Lucy Wainwright Roche has a beautiful voice. She writes songs full of honest emotions, stories of people's lives, and her personal journey. She has that intuitive ability to sing the work of another songwriter and make it her own.

Growing up in New York, Lucy's childhood was filled with music. Her father is Loudon Wainwright III and her mother is Suzzy Roche (The Roches). She has sung with many musician from Dar Williams to her brother Rufus. LAist asked Lucy about writing songs, her love of traditional music, and what she has planned for her Hotel Cafe show on Monday.

LAist: How was your weekend?

Lucy Wainwright Roche: On Saturday night I played at The House of Blues in Disneyland. I had never been to Disneyland before, so I got close to it this weekend.

Did you go to any amusement parks growing up in the East Coast?

Not really. I actually have never been on a roller-coaster, which probably says a lot more about my personality than I wish it did. I am definitely one of the more conservative members of my family. Not politically, but I'm not that wild and crazy.

How long have your been writing songs?

I wrote my first song at the very end of high school. I wrote 2 or 3 then stopped for about 5 years. Then I wrote my second first song, my reemerging first song, in 2005.

What inspired you to start writing songs again?

I was teaching 3rd grade in NY. I started out writing about other people's lives, not my life. Like the parents of the kids I was teaching, or other teachers. My first songs were about divorce and remodeling kitchens. Not things I was doing, but about what other people were doing.

What comes first the melody or the lyrics?

Pretty much both at once. I am not great at doing one or the other by themselves. Sometimes a little lyric will come by itself, but usually it's together.

You have worked as a teacher. Is "Spring Song" about your last year with your students?

Yes it is. It was right when I was trying to decide if I was staying for another year or if I was leaving. I had just decided that I was leaving. Some days the kids drive you crazy. Some days you cannot believe that you are not going to see them everyday. That was one of those days. I loved my job I was really into it, but I didn't want to be that teacher who wanted to be somewhere else. There are a lot of those. I felt that if I wanted to be touring I better give it a shot, so I didn't become a grouchy teacher who wished that I was elsewhere.

What kind of guitar do you play?

I am playing a Martin guitar right now. It was one of my dad's guitars. I was playing a Taylor and he did not like the way that guitar sounded. We were on the road together. He talked me into taking over this guitar. So it's actually his, but I think he has abandoned it to me at this point. I have an electric guitar and another acoustic guitar at home.

Growing up in a house full of music with musician parents, what kids of music did you listen to with them? What music did you listen to that they hated?

I was really intense about music when I was a kid. I liked Tracy Chapman's first record when I was 6. That was my favorite CD. I listened to it every night when I went to bed. Then I went to a pretty hefty musical phase. I know you're not supposed to admit that. I was really into musicals.

Which one was your favorite?

I had quite a love affair with Tommy.

Well that's a respectable choice.

I was really into it. On a good day I can still get really, really into it. Nobody in my house really cared what I listened to. Everyone was fine with everything. Though now I am a big Eminem fan. I don't think my dad is that crazy about Eminem, but actually I think they remind me of each other a little bit.

How does Eminem remind your of your dad?

Both of them are really well suited to speaking the truth in their own medium. They may not overlap in many other ways. They both talk about topical things and family in a very effective way for the medium that they are in if that makes any sense. I think they overlap in that way, even though they are pretty far removed from each other.

You sing a few traditional tunes on your CD. Did you study traditional music? Did you grow up with traditional music?

I have always been drawn to that Celtic traditional sound. I haven't had any formal training in it at all, but I fantasize about running away to Ireland and having someone teach me all of those old songs. I am a big fan of that music.

You have covered songs by Christine McVie and Bruce Springsteen. How do you decide which song to record? What cover are you itching to do?

In a way I wish I could do covers constantly. There are so many great songs. Recently I learned an Eminem song all the way through but I have yet to perform it. I am not really sure if I have the guts to do it. That's one thing I'd like to do.

As for deciding what to record, it's a combination of which songs people respond to like the Christine McVie song, people really respond to that. For "Hungry Heart", that started at a performance. Martha Plimpton wanted to sing something with me. We chose that song. It went over really well. Then we decided to record it and it turned out that we used it on the CD. It's all what comes along at the moment you need a song for something.

Who would be your dream person to cover one of your songs?

Wow. I don't know. There are so many people I admire. I am a huge Patty Griffin fan. I think she is an incredible songwriter. I can't even imagine that happening. That would be really cool.

Last week at Largo you sang your song "Snare Drum" at your dad's show with Joe Henry and Van Dyke Parks. How did you decide which song of yours to perform?

I was going back and forth. I had a new song that I was maybe going to do. I decided to go with that one because it's not about a topic that is normally sung about. I feel it's a little bit different. It sticks with people a little bit more when you've got a chance to do one song. You want to do something that people might remember.

What is it like to meet and work with Van Dyke Parks?

I guess I was a little nervous about what he would think of me when I got up to do my song. I know he was very involved in making Rufus's first record. When you are in a family like this, you are contantly wondering if you are going to cut it in comparison to everyone else.Van Dyke was incredibly complimentary and really responded to that song. That was nice. He is just a riot and so much fun to be hanging around with backstage and getting into trouble.

You are playing at the Hotel Cafe on Sept 15. What do you have planned for your set?

I have never played there before. I have never been there. I have never played a solo show in LA. It's a great opportunity to do a longer set. I am excited about it. I feel like this week is my introduction to LA. It's all kind of new.

Are you going to break out the Eminem song?

I don't know. My dad would like me to. He keeps saying, "Why haven't you done that yet?"

You can hear Lucy Wainwright Roche play play her first solo show in LA at The Hotel Cafe on Monday, September 15 at 9:00pm, but will she rap?

On Wednesday, September 18 Lucy will open for Teddy Thompson at Largo.

Lucy Wainwright Roche singing "Snare Drum"

Photo via Lucy's MySpace page