Vancouver based songstress Laurell is a first-generation Canadian whose parents came to Canada sailing from Liverpool, England. Raised on the music favoured by her parents, Laurell’s family found their musically inclined daughter singing along to The Beatles from the moment she could speak. It was clear from early childhood that Laurell’s passion would be music. With a sweet and playful acoustic-pop sound, Laurell’s music is captivating, honest and rhythmic. As an artist, she embodies an insightful, poetic and organic energy.
Growing up in the northwest Laurell was exposed to many physical and creative outlets including snowboarding, surfing, wakeboarding, hiking, and dirt biking. It was this upbringing that shaped her appreciation of acoustic, rock, folk, hip-hop, punk, and pop music. Her classical background and jazz-based schooling provided a framework for all of these inspirations to take shape. Today, Laurell's music has found its way to a captivating and accessible, singer-songwriter feel, while never losing the from the heart honesty from which she draws.
With three albums to her name, hundreds of U.S. and Canadian tour dates under her belt, a cluttered shelf of accolades and a growing grassroots following, singer/songwriter Laurell is embracing the momentum of her music career.
After advancing to the top 30 and being named ‘Vancouver Idol’ in 2001 on the popular reality show Canadian Idol, Laurell took fate into her own hands and independently released her first full-length album, Into Your Love. The spiritually-reflective recording had hundreds of CD's snatched up the day it was released, and with her band-in-tow, Laurell crossed the country to a hugely warm reception. That year, the album's single, "Great 'I AM'" won Song of the Year at the Canadian People's Choice Gospel Music Awards (Shai).
Eleven months later Laurell released The Fool In Me, and a playful experimentation of instruments, grooves, and subjects emerged. Once again, Laurell embarked on a tour of the west coast of Canada and the U.S. multiple times, sharing bills with numerous bands and songwriters, including xx and xx.
In November 2007, Laurell released her EP Fears Aside into the hands of her eager and waiting Canadian fans. A beautiful collection of five self-penned songs, it immediately gained her international recognition, winning the We Are Listening songwriting competition for her title track landing her the $10,000 grand prize in MSN/Sympatico’s indie artist search, and earning her a Western Canadian Music Awards nomination for Outstanding Pop Album.
Laurell’s captivating lyrics and innovative songwriting have achieved her airplay on such stations as Virgin Radio and CBC Radio 3 and gave her an opportunity to sit on the New Songwriter workshop industry panel at last years CMW’s. In 2009, Laurell was invited to Toronto and LA to write with numerous established songwriters such as Ron Lopata (Jully Black, Tommy Swick, Jacksoul), Ryan Stewart (Carly Rae Jepsen) Glen Phillips (Toad the west sprocket), Jim Roach(Hoku), Chris Perry & Nicole Hughs (Canadian Idol – we never used their song though), Chris Burke-Gaffney (Chantel Kreviasuk – same deal).
With 2010 just beginning, Laurell is set to release her fourth album; a 12-song CD entitled Can’t Stop Falling. Laurell is ready for her new album to captivate the audiences that have come to know and love her.
Can’t Stop Falling is slated for release on March 2, 2010 across Canada, via Pacific Music / Warner Music Canada and iTunes Canada.
