One of the 1990s’ most iconic songs – for some a song synonymous with the decade – Lisa Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You)” was a staple on mixtapes everywhere. The bespectacled musician shot to number one on the charts with her smooth, sweet imploration, a first for an unsigned musician. Ethan Hawke, who was friends with her, was filming “Reality Bites” at the time and put the song on the soundtrack. The music video, which Hawke shot in one take, went into heavy rotation on MTV and VH1, and Loeb’s cat-eye glasses became her statement fashion piece.
But Loeb was no one-hit wonder. She has worked steadily and experienced continued success since her 1994 breakthrough. Two more songs, “Do You Sleep?” and “I Do,” were Top 20 singles, and her back-to-back albums, Tails and Firecracker, went certified gold. She has released albums consistently every year or two, including a greatest hits compilation and 2020’s critically acclaimed A Simple Trick to Happiness.
With an inspirational, uplifting tone, A Simple Trick to Happiness was written after several successful children’s music albums. Catch the Moon, Camp Lisa, and Lisa Loeb's Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs are now being played by the parents that first heard “Stay.” Feel What U Feel won Best Children's Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and Lullaby Girl won a 2017 National Parenting Product Award.
In addition to a lucrative musical career, Loeb has done voice work and guest-starred in roles for film and television. She has appeared in “Gossip Girl” and Netflix’s “Fuller House,” and her film roles include acting in “House on Haunted Hill,” “Fright Night,” and “Hot Tub Time Machine 2.”
Loeb has also launched her own non-profit organization, The Camp Lisa Foundation, which helps underprivileged kids attend summer camp. Her line of eyewear released in 2010, the Lisa Loeb Eyewear Collection, and her brand of coffee, “Wake Up! Brew,” have also found considerable success.
Most recently, Loeb has launched her own show on SiriusXM called “Stay With Lisa Loeb,” which explores the music and events of the 90s and features actors’ and musicians’ accounts of living through the decade.