Singer‑songwriter Lisa Loeb has been celebrated for her emotional, heartfelt lyrics in songs like her No. 1 single, 1994’s “Stay (I Missed You).”

She said, however, she’s pushing herself creatively to take new lyrical approaches. 

“I’m trying to figure out, as I move forward, how to be more personal in my songs,” said Loeb, via Zoom, wearing her trademark glasses. 

“When I started, I was trying to be more abstract. I felt like some of the artists I listened to, like The Cure or David Bowie, were more abstract to me. Now I listen back, and they’re probably personal in their own way. I’m always trying to find that balance and play around with the balance of poetry and storytelling.” 

She admitted she’s a little nervous about delving into a more personal realm — especially during co-writes. 

“Especially when other people are involved,” she said about co-writing. “I do think that’s what people relate to. When I dig deep like that and play those songs, I have the opportunity to perform them live in front of audiences. I get to hear and feel their reactions. I can tell there’s a lot of connection with those songs.”

Loeb returns to Phoenix at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to perform at the Arizona Financial Theatre for O.A.R.’s “Three Decades Tour.” Singer-pianist Gavin DeGraw is also on the bill. 

“It’s just me with a guitar,” she said about the show. “I’m opening and supporting Gavin DeGraw and O.A.R. It’s going to be a shorter set. But I’ll be playing the songs that people know — the hit songs, a couple of popular requests and songs from my catalog. I’ll probably tell lots of stories.

“Live shows are different from recordings. Each show is different because of whatever is happening that day and what’s going on in the world. I like being able to connect with the audience.” 

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Loeb — who frequently visits the Valley and enjoys Mark Tarbell’s restaurants — said touring allows her to visit with friends, go sightseeing, visit museums or take walks.

Born in Maryland and raised in Dallas, Loeb has dabbled in all art forms, including film, TV and voiceover work. She hosts Sirius XM’s weekday show “Stay with Lisa Loeb.” Her credits also include the Food Network’s “Dweezil & Lisa,” a weekly culinary show, and “#1 Single” on E!

A philanthropist, Loeb rose to international fame with her platinum-selling hit “Stay (I Missed You),” featured in the film “Reality Bites.” She made history with the song as the first pop musician to achieve a No. 1 single without a recording contract. 

Between 2024 and 2025, Loeb toured extensively across the United States alongside artists like Lyle Lovett, Melissa Etheridge, Straight No Chaser, the Gin Blossoms and Patton Oswalt & Friends. She also performed family-friendly concerts with her band The Hollow Trees.

Loeb has released five children’s albums and two illustrated books with music and created the children’s musical “Camp Kappawanna.” She founded The Camp Lisa Foundation, which helps underserved children attend summer camp, earning recognition from the American Camp Association.

She founded the apropos Lisa Loeb Eyewear, available at optical shops and Costco. 

Her most recent studio album, “A Simple Trick to Happiness,” spawned the singles “Skeleton” and “This Is My Life.” 

She is inspired by classic rock artists like Elton John, with whom she felt an emotional kinship long before she recognized how deeply his melodic sensibilities were shaping her own songwriting.

“That was back when we would put an album on and look at the cover for hours and hours,” she said. “We imagined what the band looked like. It sparked a lot of things in my imagination, but they really connected with my emotions.

“Later in life, I realized that he and some of my other favorite musicians — David Bowie and The Cure — had very distinct glasses or outfits or style. However, it didn’t take away from their music. It enhanced their whole story. It takes you to all these different places. I love Elton John so much.”

Her tastes vary these days, ranging from 1970s soft pop to Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers and disco. Her musical favorites provide the perfect soundtrack for trips with her teenage children. Married to music supervisor and producer Roey Hershkovitz, Loeb balances her family with touring. Their kids, Lyla and Emet, are preparing for high school and college. 

“I’m out looking for colleges and high schools for my kids,” she said. “I’m doing a daily radio show for SiriusXM, ’90s on 9. I’m working on a new record. I have a couple of other projects in the works that are very time-consuming, but I can’t talk about them yet. 

“But my family is my priority — what I want to do and need to do for my family.”