Blind Willie Johnson.
“Once in a while you see somebody dressed up as KISS, but naked.”