LAURA HASTINGS
Prairie-born singer-songwriter Laura Hastings has lived and breathed music from the tender age of 4 when her parents put her in piano lessons after she played the Sesame Street theme song by ear on the piano. Several years of lessons, festivals, musicals, plays, and performances later and Laura is on the brink of releasing her second album and finishing a Bachelor’s Degree in Music at Trinity Western University. Her newest album, ‘Perfect Stranger’, is a four song EP that showcases songs about new love, lost love, and hope.
Laura’s style of music is admittedly difficult to describe. Her influences range from artists such as Vanessa Carlton, Rachael Yamagata, Feist, Paramore, Evanescense, Norah Jones, and Sarah McLachlan. Her lyrics often reflect themes of love, perseverance, heartache, and hope. Most of her pieces start at the piano and take off from there with instruments such as Rhodes, drums, violin, cello, and other atmospheric sounds. Writing music is not just a way of life for Laura; it’s a way to vent what consumes her mind and what wells up in her heart.
In her early music development, she studied piano and voice through the Royal Conservatory of Music. After many local and provincial festivals and competitions, the budding songstress won a recording package valued at $2,000 that she used to fuel her first album entitled Butterfly, which was released in 2006. Wanting to pursue music
further, Laura began a degree in Music at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC. Being exposed to many different methods, genres, and musicians in the Lower Mainland has broadened her influences and challenged her songwriting. The future of music looks like another degree, this time in Music Therapy at Capilano University, which Laura wishes to use to help more people through the powerful tool of music. She is looking forward to the future of her career in songwriting, performing, recording, and creating music that means something to people. Stay updated at www.myspace.com/laurahastings or at Laura’s Facebook Fan Page for all of her upcoming shows and for details on all her latest projects.
Laura most recently signed a management and artist development deal with Vancouver company Emerton Records Inc. Through this partnership and the networks involved Laura will be able to launch her career globally and also expand her songwriting skills. The future looks bright for this young artist with incredible talent!
Laura also has a passion and desire to encourage young women and girls to be confident in who they are and to pursue their dreams. She is a young woman determined and blessed to do what she loves as she brings life and joy to people who know her and who become a part through her music.
Unlock Magazine Entertainment Writer MARIKA interviewed Laura so you could get to know her a little. You can also purchase her new CD “ Perfect Stranger ” now available on iTunes.
Interview with Laura Hastings
Who's your favorite musician/artist and why?
At the moment, my favorite artist is Regina Spektor because of how she has stayed true to her passion throughout her career and because of how she creates different effects with the piano and her vocals. She's quirky, talented, unique, creative, brave, original, and many other things that I hope to be as an artist.
What's your favorite thing to do other than music of course?
My favorite thing to do other than camp is to surround myself with fun, encouraging, crazy, loyal friends and live
life together doing things like going to drive in movies, counseling at camp, having massive bonfires on my farm,
and taking advantage of the music scene downtown Vancouver.
What's your next big dream you'd like to accomplish?
My next big dream is to have a song on the Canadian top 10 charts.
If there is one thing you could tell young women, what would you tell them?
If I could narrow it down to just one thing to tell young women it would be to get involved in their community. I
can't even begin to describe how great it feels to give of your time and your talents to worthwhile organizations
and community projects. You can meet incredible people, form new and lasting friendships, and you learn so many
valuable lessons when you are part of something bigger than yourself.
Name ten chocolate bars -- hahaha just kidding
aero, mars, mr. big, snickers, caramilk, mint aero, ... darnit, this was hard!
Your hometown is Lloyd alberta, and you are going to school in Vancouver, where is the next place you'd like to visit or live?
I'd love to live downtown Vancouver or go to somewhere like Bali.
What's your favorite food?
Dill carrots. It's weird, I know.
Zac Efron or Robert Pattinson? ( This ones just for fun cause I wanna know )
Totally Zac Efron. Have you seen 17 Again???
Who would you like to partner with if you could choose any artist on your next single - who would it be?
I'd like to work with Canadian artist LIGHTS for my next single. She just has an awesome energy, kind spirit, and she's crazy talented. I feel like she'd really push me out of my comfort zone and help me grow and have fun!
What were your favorite top 3 concerts you've ever been to?
In no particular order: Celine Dion, Mutemath, LIGHTS
Do you have a phrase or a moto to live by?
Phil 4:13 and "Roots and Wings"
(I often say "I didn't think it would work")
Random things about Laura:
I'm left-handed, my first sentance was "I'll do it myself,"
For more information or to contact Laura please go to www.emertonrecords.com
