Backyard Birds is a collection of seven songs, recorded at home over the winter of 2020/2021. I am thankful to Sean Staples, who produced and played most of the instruments on this album, and who shares the writing with me on four of these seven songs.

The title comes from a line in Sorrow's a String - "a new radio tower has gone up in the distance, but the backyard birds still whistle your song," written after a visit a couple years ago to my grandparents' old place. “Southern Belle” is a song I wrote in Austin back in 2005, given new life here. “Hidden in the Song” and "Red Rocks" were originally intended for How We Want to Live, and I am happy to finally share them now. The last song, “This is My Love,” was recorded onto my phone at my kitchen table. Listen closely and you will hear the backyard birds outside my window. Released May 20, 2021

Lisa Bastoni is a genuine artist. Her articulate songs come from the soul, and resonate in the heart. She debuted her new album and a few other gorgeous songs last night with her producer, consummate musician Sean Staples. How We Want To Live is a deep and powerful album, and an affirmation of her triumph in the 2019 Kerrville New Folk Festival contest.
When I hear Lisa perform, I can’t help but draw a parallel between her songs and those of another New England treasure, Lori McKenna. Bastoni masters the same narrative beauty and poignancy in her compositions, and similarly balances demands of motherhood and career gracefully. The song, “Beautiful Girl,“ written for her daughter, is reflective of that — and Lisa Bastoni herself.”