Lisa Mitchell first came to my attention as a contestant on Australian Idol. She didn’t shine in the constructed reality TV environment of cover versions and live performances, but there was something so compelling about her. 
Lisa could have easily been swept up in the Idol machine. But instead she escaped the glare of the spotlight and worked quietly on honing her craft. The result is Wonder, her first full length album and a work of exceptional beauty.
The album shows how Lisa has blossomed and matured into an artist more accomplished than her years would suggest. She’s an artist of contradictions. There’s a whimsical playfulness about tunes like “Coin Laundry” and the smash hit, “Neopolitan Dreams.” Her childlike innocence is so compelling. But that doesn’t tell the complete story of Wonder. There are darker overtones to the sassy “So Jealous” and the haunting “Pirouette.” “Stevie” is spontaneous and fun, like witnessing a jam session between friends. The piano driven “Love Letter” is romantic without being twee.
Wonder never stalls or falters like so many albums. There are no filler tracks. Lisa has a knack for crafting songs that are personal and a little quirky, yet completely accessible. Put simply, this is one of the strongest debuts I’ve heard. If this is what Lisa Mitchell can create at 19, I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Images used with permission from Warner Music Australia