Unforgettable Vocals

PHOTO BY TOM ZELENY

LISBETH SCOTT’S VOICE IS FEATURED ON VOCAL

TRACKS IN JAMES CAMERON’S NEW EPIC FILM, AVATAR.

By Ed Martinez

Published in the Winter 2009 issue of MyTekLife Magazine

She sings to comfort, heal, move, transport and awaken the divine voice in us all.

Her fans refer to her unique voice as “shiver inducing,” and her vocals have appeared on hundreds of motion pictures, including Steven Spielberg’s Munich, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ and Disney’s Narnia film series, to name just a few.

Lisbeth told me that she was raised as a classical pianist and began to discover her voice right after college. “When I graduated from college, I played for modern dance classes. I was singing one day to make it more interesting, and everyone stopped and told me what a beautiful voice I had. I had never really thought about it, but that’s where it all began, and I’ve been pretty blessed ever since,” she said.

Soon after that, she was asked if she would like to sing on a score Hans Zimmer was doing. “My initial reaction was, who is he?” Lisbeth confided. “I quickly learned it was a true honor to be asked by someone as great and talented as Hans.”

Lisbeth said she felt blessed and privileged to work with Zimmer on a number of projects. Their first collaboration was on the movie Toys, with Robin Williams, and that led to Broken Arrow, which she said was “the first huge score.”

Impressed with her vocal abilities, composer John Williams wrote the Munich piece for Lisbeth. “That was a special highlight of my career,” she said, adding that when she sang the piece for the first time, she recalls saying to Williams, “Wow! This music feels so natural, as if it was written for me.” “That’s because it was,” he told her.

So what is Lisbeth up to these days? She released a new album in November titled “Hope Is a Thing.” According to Lisbeth, the new album has a special purpose. “Awhile back, I decided that given all the recent focus on what challenging times these are, I wanted to create a way to keep people looking forward and focusing on dreams and visions, because I’ve always believed anything is possible.”

In connection with her new album, Lisbeth started a site on the Internet, hopeisathing.com. The site was originally created as a way to garner financial support for the album, and “through many generous souls, the CD is done!” she added proudly.

Hopeisathing.com is a place where people from all over the world can see what others are hoping for. Visitors can take a picture of themselves with a handmade sign that illustrates what they hope for, and upload it to the gallery page. “As we grow, I’d love to be able to make some of these hopes and wishes come true somehow. I haven’t figured out how yet, but I will!” Lisbeth exclaimed.

Her new album has 15 tracks, ranging from pop tunes to music that’s ideal for relaxation and meditation. It also includes new versions of Imagine and Hallelujah, which are probably the most covered songs of all time. “I feel these are pretty special,” Lisbeth said. The music video for the track Hope Is a Thing was shot by Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler.

Lisbeth also supports the non-profit organization Education Through Music Los Angeles. “ETMLA is such a wonderful organization that helps bring music to kids in schools that might not otherwise have access. I feel I was blessed with music as a child,” she commented. Both of her parents were award-winning ballroom dancers. “I love the idea of everyone being able to have that same access. In fact, it saddens me to think of a child who is deprived of the basic gift of music,” she added.

I asked Lisbeth what some of her fondest memories were from her career. She mentioned that everything she has worked on has been a gratifying experience. “Being able to sing on John Debney’s score to The Passion of the Christ was truly an emotional experience, as was working on Munich—which was where I first got to meet Spielberg and Williams and experience their incredible energy.” Lisbeth described her work on the Narnia films and Shrek as “fun and rewarding” and said that working on Steve Jablonsky’s Transformers was “certainly another highlight.”

THIRD-GRADE STUDENT FROM ST. SEBASTIAN’S ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES HOLDS UP HIS “HOPE IS A THING” SIGN.

Another huge accomplishment for Lisbeth is her participation in James Cameron’s new blockbuster, Avatar. “I was so excited when James Horner invited me to sing on such a highly anticipated film,” she said. “The film and score are beautiful, stunning and truly epic in every way.”

It’s difficult to imagine what films would be like without beautiful music and vocal renditions from talented artists such as Lisbeth Scott, who has touched many people, not only with her beautiful and unique sound, but also through her work with charitable organizations.