We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lizzy Weiland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lizzy below.

Alright, Lizzy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I always toy with the idea of what would life look like if I had followed a more traditional path. Certainly, some things would be easier, but I am exhilarated by the daily challenge of “making it work”. Leading a creative life is like solving a jigsaw puzzle, and sometimes you find yourself piecing things together before you really even know what the big picture is supposed to look like. However, that is part of the magic.

In the midst of struggles, I have met some of the most amazing creatives, traveled & toured with my friends/bandmates, and grown into a more confident & secure version of myself overall. I wouldn’t be who I am today without these experiences, so I remind myself of that when the ‘going gets hard’. It’s difficult to take the path less traveled, but the adventure is worth the uncertainty.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve had a guitar in my hand since I was child, and both my parents were avid music lovers, although they did not play instruments themselves. Car rides were often filled with Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and Fleetwood Mac, and I learned many ‘classics’ in my early days of guitar lessons.

My artistry really started to blossom when I joined my first touring band, Violet & the Undercurrents. I was 19 and green, and had much to learn, but my bandmates took me under their wing and gave me a solid foundation of how a band is supposed to operate, and what is truly possible living life as a creative. They showed me the ins & outs of tour life, I had my first experiences recording in Nashville, we toured the midwest & the gulf coast together, making many friends along the way.

After the pandemic, I was back in St. Louis, MO with ample time to plan my next move. I had previously identified as a “guitar player”, mainly writing to enhance others’ songs, but I began to write my own songs, and even started to sing (something I had been deathly afraid of in a past life). After putting together several demos on GarageBand, I found myself on my way to the studio to record my first full length album.

HoneÿCreeper, the title of my band, stems from a personal duality between light and dark, sweet and spooky. My songs reflect my own stories and struggles, intertwined with mystic interpretations & reflective instrumentation. Every song on the album is unique from the next, while maintaining a theme of mysticism and odes to my early influences. I have released 5 singles thus far, and am ecstatic to release the full work in 2024.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer is one of my favorite books that I’ve read & re-read many times, and I would recommend it to anyone pursuing any creative discipline. Palmer explains the importance of reaching out to your community and highlights her own ups and downs in the music industry, as well as her early days working as a living statue in Boston. It’s a very insightful read, and I often reference the text when I need advice or clarity.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The biggest thing fueling my creative journey is the idea of not giving up. Life can certainly be challenging, especially when you take an unconventional route, but diamonds are made under pressure, after all. The songs I’m most proud of came from the darkest of times, which leads me to believe the darkness is a teacher, not a punisher, and you really can do anything you put your mind to, as long as you persist. I hope to someday be an inspiration to others who may teeter on the edge of giving up- if I can do it, you can too. Persistence, patience, and hard work have been my secret ingredients to producing an album & living a life full of music and creativity. Although not easy, it is very worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/honeycreeper
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeycreeperr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086589562580
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85TjFnkYecw

Image Credits
Amber Nichole Thiessen (babetown.mo) Taylor Burns (cndidshots)