Woman to Woman:
Our exclusive interview with singer/songwriter Lori Lieberman

Get out your iPods, ladies. We’ve just found your new favorite singer.

Singer/songwriter Lori Lieberman -- does “Killing Me Softly” ring a bell? – has been a critics’ favorite for decades. With the release of her new album, “Gun Metal Sky,” and an upcoming performance at New York’s prestigious City Winery, Lori is poised to finally become a household name.

We’re so honored to have her as a member of our StyleSubstanceSoul community, and were thrilled to catch up with her before she heads across the country in a couple of weeks. Listen to what she has to say about her past, how it’s shaped who she is now and what happened when she met the legend we compare her to – Joni Mitchell.

SSS: We really want to talk about all the great things going on in your life now, but can you just tell us the story behind “Killing Me Softly” first for our readers who may not have heard it?

LL: I was 19 years old and was finishing my first album when my girlfriend dragged me to a club to see this guy named Don McLean. I was so moved by his song, “Empty Chairs,” and felt like he was singing about me and my life. I wrote a poem about it and showed it to one of the two guys I was working with on my album, and he expanded it into lyrics.

SSS: You recorded it on your album, but Roberta Flack had the big hit with it. How did that happen?

LL: She heard my song on a plane and decided to record it. When I first heard her version, I was sort of relieved and thought, “Oh good, it’ll never go.” Obviously, I have no idea of what will become a hit because it went on to become one of the biggest songs of all time!

SSS: How did you feel about that? You re-recorded the song for your new album, so it must have a lot of
significance to you, for better or worse.

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