We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Apple a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I quit a nice, comfy, well-paying job at 26 years-old to pursue the unknown and unstable career of music, writing, and teaching. I had grown up in the creative world – performing, singing, dancing, writing. I started out in college as a voice major at Belmont University, but after a rough bout with vocal nodules, I ended up getting my degree in music business. I worked in the music business in Nashville for a few years, and then moved back to Dallas where I somehow managed to get a pretty cush job at the world headquarters of Mary Kay. It was a great job. Except everyday I felt like I was sitting in some other’s girls dream job. At first I rationalized it – after all, it’s a J-O-B. Just do it for the money. You love makeup. It’s a short commute. It’s not that outside of your comfort zone. Until I finally couldn’t stand it any longer. I planned my exit strategy over a six-month period down to the day I was going to give my two-weeks notice. Something in me clicked, and I woke up. I realized I was the leading lady in my own life. I had to start acting like it. I could no longer sit back and let others, the culture, money or convenience determine my fate. Life is simply too short. It was a most exhilarating experience to turn in my two-weeks notice to my boss. I was terrified, but it felt so right. A risk worth taking. That was almost 20 years ago. It hasn’t been easy to be on the other side of that risk, but I wouldn’t change the path of my life for anything. I am so thankful for all of the lessons I learned at that job and equally thankful for all of the doors that opened after I left that job. Sometimes you have to leap first before you know where you’re going to land. It’s what makes life interesting – the unknown. And the sooner you do it, the sooner you (and your brain!) get used to it.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a lover of life and all things music and musical theatre. Currently, I live in the same city I grew up in – Plano, Texas. I have lots of connections here and know it’s where I’m supposed to be right now. I’ve always been in the creative world here. I’ve done theatre, dance, singing gigs for years here and in Dallas. I have been fortunate enough to have AND enjoy a steady gig as a music teacher at a private school here. It has been a job with endless creative opportunities for me, and I love working, not only at my institution (shoutout to Prestonwood Christian Academy), but with the young people within the walls of it! I know their struggles and see them and still have a pretty fierce drive to impact their lives for good via music and choir class!
Additionally, I have also written and recorded two full-length albums (Self-titled and Music for the Sky) and co-written a musical called Boy on Billboard. The musical is a story based on true events of my brother James Apple who struggled with schizophrenia toward the end of his life. It aims to provide hope, healing, and a call to action as it relates to the epidemic that is mental illness. My co-writer Meg Parker-Wilson and I have more than 35 years of combined performance and creative writing experience, and this project is by far the thing I’m most proud of.
We are hopeful to get Boy on Billboard into the hands of universities and high school directors across the country. In the meantime, we are headed to 54 Below in New York City this summer to do a showcase, and we are so thrilled to get to perform all of the Boy on Billboard music in this venue on July 18, 2024!
In the last 5 years of crafting, working and re-working this story, we have seen it become a platform for people to share their personal story as it relates to mental health. Meg and I have heard countless stories from people who start out with “I’ve never told anybody this…” and then out comes a jaw-dropping story of something about someone they knew, someone in their family, a best friend, an uncle, a niece, etc…all relating either to suicide or mental illness – something they’ve never felt safe enough to share. I have been so humbled by the idea that telling a heartbreaking, personal family story of my own could bring so much healing and togetherness with so many people I don’t even know. There is nothing quite like being on the receiving end of a vulnerable person who, for the first time, feels safe to share their story. I love the creative aspect of this project as well as the storytelling and collaborating element, but it has also made me realize there is still a major stigma tied to mental illness. I hope Boy on Billboard can help push back the darkness and shame around this topic.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative person to me is the purpose I’ve found from it. In a world that is so backwards and upside down at times, I have found so much solace and clarity when I hold the space to intentionally create. Whether it be writing music, working with students and even seeing them have ‘aha’ moments on their musical journey, or hearing my music played or sung.
It doesn’t come often, but when it does, there’s nothing quite like it. And honestly, the clarity and peace don’t last long, but the satisfaction that they bring is enough to get me through the dry or dark times to the next exhilarating moment!
I’ve met many people that speak of their creative gift but don’t use it. Either because of insecurities, lack of confidence, or a host of other reasons. They are missing out on a huge aspect of the project of being human altogether. If you have a gift, you were made to use it for the world to see. If things or life are getting in the way, I challenge you to muster up the courage and work through the issues so you can find the freedom and joy that come with using a gift you’ve been given. It is not by accident that you were given a gift. It was by a master designer! It can be big or small – it doesn’t matter, but there’s no one else like YOU to deliver the message that can come through your gift! I have lived by this for so long and believe it. We all have a purpose!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The world has changed so much since I was a kid. Politics are all over the place, media outlets with all kinds of agendas, social media full of so much misinformation and garbage, it’s hard to know which way is up these days. I try to keep my focus in life simple – truth. I am drawn to whatever is real and true. That’s who I wanna be. That’s who I wanna work with. And storytelling with purpose. Stories never grow old. People’s attention spans have certainly changed, but a good story is timeless and can speak to anyone across any generation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.boyonbillboard.com
- Instagram: @applesongs4ever and @boyonbillboard
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.apple.98
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lisa-apple-668aa1236
- Youtube: lapple18 and boyonbillboard
- Other: Boy on Billboard will be heading to NYC to perform at 54 Below on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 9:30pm. Check out – https://54below.org/events/new-musical-boy-on-billboard/ or www.boyonbillboard.com for more info! We’d LOVE to see you there!
Image Credits
Jenny Burns & Nate Wilson