U2, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Nirvana, Portishead, Bryan Adams, The Pretenders, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Patti Griffin, Tori Amos, John Lennon, Ani DiFranco, Billy Joel, Nine Inch Nails, Filter, The Killers, Muse, Tracy Chapman, Shawn Colvin, Enya, Billie Holiday, Johnny Cash, My Bloody Valentine, PJ Harvey, Carole King
First and foremost, singer-songwriter Laura Warshauer is a storyteller, examining loss, love and life through her music. The New Jersey native crafts sonic gems, combining pop melodies and flourishes of rock, while her lyrical sensibility hearkens back to songsmiths like Joni Mitchell and Fiona Apple.
Laura's self-titled seven-song digital EP was recently released via Island Records. The disc features orchestral textures that perfectly compliment her warm, ethereal vocals. Laura describes her sound best, "There's definitely a rock sensibility, but it's really about grand melodies. I have a very classic pop structure in terms of my writing style, but lyrically, I offer a unique angle."
The songs spoke loud and clear, and Laura's talent caught the ear Island Def Jam chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid. He received one of her demos, and had to go see her play. "He came to a Sunday night rehearsal, and his hands were in the air when he heard me. Afterwards, he said if you want it you have a home with Island Records." Their partnership has set the stage for Laura's EP last fall and her forthcoming full-length CD, produced by Rich Keller.
Laura created a compelling live show through numerous club concerts and festival dates. Her performances encapsulate her strength and vulnerability. In addition to traditional gigs, she's been involved with Musicians On Call since she was 16. Musicians On Call began in the pediatric cancer ward at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and the group allows artists to play bedside for patients. About these special performances, Laura comments, "You have three minutes to make a difference. You're either going to get through to someone or you're not, so make it mean something. You want to take that person somewhere else."
Laura wants to give audiences something they can truly connect to. "People respond when you're honest in your art. I love it when people get a sense of something real, organic and human from my music. I want to make my music mean something, and I want them to feel an emotional connection. I also want to bring them on some sort of ride."
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