This interview with Laura Wood

conducted by ... "Switch"  Music Reporter for... Key Note News 

Switch...   How old were you, when you went into music and who were your influences?

Laura... Hmmm... ok, well let's say I got my first guitar when I was around 5, a scaled down one!  But at that age I was happy to just beat the hell out of it and howl [I guess not much different, from what I do now LOL] In my teens a family friend taught me some basic chords, songs like House Of the Rising Sun, etc and I was happy to just play and sing them!!  For many years I was a 'closet' musician and would not play in public ... after a slow start I got into music seriously in my early 30's...you could say a late starter! 

Influence wise... I remember listening to "Bread" and thinking the songs were beautiful, "the Carpenters"  [it's obvious my parents weren't into rock, huh!] But I would say people along the lines of Janis Joplin, Counting Crows, Melissa Etheridge, Led Zepplin are people who inspire me today!

Switch... I always ask this question, because people want to know... Was your family supportive of your choice to enter music?

Laura...Ok, well I told you already about my first guitar [sadly all photos of me 'rocking out' at that age are now lost] Music lessons were something I avoided until later years, when I did take Classical Guitar lessons.  although this was short lived once I realised how hard it is to play, read music and count all at the same time. When I was still in the UK my parents would come along to local shows, but they used to get to nervous to come to anything bigger LOL!

Switch... Is anyone else in your family, in the entertainment business?

Laura...I have a half brother and sister ...neither of whom are musically inclined and both of whom, think I am somewhat bohemian ~ which is open to interpretation!

Switch... What kind of music impresses you artistically, those with a strong message or those that invoke a particular feeling.

Laura... What impresses me with music is 'real music' ~ songs that you make want to listen. Music is a highly emotive entity. I don't think there is one person alive who can't say on hearing a certain song, they don't go back to that moment in time! Songs can stay with you for life!  An example of a song that moves me is from "the Screaming Cheetah Wheelies" [not well known here in Europe], "Father Speaks"... the guys voice is unbelievable in this song, as is the message behind it . . .

Beth Hart, Leave The Light On, what an amazing song and the powerful way she delivers it. I guess for me it comes down to that REAL word again. Do I believe the singer!?  This is an argument I have with people... Most people can sing, but that doesn't mean they are a 'singer'... it's about emotion, whether that is sorrow, anger, joy... whatever the emotion [though more commonly sorrow], not just someone singing the words . . . that doesn't do jack shit for me, no matter how 'technically' good they are! 

Mind you that also counts for playing an instrument too... an example, Jaqueline Du Pre [sp], there's a chello concerto she plays [and for now the name escapes me] that can bring me to tears... so no lyrics just her playing, she played from her soul and that's what I hear... the same as singing. Sing from your soul!

Switch... Who writes your originals? music? lyrics? Are they from your personal experiences or takes on a similar experience by another artist.

Laura... I write the songs that make...  [oops nearly broke into song then...lol]

All my songs are written around simple chord progressions [as I am not a complicated player] Some times I get a melody in my head and then find the right chords or visa versa, there is no set way that I write [other than I always puff... helps me find that certain place I need to go in my head]

I don't know the exact percentage, but I would say 'heartbreak/love' songs are probably the most prevalent . . . that's what people relate to the most. It's where some of the strongest emotions lie, that you can tap into!  I tend to write from what I know, how I feel... but having said that, I have written from other people perspective too. I guess you can call it empathy, for someone else's feelings! 

There are times when I hear a song and think 'damn, wish I had written that one', but I wouldn't then set out to try and write my own 'version' of it... I think they call that plagiarism!

Switch... Where do you record and will you tell us a little about it? 

Laura...When I still had the full band, we used to go into professional studios to record.  We would all go in together and get the drums down and the rest would be 'guide' tracks, which would be re-recorded after we were happy with the drums! 

Again I am all for the real thing and always do my vocal in one take!  None of this bit by bit shit... if you can't do it live... don't do it.. LOL.  We also recorded totally live on one particular occasion, which turned out to be one of the strongest recordings, we had ever done!

Now I have an acoustic duo, so recording is way simpler and we don't need a studio to do it. The principal though is the same, although for this... we do need a 'click track'... well, you gotta have something to keep you in time.. LOL!  As long as the end result sounds 'real' I am happy!

Switch... Do you write and colaborate with someone? 

Laura... An easy quick answer to this one...  NO!  Although, I will be venturing into co- writing soon with my duo partner [although I am not convinced yet that this will work . . . so I guess the true answer should be ...watch this space and I'll let you know;-)

Switch...Who do you consider to be a great lyricist and why? 

Laura...Hmmm.. great.. well, let's just say I have my own style of writing I guess.  I do have a couple of songs that have been known to bring people to tears.  So somehow I wrote some tunes that people can relate to so strongly, that it actually invokes real emotions from them . . . does that make me a great lyricist . . . I reserve judgement . . . not a great one for blowing my own trumpet LOL

Switch...Have you ever considered doing the same song, different music styles? The reason I'm asking you this is Hayseed Dixie is doing AC/DC songs in bluegrass style. They just finished a 3 month tour in the UK and were an instant success.

Laura... Hayseed Dixie... cool guys, I actually saw them here in Rotterdam, not so long ago and was chatting to the lead singer!  Now that is what I call a REALLY different style.  LOL, but it works!! 

I have actually done it myself on one particular song, an acoustic ballad that I had recorded at a friend's studio.  After we finished he asked me if he could 'play' with it [as his thing is dance], I will admit at first I wasn't sure, but when I heard the end result I was blown away - it worked way better than I was expecting LOL, so yes, it certainly can be done!

Switch... Have you ever considered doing commercials or soundtrack? I've heard some say, this is a sellout. I personally feel that hearing it on tv and in the movies keeps it on the mind of the public. The current trend in America is using 60s rock music for commercials. There was a resurgence of sales to the younger crowd, for this type of music.  So,  Laura... What are your feelings on this?

Laura... LMAO, selling out ... well, some would say I have 'sold out' by doing what I do now, with my acoustic duo!  Have I?  Of course not, I am just trying to earn a living from music and sadly, until you are 'known' you don't earn good money by playing your own songs, so I do the second best thing... perform covers that I like and throw my own stuff in!  Though that doesn't mean I have given up on the singer/songwriter side of things, it just means I am trying to kill two birds with one stone. It promotes my name and voice and who knows... who is watching!! 

It is already beginning to create some interest, that could hopefully lead to where I want to go. So to answer the question . . . sure I would consider it . . . you could be opening some amazing doors, that you wouldn't even know where there otherwise!

Switch... Do you vary your style depending on the venue? Do your crowds prefer music to listen to or dance music?

Laura...Sometimes yes. I always have an idea of what sort of place we are going to be playing, so tend to try and put a set together accordingly!  Personally I don't care if people listen or dance... either shows, that they are enjoying themselves. Mind you there have been occasions when I have had someone dancing in front of the stage and had to shut my eyes for fear of laughing [which doesn't help much when you are trying to sing lol]

Switch... Let's talk about stage clothes and types of venues. Can you tell us a little bit about the types of places you play and how you dress for them?

Laura... Well, again... when I had the band we played mainly music venues in London and though-out the UK.  You have the advantage that people are there to listen to the music, the bar is second to the stage so to speak.  With lighting, sound engineers working your sound, etc, it is way easier than playing in... say a bar! 

I was particularly keen on the band looking good, so we all made an effort with stage clothes and our 'look'.  Now I play [at the moment] in mainly bars/cafes - so that makes us the second most important thing there for most people.  They are out for the evening to drink and meet friends and we are the 'entertainment' . . . not as much fun for me, but hey, it helps pay the bills.  Again, I like Andrew and I to look like we belong together on the stage and aren't just two people from the crowd, but I certainly don't go to the same lengths as I do for full 'stage'.


Switch... Several musicians I have interviewed talked about being in the zone. A time when they could do no wrong, the music flowed perfectly and the audience was swept up in the experience. All have indicated it has to do with a feeling. It's a mysterious thing and some musicians are uncomfortable discussing it. If you have felt this and aren't uncomfortable talking about it, can you describe the experience?

Laura... That mysterious feeling huh!!  Yeah, I know it, can I put it into words though is another matter.  I don't honestly know, why someone would feel uncomfortable talking about it - other than it is almost impossible to try and describe!  I will try though - you can always cut it from the interview if it sounds like shit LOL.  Ok, THE ZONE, for me it is somewhere I would love to be every time I pick up my guitar and sing, sadly though it isn't always the case! 

I remember one particular gig in London's Borderline venue - whilst playing one of my songs "Touch The Sky" I could hear voices. It sounded odd and I was wondering if my drummers bv's were a little off...

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=296363&t=2303 

LOL, turned out that the audience was singing back at me. From that point on, we were unstoppable. Whatever we did was fantastic.

We all felt, we could have stood on our heads and wouldn't have missed a beat!  Why?  Who knows. It just took us to that special place - perhaps 'the zone'.  Obviously that is performing 'live'.

I have also found myself in that place when writing. On one occasion I wrote a song in . . . well exactly the length of the song.  I can't say I know why it happened like that, but I do know it happened . . . where had I gone?  I couldn't tell you, other than... it had to be that special place

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