In 2012, with her guitar in-hand and exceedingly high hopes, Lucy Spraggan would step on the UK’s X Factor stage and rewrite her own future. The artist performed her original track, “Last Night (Beer Fear),” which immediately went viral and quickly placed Lucy in a league of her own. Her follow-up tearjerker performance of another original, “Tea & Toast” would draw in similar excitement – with the videos collectively amassing over 60 million views. The tracks would also land on her 2013 Top 10 debut album, Join the Club.

Six years and four albums later, the English singer/songwriter is back with her fifth studio album, Today Was A Good Day. The album finds Lucy embracing the next chapter of her life and relishing in the many amazing and personal things that have transpired since we first met her a few years ago.

 

We caught up with Lucy ahead of her U.S. tour, and show at Songbyrd on June 16, to discuss her latest album, fostering children, Grey’s Anatomy, and more.

INTERVIEW

It’s been a few years since the world first met you through the X Factor UK.

Yes! It’s been about seven years since then.

As someone that was selling baby photos for £1 at the time – did you ever imagine your music career and life would take off at this magnitude from there?

In a way. I’ve always known that I wanted to make music and I’m just happy that so many people have connected with it and are interested and supportive of what I’m doing.

You just released your fifth studio album, Today Was a Good Day. What does this new album mean to you?

Yes, that’s right. The album is about embracing happiness and it’s a huge reflection of my current life and the things happening in it. 

I understand you’ve fostered over 14 children as well with your wife, Georgina.  How has that affected your writing/themes in your music?

It definitely has! It can be really hard sometimes but it’s so rewarding and I’m so happy. There’s a song on the album called “Dinner’s Ready” that touches on my relationship with the children we’ve cared for, have fostered, and continue to foster.

The album’s lead single is ‘Lucky Stars’ – what is the story behind that track?

I really love the expression, “thanking my lucky stars” because I don’t think it’s used very often and I really wanted to use that phrase in a song. It’s about being thankful for the people in your life and being grateful for everything life has brought me.

The track is accompanied by a music video that shows you strolling around in a space suit. Tell us about that experience/concept.

It was so fun and a little awkward and embarrassing. I was walking around a crowded city in a massive space suit, people kept looking at me, but I really loved it.

The album also features “Stick the Kettle On,” which is a collaboration with Scouting for Girls. How did that collaboration come about?

It happened really organically over time, which I really liked. For some reason, I kept running into the guys from Scouting for Girls at different festivals that we were both booked to play. Through that, I connected with Roy [Stride], the lead singer, and one day I just reached out and told him we needed to collaborate on a track. It was such a great experience.

You recently toured alongside Melissa Etheridge – what was the response to the new album live?

Yes! That was so cool. We toured parts of Europe together and I really loved playing the new album – the fans were really into it.

You’re now bringing this tour stateside just in time for all of the Pride celebrations going on across the U.S. Do you have any plans for Pride?

 I’m playing a show at Stonewall but other than that I’ll just be on my U.S. tour through June!

How would you describe your show to someone that hasn’t been to one?

It feels like home – it’s a very welcoming and open space. It’s really amazing connecting with people that enjoy my music and I love playing live.

You’re playing DC for the first time this month at Songbyrd. What are you looking forward to this tour?

I can’t wait to play the new album for everyone and to stop in new cities across the U.S. on this tour.

One final question – if you could make the theme song for any show or movie you’ve recently watched, which would you pick and why?

That’s a tough one but I think I’d go with Grey’s Anatomy. They played my song “Stick the Kettle On” during the season finale of the 15th season, which was so cool.

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Lucy Spraggan is on tour starting June 11 in PA, with stops at DC’s Songbyrd on June 16, and more shows in Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, and more. See the full dates and purchase tickets HERE.
 
June 11 – Exton, PA @ Eagleview Free Concert Series
June 12 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
June 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Locks at Sona
June 15 – Boston, MA @ Haymarket at City Winery
June 16 – Washington DC @ Songbyrd
June 17 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
June 19 – Toronto, ON @ Monarch
June 21 – Detroit, MI @ PJ’s Lager House
June 22 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
June 23 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
June 25 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
June 26 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
June 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Studio B at the Skyway Theater
 

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