A self-taught guitarist and pianist at age ten, at 15 Liz Larin was asked to teach guitar at a local music store. In the store she came in contact with musicians playing many styles, including R&B and jazz, and was soon playing jam sessions across the city. When Liz announced that she was going to join a rock band, and make a living as a musician, her parents objected. Liz left home at age 16, supporting herself by teaching guitar and playing gigs in and around Detroit. After leaving home, Larin found her way to Los Angeles, where along with guitarist and songwriter Michael King, she formed the group, Press. The band later added Danny Cox as drummer/percussionist. The band changed its name to Rebel Heels and signed with Atlantic Records in 1987. Rebel Heels folded after only one album but Atlantic Records retained Larin as a solo artist. Her debut solo album, Test Your Faith, was released in 1993, and re-released in Europe in 2014. Later, she returned to Detroit and went indie and formed her own record label, Bona Dea Music. Merry Wicked, her first independent album, was released in 1999. That album was followed by The Story of O-Miz in 2002 and Wake Up, Start Dreaming in 2006. The albums highlighted the musical skills of Robert Tye on guitar, James Simonson and Chuck Bartels on bass guitar, and Todd Glass and Dave Taylor on drums. Vinnie Dombroski of Sponge lent drums and vocals to the track "Pretty Is." The Story of O-Miz picked up the Outstanding CD of the Year Award at the Detroit Music Awards in 2005. The self-produced Hurricane CD was released in 2014, featuring Larin's skills as a producer and multi-instrumentalist. Taking a more electronic music approach, in 2018 Liz Larin released two projects starting with electro-pop EP Good Human performed with samplers, keyboards, and electric guitar, creating vocal and sound loops, while remixing the music live in real time. Also, a 2018 release of instrumental music designed for meditation, Chakra Hymns - The Arcello Series moves the listener through the chakra centers with ambient music to support yoga practice and relaxation. Currently, Larin composes music for film and television splitting her time between Detroit, Montreal and New Orleans, continuing to release music under Liz Larin, Stella 13, Arcello and LusterKraft.
Awards and critical commentary
Detroit Music Awards The Metro Times writes "Although sometimes compared to, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne, Liz Larin has style all her own." Columnist Morley Seaver of RockWorld says of Larin, "Her music is in the realm of say, Bonnie Raitt but with an electronic edge and much, much better." CBS Detroit has listed Liz Larin as one of the top six musicians in Detroit. While AOR Magazine #7 in the UK voted Larin No. 15 of the top 50women in rock music history, writing, "When it comes to crunch, this girl's a rocker at heart." In 2003, readers of Jam Rag Magazine voted her No. 1 out of 80 Detroit acts, and Jam Rag featured her on the cover as Detroit's Goddess of Rock.
Discography
One By One By One, 1988, Atlantic Records. With Michael King- guitar, Danny Cox - drums. Produced by Rupert Hine.
Test Your Faith, 1993, Atlantic Records. Produced by Liz Larin and Ben Grosse.
Merry Wicked, 1999, Bona Dea Music. Produced by Liz Larin and Scott Spock.
