Interview with Tampa Bay native singer/songwriter Christie Lenee [Audio 15:48]

Tampa Bay native, acclaimed singer/songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist Christie Lenee joins Catalyst publisher Joe Hamilton ahead of her Sunday evening show at the Straz Center in Tampa. Click play to hear the conversation.

Touring full time since 2009, singer/songwriter Christie Lenee has long been living the nomad artist life, waking up in a different city each morning. In this insightful conversation, Lenee shares war stories from the road, including her travels across the world playing with musicians like Tim Reynolds (legendary Dave Matthews Band guitarist) and Tommy Emmanuel.

Aptly described as “Michael Hedges meets Joni Mitchell and Dave Matthews,” Lenee’s unique style of has earned her a devoted following and brought her back home to headline the Straz Center, the very same venue where she performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as a child.

Lenee talks maintaining a sense of normalcy while on back-to-back tours (having your own pillow helps), the ebb and flow of energy that comes with performing and collaborating with artists who inspire her. She shares how the music industry has changed in the age of YouTube and Spotify, and how those platforms have created new ways for fans to find her.

As Lenee enters a new phase in her career, she’s taking the time to get grounded again. After years on the go, she’s learning to recharge and write without fear again. Lenee reflects on her “forced hibernation” and finding herself in the middle of Asheville’s Pisgah National Forest.

Tickets to Christie Lenne’s show (Sunday, Nov. 18 7:30 p.m.) at Straz Center for Performing Arts are $25, buy them here.

Visit Lenee’s website here.

Christie Lenee performing on stage with Tim Reynolds.