Lisa Loeb is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actress, producer, author, and radio host whose literate pop-folk songs helped define the alternative-pop sound of the mid-1990s. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, and raised in Dallas, Texas, she studied piano before taking up guitar. While attending Brown University, she studied comparative literature and music, and performed in a duo with Elizabeth Mitchell. She later spent a semester at Berklee College of Music before returning to Texas and forming the band Nine Stories in 1990.
Loeb and Nine Stories developed their audience through live performances in the United States and appearances at music-industry showcases, including South by Southwest. Working with producer Juan Patino, Loeb recorded a cassette demo known as The Purple Tape in 1992 and sold it at concerts while remaining unsigned. Her career changed when actor Ethan Hawke, a friend and fellow Austin resident, passed a recording of her song "Stay (I Missed You)" to director Ben Stiller. The song was included in the soundtrack to the 1994 film Reality Bites.
Released as a single that year, "Stay (I Missed You)" became a chart-topping international hit. Loeb became the first artist without a recording contract to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, an achievement that made her an unusual figure in the era of major-label dominance. Her distinctive appearance, including the dark-rimmed glasses she wore in the song's video, became part of her public image, but the song's success rested primarily on its conversational lyrics, shifting emotional perspective, and intimate vocal delivery. It earned a Grammy nomination and won a Brit Award for Best International Newcomer.
Geffen Records signed Loeb in 1994, and Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories followed the breakthrough with Tails in 1995. The album expanded the sound of "Stay" into a polished but personal collection that included "Do You Sleep?" and "Waiting for Wednesday." Firecracker arrived in 1997 and produced another successful single, "I Do." Across these releases, Loeb established herself as a songwriter interested in the uncertainty, humor, and contradictions of relationships rather than conventional romantic formulas.
Her later career has been notably wide-ranging. The album Cake and Pie appeared in 2002, followed by The Way It Really Is in 2004, a mature collection that returned attention to her songwriting. She also collaborated with Elizabeth Mitchell on Catch the Moon, beginning an important body of work for children. Subsequent children's releases included Camp Lisa, Nursery Rhyme Parade, and Feel What U Feel, which won the Grammy Award for Best Children's Album in 2018.
Loeb has also worked in television and film, appearing as an actress and contributing music to productions including Legally Blonde, Twister, House on Haunted Hill, and Hot Tub Time Machine 2. She hosted the reality series #1 Single and has worked as a producer, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Through the Camp Lisa Foundation, she supported access to summer-camp experiences for children who might otherwise be unable to attend.
Returning to adult-oriented songwriting with A Simple Trick to Happiness in 2020, Loeb presented an approachable set shaped by optimism, family life, and everyday emotional experience. She later co-wrote and co-produced the musical Together Apart, created with fellow Brown University alumni. She also hosts the SiriusXM program "Stay with Lisa Loeb," linking her enduring signature song with an ongoing role as a guide to the music and culture of the 1990s.