We recently connected with Lisa Hightower and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Let me help you craft this into a polished response for your magazine interview, maintaining your authentic voice while enhancing the narrative flow and emotional resonance.

The most meaningful project I’m currently working on is The Vineyard Wine Fest, where I’ve recently become Lead Partner with equity ownership alongside the founder. This festival is particularly special because it’s created by artists, for artists, with a powerful vision to expand across the United States and eventually bridge the African & Black Diaspora, creating performance opportunities for artists both here and abroad. The other beautiful thing is, I have been able to bring my team with me and open up a door for them to also share in the equity by offering their unique abilities and highly competent skills.

The way I connected with this festival feels almost like destiny. I was drawn to a thumbnail of a musician online – something about it caught my eye, and I made a mental note to return to it later. When I finally watched the full clip, I was completely moved by his music. It resonated deeply with my soul and my own style of performing & flowing. My manager had the exact same reaction. I reached out to compliment his work, which sparked an incredible exchange of messages, eventually leading to an in-person meeting. He was thrilled to discover I wasn’t just a singer, but also a songwriter and producer. We wrote 7-8 songs our first meet and we both knew, we had found a musical soul connection. This talented musician has since become my music director.

Through our growing professional relationship, he introduced me to the founder of The Vineyard Music Fest, who was seeking artist partners. When discussing the partnership structure, I actually suggested the founder maintain majority ownership to honor his founding role, though he was graciously open to an equal split. My role now encompasses representing the artist perspective, handling marketing and branding, and contributing to overall festival success.

We’re gearing up for our Memorial Day weekend festival near Raleigh, NC, at a beautiful local winery. We’re looking at potential headliners like Kenny Lattimore, Avery*Sunshine, and Eric Roberson. While this will be my inaugural festival as a partner, it’s actually the third installment of this remarkable event. What makes this project so meaningful to me is how organic the connection was – from being drawn to a single thumbnail, to now helping shape a platform that celebrates and unites artists across continents.

Lisa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been called a force of nature, and I embrace that fully. When I step onto a stage, my voice doesn’t just fill the room – it penetrates souls and ignites audiences. That’s not just performance; it’s purpose.

My music is a fusion of everything that’s shaped me – jazz, gospel, soul, and R&B. I’ve created what I call SOUL 2 SOUL Music, where improvisation meets raw emotion. I draw inspiration from legends like Nina Simone, whose commanding stage presence and unwavering conviction have deeply influenced my own artistic journey, along with the incomparable vocal styling of Ella Fitzgerald.

I’ve been blessed to perform at internationally renowned venues like The Musical Instrument Museum and the Lewis Nash Jazz Club. I’ve headlined at the Doc Jones International Jazz Festival, ICIESKATES Jazz & Wine Station, the beautiful Chandler Center for The Arts, and Westside Blues & Jazz, among many other notable stages. I’m thrilled to share that I’ve recently been invited to take my music international, this has always been a dream of mine.

My journey has led me to some incredible moments – from performing at Football Hall of Fame events to opening for legends like Alexander O’Neal and Fred Hammond. I’ve had the honor of sharing the stage with Lonnie Hamilton of War and countless other talented artists who’ve enriched my musical path.

My latest single “Til Morning” has really struck a chord with listeners, becoming what many call an anthem of love. It’s part of my ongoing “SOUL THERAPY” project, through which I continue to release new music that speaks to the heart and moves the soul.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

The thing most non-creatives might struggle to understand about my journey – and the journey of artists in general – is that we’re actually visionaries and entrepreneurs in the purest sense. When people see the final product – a song, a performance, a festival – they’re seeing the tip of the iceberg. What they don’t see is the intricate entrepreneurial mindset that goes into creating something from nothing.

Artists are essentially running startups with every creative project we undertake. We’re not just making music; we’re building businesses, developing brands, and creating entire experiences from scratch. The brilliance of artistry lies in our ability to transform an abstract idea – something that exists only in our minds – into a tangible reality that moves people.

There are so many levels to what we do that often go unrecognized. It goes way beyond the music itself. We’re simultaneously being creative directors, business strategists, brand managers, and public relations experts. We have to understand marketing, networking, finance, and time management – all while maintaining our creative output and artistic integrity.

Think about it – when I step into the studio or onto a stage, I’m not just a singer. I’m a CEO making split-second decisions about my product (the music), my brand (my artistic identity), and my market (the audience). We have to think in steps and systems that most people wouldn’t immediately associate with creative work. That’s why I believe artists are some of the most sophisticated entrepreneurs out there – we’re constantly building something from nothing, taking risks, and innovating in ways that transform not just our art, but the entire cultural landscape.

Understanding this complexity might help people appreciate not just the art they see and hear, but the incredible amount of vision, strategy, and business acumen that goes into making it all happen. Artists aren’t just dreamers – we’re doers, builders, and innovators who operate on multiple levels simultaneously.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Connecting with the audience to create a synergistic experience is spiritual for me. I love engaging with them while sharing my original songs and what I call “songs in the moment”, (creating lyrics & music personalized & crafted in real time).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lisahightowermusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisatheeoraclehightower
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisatheeoraclehightower
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lisatheeoraclehightower
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/lisahightowermusic

Image Credits

Diane Banyai – 2 photos