Leeda “Lyric” Jones, best known as Lyric is a singer-songwriter, musician, and music teacher. Her latest EP titled “Perspective” was released in December of 2015. She is a Western North Carolina favorite and holds several Mountain Xpress “best of” awards including, but not limited to: best funk, best lyricist, best r&b/soul, best singer-songwriter, and best vocalist.

She was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. It is safe to say that music is in her blood; her grandfather played harmonica and guitar with the late blues legend B.B. King, and father, whom plays bass in her band has been playing in bands since his teenage years. Upon graduation of high school in 2006, Lyric enrolled at Western Carolina University where she played piano and sang in the choir. After going through the motions of college, she soon realized that it wasn’t the path she should be on, so she took to Youtube and taught herself how to play guitar. Which soon led to her to take the advice of her father, and start busking on the streets of Asheville. Lyric began busking with only two songs, an original titled “Stride”, and “Halo” by Beyonce. During this time she got a mix of reactions – some folks didn’t believe that those who were serious about their craft would take to the street corners, while others stood and awe and found themselves moved to tears by her lyrics. In 2009, she met Lizz Wright while busking, at the time, she had no idea that the two of them would share the same stage in 2011. Since taking to the streets, Lyric has shared the stage with legends such as Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Mavis Staples, Fred Wesley, Count M’Butu and Warren Haynes.

Lyric draws inspiration from Lizz Wright, India Arie, Tracy Chapman, and Lauryn Hill. Which isn’t surprising once one hears the way she gracefully intertwines Soul, R&B, Funk, and even a little Hip-Hop – the best portrayal of this intertwinement can be heard in “You Can Win”, which is on her “Perspective” EP.