A Celebration of Women™
is honored to Celebrate the Life and Courage of yet another amazing Woman, Lola Spriggs, a single mother who followed her Dreams.
She’s a Single Mother of a teenage son and business consultant by day, and recently decided to shift gears and pursue her true passion for music (while still working her full time job and raising her son).
Truly, this Woman is an Inspiration that one should ‘never, never, never give up’ and that ‘everything is possible’.
Rising Above Challenges, Returning to the Right Path and Overturning ‘Bad’ Decisions…
Nothing is Impossible
WOMAN of ACTION™
Lola Spriggs
After participating in theatre arts in high school, the native Montrealer—
whose parents were born in England—
—left home at 16
and went through years of bad decisions and difficult challenges.
She later faced the ongoing heartache of a marriage that turned abusive and,
finding her way out of that Painful Situation,
did her best to provide for her son as a Single Mom.
While continuing to endure difficult circumstances at such a tender age, one night, someone in the crowd heard her singing
and invited her to start recording radio jingles and government tourism spots that aired extensively on local stations;
the tourism spots also ran internationally.
She later headlined at Venues across Ontario and Quebec
and played in a variety of regionally popular bands with unforgettable names:
Rough Edges, Centerfold, Brass Monkey, Great Aunt Alice, The Republic, Split Image and 3DB Down.
These experiences in the “indie music rat race” helped her grow a thick skin and prepare for all the challenges of being an indie artist.
A True Survivor, Spriggs is dedicated to her passion and creativity, but has also achieved success in her life as a tough, no-nonsense business consultant.
But it was when her Mother, with whom Lola held an extremely close relationship with, asked on her death bed to promise that she return to her one true passion:
Music.
“Lola” is a nickname from childhood that her uncle gave her before those Rebellious Teen Years
when life took its rough turns;
in many ways, it brings her back to a Happy Childlike Innocence.
Lola Spriggs is one of Canada’s Great all-original Female Vocalists.
Lola’s electric performance of catchy up-beat numbers,
and powerful love ballads,
draws you into her world with her hypnotic sensuality and high-energy vocals.
A performance that will truly move you…
These days, life could not be better…
Some years past the darkness, Spriggs lives in the serene countryside of Ottawa,
a pastoral locale that inspires her to write beautiful songs.
Although she has written many songs and plans to record some of them on future projects, she considers herself first and foremost a singer and vocal interpreter. While fans typically think an artist is more connected to a song that he or she has personally written, Spriggs has a very unique take on the expansive emotional possibilities of recording tunes penned by outside songwriters:
“I remember writing a song once while I was sitting on a train headed to Montreal to visit someone, and every time I sang it live, I was singing from the memory of being on that train, in the mindset I was in at that moment. The connection wasn’t too deep, just a moment in time.”
“It’s a continuous journey, roads with many twists and turns,”
she says.
“Those destinations you set your heart on can change, because when you get to one place you think is what you wanted, it may not be exactly the place for you. But I’ve always known it was possible for me to achieve greater success in my life with music.
As an independent artist, it’s difficult sometimes overcoming those speed bumps and challenges, but doing it and getting to the happy place I am lets me know it’s possible. My mother was very musical and raised me to believe that what you want to be, you can make happen.
“In the Depths of Despair,
I Doubted sometimes that Dreams were Possible,
but now I know they are…
and I’m very grateful that I had to Courage to Persevere.”
With the success of “Nobody But You” and the impending release of her new mini-CD, Spriggs is looking forward to getting on the road again and is currently in the process of assembling a new live band. As deeply as she connects with the song that is defining her to this point for American listeners, she’s eager to let people know that her emergence in the U.S. is simply one stop on a wild rollercoaster lifetime of many destinations.
LOLA SPRIGGS, WHOSE CURRENT HIT, “NOBODY BUT YOU” HAS JUST SHOT UP TO 19 BULLET IN THE U.S., ATTENDED CMW2010 OF LATE AND SAT WITH A WEALTH OF INDUSTRY VIP’S, INCLUDING LEGENDARY RADIO/MEDIA CONSULTANT & GURU, MIKE MCVAY (MCVAY MEDIA), WHO IS NOW QUOTED AS SAYING, ‘SHE’S A GENUINE TALENT … I AM IMPRESSED.’
(PHOTO: BOBBY GALE)(MARCH 13, 2010)
LOLA SPRIGGS STOPPED BY THE ASTRAL MEDIA RADIO STUDIOS OF HERITAGE AC Q97.5 LONDON TO INTRODUCE HER KIND SELF & NEW SINGLE “NOBODY BUT YOU” WHICH IMPACTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8/10. (L-R: Q97.5’S MIDDAY HOST CATHERINE MCCUTCHEON, LOLA & Q97.5 PD/OM BARRY “SMITTY” SMITH)(FEB. 5, 2010) (PHOTO: BOBBY GALE)
She plans to do Release Party/Showcases in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Detroit and other Midwestern cities.
Noriden ‘Adversity’: fineartamerica.com/featured/adversity-noredin…
“I think one day in the future I would love to talk to young people who are out in the street having a hard time in their lives—letting them know that they too can Overcome Adversity and Make something of their Lives.
More than ever now, I Believe Everything Happens for a Reason and to teach us something important.”
Lola Spriggs is now gearing up for the release of her new EP, “Nobody But You” due out this summer, after overcoming numerous hardships that have shaped her into the strong woman she is today. Spriggs’ solo recording career has included numerous Canadian radio singles (including “On Heaven’s Way,” “Braggin’”, “I Ain’t Crushed,” “Draggin Fly,” “Out of my Hands”) and three popular recordings which reflect true artist development as she slowly discovered her unique creative path.
She donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the Expressed EP to local charities;
reflected the angst, anger and troubled times
of her younger self on the uniquely titled Lifescrapes;
and showed her fearless attitude in a bluesy-country setting on her 2008 album Barefoot.
But “Nobody But You,” the lead single from her upcoming new six-song “mini-CD,” put her into exclusive company she could only dream about a few years ago, when the devoted single mom began pursuing her musical ambitions after emerging from some dark emotional places. The track shared the FMQB chart with pop superstars Rob Thomas, Daughtry, Michael Buble, Colbie Caillat, John Mayer and Lady Antebellum, legends like Air Supply and emerging star Adam Lambert.
AWARD WINNING PRODUCER MARCUS KANE, GROOVE UNTIED ARTIST DELILAH & MANAGER/ARTIST DAVID SERENY ENJOY A CMW’08 MOMENT
The song was written by internationally acclaimed producer/songwriter Marcus Kane (Snow, Joey Boy, Glenn Lewis), Bogene Williams, and Stan Stpor. Spriggs had initially approached Kane to work on the production of some new material they’d been shaping.
“The vibe of ‘Nobody But You’ reflects the happy place I’m at now and have been feeling for the past few years,” says Spriggs. “My Barefoot CD, which had a heavier, earthy rock flavor to it, was a musical transition point for me and expressed where I was a few years ago. My focus on pop/AC came from being in a comfortable place with myself and the world around me. It’s a happy ending to a long and sometimes very challenging story, but what matters is that I’m here to sing and tell the tale.”
Beyond the songs’ lush and layered vocal harmonies, the singer connected immediately to the song’s uplifting lyrics. For her, it’s a celebration of newfound happiness after years of hard fought struggles.
“The first thing I thought of when presented with the song ‘Nobody But You’ was my teenage son, who is at a transition point in his life, with both of us facing many upcoming changes. The song inspired some deep soul searching and it’s all about understanding and accepting what life gives you and not sulking about it, but figuring out how to stay strong.”
The History of the Name: “Lola”
The name ‘Lola‘ has a unique and colorful place in Pop history.
Ray Davies and The Kinks met “L-o-l-a” in a club down in Old Soho, while Barry Manilow immortalized her as a showgirl in “Copacabana.” Then there’s the famous refrain to the song from the classic musical “Damn Yankees”: “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.”
The multi-talented Ottawa, Ontario based singer Lola Spriggs is getting everything she’s been dreaming of (and has worked hard for) with her breakthrough U.S. single and title track to her new EP “Nobody But You,” which hit #11 on the FMQB AC40 Chart in May of this year.
Lola Spriggs: After Years of Hard-Fought Personal Struggles, the Ottawa-Based Singer Celebrates Her New Single ‘Nobody But You,’ Reaching #11 on the FMQB AC40 Chart in Company with Michael Buble, Colbie Caillat & John Mayer
No stranger to musical accolades, she’s scored numerous big radio singles in her native Canada since her 2004 debut EP Expressed and its mainstream retro-rock flavored follow-up Lifescrapes—and opened for some of the country’s most notable acts, including Rock and Hyde, Parachute Club and Pursuit of Happiness.
2011… Spriggs’ voice is a seductive combination of power and passion, and is an instrument capable of conveying the widest range of emotions. Her talents as a singer and performer have long been well-known in Canada. After making an impact in the bands The Republic and Rough Edges, she released two acclaimed solo albums, 2004 Lifescrapes and 2008’s Barefoot.
Her earlier work explored an amalgam of light rock stylings, but Lola has made the transition to mature and polished adult contemporary pop with graceful ease. “Art is always evolving, and tastes and moods change, as you travel through life. I don’t wear the clothes I used to. My musical style now reflects where I am in my life, and it is very close to my own taste in music now.” This evolution now fits her like an elegant custom-tailored suit.
Spriggs will soon release Shine, her highly-anticipated new album, as well as a Christmas single, “One Wish,” that is destined to become a seasonal favourite. Ladies and gentlemen, here’s the One and Only Lola Spriggs!
Lola Spriggs is starting off 2012 on more than a high note, but also a high chart position as she soars into the Top 20 on the U.S. FMQB Adult Contemporary chart this week with her catchy pop track, “Your One and Only.” With her newly released album Shine, the Ottawa-based singer claims the #18 spot (with a bullet), putting her in close company with superstar acts Gavin DeGraw, Lady Antebellum, Coldplay and Train.Covered by Fred Sherwin of Orleans Online, Lola recently showed her support for the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada (National Capital Regional Chapter) as she helped raise money for the organization at her Shine album release event held last month at the Velvet Room in Ottawa.
Lola also recently visited the digital radio station UDetroit for an interview on the Bob Bauer Show and a special performance of “Your One and Only,” the holiday-inspired track “One Wish,” and her 2010 hit “Nobody But You.”
Lola will be interviewed on Big Blend Magazine & Radio’s lively “Champagne Sundays” show on Sunday, January 29. Fans can tune in online at 4 p.m. EST by clicking here.
Those who have been following Spriggs’ career since the release of her 2004 debut EP Expressed can detect the unique evolution in musical styles as Spriggs’ has explored the many genres that intrigue her. On her new album, Shine, Spriggs introduces a lighter, high-spirited side of her artistry while tapping into a diverse array of influences. While “Your One and Only” is infectious dreamy pop fare, the collection includes subtle country accents in the production by Spriggs’ longtime collaborator Marcus Kane (Snow, Joey Boy, Glenn Lewis) and the dance floor dynamite of “Lola La Lo.”
Website: http://www.lolaspriggs.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/lolaspriggs
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lola.spriggs
Soundclick: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=229639
On JUNE 6, 2012, Lola will be in TORONTO !!!
Yes, Lola will be presenting to our WINNER for Young Women on the Move’s SONG CONTEST.
It is our pleasure to announce that A Celebration of Women Foundation Inc. will be supporting the creation and production of this winning song at a professional studio, with one of our very own, musical professional WOMEN of ACTION ( Lola Spriggs ).Our Founder, Catherine Anne Clark addresses the girls on March 6 2012 offering assistance and support to all our future SONG WRITERS and shares a few words on healthy competition, announcing the gift of recording with a famous song writer WOMAN of ACTION from our Alumni.
CONTEST WINNER presents on: JUNE 6, 2012
All Young Women that are engaging in this Contest that are seeking assistance or mentorship are welcome to send all musical, writing block and moral support questions through to Team Celebration through our CONTACT PAGE.
Young Women on the Move (YWM) is a powerful TDSB (Toronto District School Board) mentorship initiative for girls in Grades 3-12. Building on existing mentorship programs for girls, YWM empowers girls to become agents of positive change. YWM is a growing network of socially conscious young women supported by meaningful relationships with a strong community of mentors.
The Young Women on the Move (YWM) committee challenged the TDSB girls’ group to write and perform a new YWM anthem. The anthem should resonate with the experiences of the girls and must include the words Caring, Courageous, and Confident.
The winners of the YWM anthem contest will be invited to perform at the year-end event on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at Camp Robin Hood.
WOMAN of ACTION™ – Lola Spriggs
April 29, 2012 by
