When I sat down (virtually) with Canadian rock legend Lee Aaron, the vibe was casual, unfiltered, and honest—much like her music. From Zoom mishaps to birthday bike rides, from the evolution of songwriting to unexpected run-ins with the “Karen” stereotype, our chat covered more than just music—it was about life, legacy, and staying loud.
Birthdays, Bikes & Staying Young
Lee had just celebrated a birthday—and in true rock-n-roll-meets-mom style, she had three separate celebrations.
“I got a souped-up new bike and went for a big family ride,” she said. “Then dinner by the ocean. It was amazing.”
So, what’s her secret to staying young? “Use it or lose it,” she said, reflecting on the album’s themes of mortality. “I try to live an active lifestyle. That, and rock 'n' roll—right?”
The Workout Playlist and Netflix Motivation
Exercise is part of her daily rhythm, but she’s realistic about it.
“I'm not one of those people who looks forward to it every day, so I’ve built it into my life in ways that feel natural,” she explained.
That means power walks, hikes, cycling—and a treadmill with a Netflix stand.
“If I can watch a good series while I’m on the treadmill, I’m good. Makes it go way faster!”
Music, Then and Now
Lee still listens to music, of course—but her relationship with modern streaming is complicated.
“I use Spotify mostly when I’m cooking. But as an artist? You can’t really make money off streaming.”
She and her husband are serious about their love for vinyl. How serious? Try 200,000 pieces.
“We built a gymnasium-sized addition to the house just to store it all!”
Even though digital recording makes life easier, Lee stays old-school in her values:
“I believe in knowing how to play your instrument. Sing in tune. Don’t rely on tech tricks. Just be good.”
Writing From Life—And Righteous Anger
When asked what keeps her creatively driven, Lee didn’t miss a beat.
“You write a lot about relationships when you’re young. These days, I still write about them, but with more complexity. People are complicated. Life is complicated.”
Motherhood gave her even more material.
“People ask if I have less to write about now. I say, are you kidding? You think life is complicated—wait till you have kids! Your whole worldview shifts. I care about so many things I didn’t before.”
For Lee, raising teens has made her more opinionated, more aware, and more inspired.
“A little bit of righteous anger is great fuel for songwriting. I never seem to run out.”
What’s In a Name? More Than You Think
Not everyone knows this, but Lee Aaron isn’t her real name.
“It’s a stage name—like Bowie, Tina Turner, or Alice Cooper. I was 15, in a band with no name. We picked a couple names out of a hat—‘Aaron Lee’ came up, and we switched it to ‘Lee Aaron.’ It just stuck.”
The name gave her unexpected privacy.
“People started calling me Lee Aaron, and it just became easier. It’s helped me keep a line between my personal life and my music.”
The ‘Karen’ Dilemma
Lee didn’t shy away when I brought up how the name “Karen” has become a cultural punchline.
“It actually pissed me off,” she admitted. “Why couldn’t it have been Tiffany or Brittany? I’m white and middle class, but I’ve stood for equality my whole life. To be lumped in with something that represents the opposite—it felt weird.”
She even shared a real-life story about confronting a woman who left her dog in a hot car.
“She told me off, but I had to say something. Another woman joined me and we called the police. But afterward, I thought, ‘Was I being a Karen?’ I don’t know. I was trying to do the right thing.”
till Rocking Europe
Lee’s fan base is still strong—especially overseas.
“Canada is great—Alberta loves me—but Europe is amazing. Germany, the UK, Scandinavia… I’ve played Wacken, Bang Your Head, and I’m doing Sweden Rock next year.”
These days, she prefers doing big festivals over long tours.
“It just works better with my family life. Hit the big shows, reach a lot of people. That’s where I’m at now.”
Radio On — Written in a World About to Change
Lee Aaron is clearly passionate about her latest release, and it’s easy to see why. Radio On was written before the COVID-19 pandemic, and production began just as the world started shutting down.
“We were tracking in mid-March 2020 when COVID exploded across North America,” Aaron recalls. “The studio told us, ‘Finish your bed tracks, we’re going into lockdown.’ We got it done just in time.”
With the rest of the album completed remotely, Aaron eventually returned to Vancouver’s Armoury Studios to mix the record with longtime friend and producer Mike Fraser. “It was finished in December, and we decided not to wait. Our fans needed music now more than ever.”
Even during the chaos of lockdown, Lee Aaron and her band independently released a surprise Christmas album. “People needed something to lift their spirits,” she says. “Music helps us stay connected.”
The Reality of Livestreaming
When asked about livestreaming—something many artists turned to during the pandemic—Lee is refreshingly honest.
“I did one last June, but it just wasn’t the same. My guitarist couldn’t travel due to restrictions, so I had a sub in. And honestly? I didn’t love it. Some artists thrive on livestreams, but for me, nothing compares to feeding off the energy of a live audience.”
Russian Doll and Hidden Meanings
One of the most intriguing tracks on Radio On is Russian Doll, which touches on layers of identity, deception, and possibly… international politics?
“Absolutely,” Aaron says. “I wrote it with a political undertone. We were hearing so much about hacking and election interference. But I like writing lyrics that can be interpreted in different ways.”
The inspiration for the song struck unexpectedly. “My daughter was cleaning out her room and tossed an old Russian nesting doll. I looked at it and thought, ‘That’s a song.’ All those layers—it works for politics, or for people who wear emotional masks. That’s where the idea came from.”
Songwriting in Real Time
While many artists have embraced file-sharing and remote songwriting, Lee Aaron still loves the old-school approach.
“For Radio On, I told the band: No emailing tracks. Bring your best 3–4 ideas and let’s work face-to-face.”
They spent a weekend in a rehearsal space at Aaron’s house, woodshedding songs together. “By Sunday night, we had the bones of the record. I refined some lyrics and melodies afterward, but it was all there. That in-person chemistry is magic.”
More recently, they’ve had to adapt. “Now we write in real time via text and voice memos. It’s kind of wild—we’ll bounce ideas back and forth within minutes. It’s not the same, but we’ve made it work.”
Rock & Roll and Living Clean
The topic turns to the infamous rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. Did Lee Aaron get caught up in it?
“Of course I partied in the ’80s—everyone did,” she laughs. “But I’ve never had a destructive addictive personality. Or maybe I do, but I poured it into music instead of substances.”
Aaron says she’s focused on health and longevity. “I haven’t had hard liquor in years. Maybe a glass of wine now and then. You can’t sing like I do if you don’t take care of yourself.”
She reflects on the deeper lessons of that era in her song Mama Don’t Remember, which deals with realizing what really matters after living through the excess. “It’s about letting the important things—family, love, real connection—slip away. And deciding not to let that happen again.”
40 Years of Lee Aaron
Next year marks 40 years since The Lee Aaron Project debuted. Is there an anniversary release on the horizon?
“I hadn’t really thought about it,” she admits, “but my label Unidisc has. They just reissued Metal Queen on pink vinyl for Record Store Day and they want to do a big retrospective box set. That might be coming soon.”
The Offers She Turned Down
Asked to share something fans might not know, Lee drops a couple of great behind-the-scenes stories.
“In the early ’90s, I was asked several times to host Power Hour on MuchMusic. I said no, because I knew if I became a VJ, people would assume I’d left music. I wasn’t ready to give that up.”
And yes—it’s true. She was approached to front Vixen after their original singer left.
“My manager said they were interested, but I had a successful solo career at the time. I respected them so much, but it just didn’t feel right for me.”
Teenage Mayhem with Rock Goddess
And here’s a gem: A young Lee Aaron once got drunk and jammed with Rock Goddess in a London rehearsal space.
“We were maybe 18 or 19. Their dad was managing them, my manager was with me, and while the grown-ups talked, we got absolutely hammered and swapped instruments all night. I ended up playing drums!” she laughs. “Years later, I reconnected with Jody Turner and we had such a laugh about that night.”
Final Thoughts
Whether she’s hiking a mountain, laying down vocals, or standing up for a dog in distress, Lee Aaron remains exactly what she’s always been: fierce, thoughtful, real, and unapologetically rock and roll.
“I still feel inspired every day,” she said. “There’s always something I want to write about.”
Stay heavy. Support the underground. Long live metal.
Want more? Follow Lee Aaron on [Instagram/Spotify] and catch them live this summer.
No comments:
Post a Comment