You may not need to remember the name Lacey Canfield. Chances are, others will remind you in the future as they hear her on the radio or listen to one of her CDs. But as of now, she’s a local girl on the brink of shining bright.
The spark began early. “My mom tells me that I would never stop singing. I would even say something, then start to sing it,” says Canfield, who remembers her earliest real song being Part of Your World, from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid.
Her tastes have matured since then. Years of singing in church gave Canfield the chance to develop technique and stage presence. Her pop country and contemporary Christian influences shine through in her vocal style and lyrical content. Some say her voice is reminiscent of mellow, ’70s singer Karen Carpenter.
It was, in fact, through a contact at Lacey’s church that Nashville producers Lynn Nichols and Tedd T first heard Canfield. “We were very moved by her vocal depth and quality,” says Nichols. “I'm not talking about flashy riffs or hair raising notes, but rather an honesty, a tone, and above all, a distinctive character.”
Nichols knows talent. He’s part of the teams that produced artists such as Amy Grant, Rebecca St. James, Switchfoot, and Mat Kearney. Since recording her debut album last October, Canfield has traveled to Nashville for four days each month. While there, her producers help her perfect songs and lay tracks for a new album, set for release this fall. “I fly to this other world and then come back to mine,” she says, amazed.
Astonishment gives her age away. At 17, she’s only recently completed her junior year at Providence Academy. “The first time I went down to Nashville to record, I had to miss a week of school, and that was really hard to makeup all of the homework,” she explains.
Balancing two lives can be challenging. A member of the National Honor Society and manager of the Providence Varsity boys’ basketball team, Canfield juggles her priorities like a seasoned adult. When she leaves the studio, she has the additional “homework” of writing more songs. Schoolwork takes a large chunk of her evenings, so she makes songwriting her reward.
Before Nashville, Canfield had never officially written a song. With seven years of piano practice under her belt, she sits at the keys to play, but often records ideas on the fly by singing into her phone. “I always thought it was completely impossible for me, but when I write from my heart, it comes much more easily,” she says.
Striving to make songs relatable, she often uses lyrics to tell a story. Her upcoming album includes a song entitled Honey Girl, a term of endearment bestowed upon her by a recently departed grandmother, “Mimi”. It tells of a girl at the fair who sees a cute boy. With lines like “Be yourself. Keep him guessing.” and “Your reputation is like a sheet of glass,” Canfield reflects the wholesome advice her grandmother left behind.
Making it personal again, the song Forever Independence is vague enough that listeners can conceive their own main character, but readers will hereby know that Canfield was originally thinking of a horse. “I am always asking God to show me new things, and give me new ideas for songs and melodies,” she says.
Canfield expresses freely her thanks for all she’s been given—ideas, opportunities and people. Her extended family members are her biggest supporters. “It's important to have that [family support system] to keep you grounded,” says Nichols. “It gives you confidence, security, stability, and much love. The bonus is, if you should get a big head, they are there to remind you that you wore braces, had zits and didn't have a date to the prom,”
Lacey Canfield definitely had a date to the prom this year. She did the asking!
@ Hear Canfield’s voice at her website, CD Baby or on iTunes.
