“At The Free House, time stops, and music runs free.” These words by Lisa Li-Lund perfectly capture the spirit of her latest single, Reverse Waterfall, a song that flows with the raw energy of live collaboration and the timeless magic of nature.
Recorded at The Free House, a secluded studio tucked away in the woods of Brussels, the track embodies the synergy between Lisa and her collaborators, The Soldiers of Love. As Lisa recounts: “With ‘Reverse Waterfall,’ I wanted to create a track with a catchy melody that, once heard, lingers gently in your mind—when you’re cycling against the wind, washing your hair in a lake, thinking, and feeling free.”
The accompanying video, shot in Deauville, Normandie, reflects Lisa’s desire to keep things authentic and personal. Directed by Diane Sagnier, it features paths where Lisa rides her bike and walks her dog, with her everyday clothes lending a raw intimacy to the visuals. Shot in one day with a tiny handheld camera, the video embodies the very freedom and simplicity that anchor her music.
With its minimalist production, sweet yet nostalgic melody, and lyrics exploring the tension between chaos and calm, Reverse Waterfall offers a first taste of her forthcoming album Born From Death, which promises to be both a deeply personal journey and an ode to creative freedom.
In our interview, we talk about the making of Reverse Waterfall, her connection to nature, and the essence of freedom in her music.
photography by Diane Sagnier
‘Reverse Waterfall’ was recorded at The Free House, a studio nestled in the woods of Brussels. That sounds so idyllic. Can you describe this place a little bit, and also how you felt working there, and how long you were there for the recordings?
At The Free House, time stops, and music runs free. You have to walk through mud and trees to get there, and you can hear owls and cross paths with foxes on your way. I went to Belgium (from France) twice, each time for only a couple of days. I am not able to describe the way it felt playing with these guys—it just felt right. I was grateful because they are so gifted and, at the same time, so light about it.
It was a collaboration with the Soldiers of Love. Can you tell us a little more about them and how the collaboration came about?
I discovered The Soldiers of Love when my dear friend Turner Cody, a fabulous American musician, recorded an album with them. I thought they sounded great. Then I heard Nicolas Michaux’s music and fell asleep listening to it. I dreamed we were playing a festival in the middle of the woods in Sweden together as a band. The next day, I contacted Nicolas and told him about my dream and said that we should play music together. Later, he invited me to play a show with them in Paris. They listened to my music on the ride to Paris, and we met for the first time on stage, where they played as my backing band on my songs, and I sang backing vocals on theirs.
“Freedom to me is being able to exist and communicate to the outside world exactly the way you feel on the inside.”
You mentioned that “Reverse Waterfall” was inspired by a conversation where someone asked you what animal you’d want to be. And your answer was: “I said I wouldn’t want to be an animal, but rather a waterfall because a waterfall can sustain life, hide you, shelter you, but also crush you if you’re not careful.” Why does this combination fascinate you so much?
I am very close to Nature. I feel most safe in the woods, in the cold ocean, or taking a night swim in a lake. I also feel at peace and among friends with animals. The combination of raw strength and nurturing that you can find in natural elements such as water and fire is the very essence of Life, and I admire it.
I love the song. The melody has something very calming, familiar, and at the same time, a little melancholic. “When you’re cycling against the wind, washing your hair in a lake, thinking, and feeling free” – those were your associations when writing it. Does this feeling of freedom also play a role throughout the rest of the album, or what other themes are explored?
Thank you! Yes, this feeling of freedom has very much to do with the rest of the album—in writing it and also in recording it. When I started writing it, I had one musical goal: writing simple melodies that you could listen to and sing over and over again. Their simplicity is what ties them to freedom because they can be played by anyone, on a simple guitar or a keyboard, and they don’t require any complicated setup. Also, at the time, my record label wanted me to record a solo album, and I didn’t want to, so I just took my songs and jumped on a train to Brussels, and we made it happen somewhere else. Freedom!
“The video was shot on the paths where I ride my bike with my kid and walk my dog—it’s as close to my real life as possible.”
What does freedom mean to you personally?
Freedom to me is being able to exist and communicate to the outside world exactly the way you feel on the inside.
Your upcoming album Born From Death – why did you choose this title? And was it all recorded at The Free House?
Born From Death is the story of my existence. I was born 9 months after my paternal grandmother, Esther, died. I always had a very strong connection to her, even though I never met her on Earth. I think our souls crossed paths on her way out and my way in, and it made me who I am. The live instrumental parts were all recorded at The Free House. Then I recorded my vocals on my own, at night, in my place in French Normandy, under the Moon and by the Sea.
The album was mostly recorded live, which sounds amazing. What was it like to capture everything with such raw energy?
It was everything I dreamed of for these songs. I had a vision when I first wrote them, which became so precise when I saw The Soldiers Of Love on stage, and it came to life. At first, I thought I would just play the songs for them, but we ended up recording the album on the spot. We had an instant common understanding of these songs. Also, the fact that we share a lot of our musical upbringing played a huge part in how easy it was to play together.
“Listening is the most important thing in life.”
Can you tell us a little bit about the video? Where was it filmed, and I love your outfits in it – who came up with the concept for the video?
The video was shot in Deauville, Normandie, where I live half the time. Diane Sagnier directed and shot the video with a tiny camera that she carried around in her hand. I had absolute trust in her as I adore the pictures she takes. I didn’t even watch anything before she sent us the video and press pictures that she took while we were filming. She is just the best. We shot the video in one day, just by my place, on the paths where I ride my bike with my kid and walk my dog. The clothes are my everyday clothes. I wanted the video to be as close to my real life as possible. As I keep to myself most of the time, it was my way of sharing something about me with whoever would watch it.
Aside from the album release, do you have any other personal goals for 2025?
Yes, I do! I would love to play shows in my home country of Sweden, and I would dream to collaborate with Lucas Nelson on a song.
The most important thing in life is…? Listening.
Follow Lisa Li-Lund for more:
www.instagram.com/iamlisalilund
kuronekomedia.lnk.to/ReverseWaterfall
