‘We’re gonna get back up, and Covid will be a distant memory’

Her father hails from Castlederg in Co Tyrone and her mother is from Falcarragh, Co Donegal and the budding popstar - a favourite of the Irish country music charts - moved to Northern Ireland in 2010 to further a career which has already seen her perform at such prestigious venues as the Grand Ole Opry in 2012, as a guest singer invited by Gene Watson, where she was awarded an accolade for Outstanding Achievement on the World Stage.

Of her music-filled childhood she recalls: “I remember singing ‘Apple Jack’ with my mother on the way to school. I loved Dolly Parton and also Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, whose lyrics and songwriting are just incredible.

“At home when I was growing up there was also the Irish country stars playing in the background like Daniel O’Donnell, Philomena Begley and Dominic Kirwan.

“Every summer we would go to Donegal and my mum and dad would take us to see a good few of them so I’d say my love of country music began very early.”

McHugh played guitar and studied music for her A -level exams and after working for three years as office manager at her father’s construction company in Glasgow, she reached the final of the Irish language TG2 talent show Glor Tire, before moving to Letterkenny to pursue her singing ambitions full-time.

The stunning singer began supporting established singers but was soon known for her own distinctive covers of much-vaunted country songs like Old Fashioned Girl and I’m a Little Bit Lonely. Musical director Ray McLoughlin, a long-time collaborator with Daniel O’Donnell, helped the rising star put a band together for her first solo concert, which took place in early 2011 at the Bushtown Hotel in Coleraine.

Soon she moved to Enniskillen, which made it easier for her to tour the province as well as the west of Ireland, and there were rumours that she was involved with fellow Irish country-pop singer and charttopper Nathan Carter, who also relocated there - but McHugh remains tight-lipped on the subject and insists they were just friends.

Following the release of her debut album Dreams Come to Life in 2012, McHugh was voted Best Female singer at the Irish World Newspaper awards in London.

This was followed by A Life That’s Good in 2014, Wildfire (2015) and more recent single releases such as Play Me The Waltz of the Angels, Country Girl, and her latest anthemic offering, You’re Gonna Get Back Up, a spirited pop confection about a defiant return to glory against the odds and one that could not be more appropriate for our time, when we all need reminded that hard times do come to an end and there is always the possibility of rebirth and beginning again: “You’re gonna turn this around, show all the ones who doubt, we all fall down but you’re gonna get back up.” Many of us are hoping such sentiments will apply to our lives post lockdown, that we’ll find the way back to the freedoms we enjoyed before, return to our jobs and find ourselves buoyant and happy again instead of sequestered in our homes anxious and fraught during a global pandemic that has claimed so many lives,

Like the rest of us McHugh is finding life under lockdown tough: “I’ve been up and down. Some weeks I’m productive and other weeks I’m just so over it. I’ve tried to perform to fans via Facebook Live and Zoom, hoping that me singing away on the guitar might cheer people up a little bit. I had so much feedback after performing on Facebook and Instagram Live that I moved to a private Zoom concert for a select number of fans. People seemed to love it and have fun.

“Music is definitely what is getting me through this lockdown. No matter what I am going through, music has always been my outlet and my biggest passion.

“I write songs if I am having a strong feeling - it could be about missing family, or losing a loved one, something that I am authentically feeling that I hope people will be able to relate to.

“When I’m writing songs I always write about what I am going through in life so that they have a truth that I hope people can relate to. I think the more honest and open and real you are with your songwriting, the more people can actually relate to it.”

Lisa tries to stick to routines that give her day structure during lockdown, doing virtual workouts, cleaning the house, making scones, gardening, talking to her parents on Face Time and, of course, pursuing her beloved music.

New track You’re Gonna Get Back Up was written by Lisa last year with her songwriter friend in Nashville Katrina Burgoyene via Face Time.

“Both of us were going through different transitions in our lives and in our careers,” says Lisa. “But I had just taken this decision to take the leap into writing and recording my own songs. I suppose I’ve taken more of a move towards American style country-pop.”

Before she ends the call she wants to express her gratitude to the NHS frontline: “The care that they give their patients is next to none; they treat you like you’re one of their family. Their hardwork, dedication and love is now clear to everyone.”

was in evidence long before this pandemic started, but it is nice to see people starting to realise how fully indebted we are to NHS frontline staff. When, please God, Covid-19 is a long distant memory, I hope they will continue to get the care, respect and love that they deserve. I hope NHS staff will be held in the highest esteem in society.