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Laura Wilde 'Sold My Soul' Album Review
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In the world of music there are always surprises looming around the corner, waiting for us to discov...In the world of music there are always surprises looming around the corner, waiting for us to discover them. Icons like a Prince or Madonna, The Who and The Rolling Stones, Judas Priest, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix and so the story goes. When the magic appears, you need to grab it and embrace it. Such is the case of Laura Wilde who has seemingly appeared out of nowhere in just a year. She hails from Australia, and has just scratched the surface of what awaits her, of what should be a very long and prosperous career in music.
The new album is entitled ‘Sold My Soul’, and it is a very fitting title. Having had the pleasure of casually talking with her over the phone, I know for a fact she has “sold her soul, for Rock N Roll”. People have said “yes, she is hot, but does she really play”, so she released a 29 second clip of “Funky Town” to prove the naysayers wrong. Couple this to the fact that her new album has 11 of what will surely, and in short order, become timeless Rock Classics. Songs such as the title track, “Sold My Soul”, and “Anything Goes” prove she not only has the chops but has songwriting skills and everything one needs to go on to utter and sheer greatness. On “Angel” she lets loose a bit more on the guitar. She isn’t just another pretty face, just like Orianthi, she is a guitar slinger who can hang with the best of them. Sad to note that in this day and age we still judge women on how hot or cute they are rather than the skills they have as musicians. Well now with the addition of Laura Wilde, we have two great female Rock Guitar players, her and Orianthi. Only time will tell, but if the new album is any indication, she is destined for greatness.
This is an album truly worth owning. Not just because it has come catchy melodies, but because each song is written truly straight from the heart. There isn’t any of that “I am just here to make a buck” mentality. Is she Metal? Not on this album, but look at that 29 second clip and you know she can play it. Blues, no, but after really listening to her, you too will come to realize that there is probably not any category of music she couldn’t tackle, and tackle it brilliantly to boot. After all, isn’t that what music is about, quality, true talent, music from the heart, and striking a chord with the listener? I think so.
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Way of the Wilde
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http://issuu.com/nerdperfect/docs/leadingpossibilities_nov_dec2011?mode=window&backgroundColor=#2222...http://issuu.com/nerdperfect/docs/leadingpossibilities_nov_dec2011?mode=window&backgroundColor=#222222
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Laura Wilde Vegas Concert Review
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It is always interesting to see new talent, what they bring to the table, and what they have stored ...It is always interesting to see new talent, what they bring to the table, and what they have stored up inside if only the world can see. Add to this Laura Wilde. Hailing originally from Australia, she has resided in Los Angeles for the past year. She has taken her time getting things going over here, stateside, but for good reason.
She had been making a name for herself in her home country, but for a jump in her career and to really have a chance she moved here, and with that came the decision to do things right. There were investments in equipment, taking four years worth of songwriting and putting it onto an album which releases in January, and then to find the right musicians for her band. After a couple personnel changes she finally found what she was looking for and tonight I would see for myself.
I arrived early for an interview and watched the sound check first. The interview and sound check got juxtaposed, which sometimes happens, but it was all good. The sound check was impressive, to say the least, and gave me an idea of what lay in store. I then proceeded to do the interview and met the entire band and management team as well. You can hear the full interview in the multimedia section. Laura is a genuinely nice person and very professional and it shows in both her demeanor and attitude. I then went out, got seated, and waited for the show to being.
The band came out and started off with a bang. She went thru every song on her album, ‘Sold My Soul’, to the delight of the crowd. You can tell right away there is good chemistry in the band itself and between the guys and her. She has a voice that could only be described as that of a “gritty angel”. What that means is she has a beautiful voice, very angelic in nature, and at the same time, has an edge in her singing that grabs you from the start and won’t let go. The set was about 45 minutes in length and from start to finish she and the band just jammed away. With me was a friend of mine who is in the music business. He said at first “not really anything memorable here”, but at the end of her set he was saying “That’s a Pretenders’ vibe and feel” and he was blown away, and thanked me as he prepared to head home for the night. The venue was packed fuller than I had seen in quite sometime, and by the end of her set, she had them all at “Hello” and “goodnight”, you could tell.
There is a feel and vibe in her playing that not everyone has, that among only the best have. To add compliment to compliment, headlining act The Sin City Sinners brought her back during their set to jam with them on the Led Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love”. Just stunning and amazing!! There were some technical difficulties during her set, such as her vocals got cut completely out halfway thru her set, mid song. The sound seemed to do weird things this night during her set. We are in Las Vegas and Area 51 is close by, so could it be “aliens” or something more mischievous like “gremlins” or a soundman run amuck, I will let you make the call on that one if you were there. The technical difficulties didn’t stop her, which shows the sign of a true professional.
With a definite Joan Jett/Pretenders influence to her playing, Laura Wilde “IS” the definitive torch bearer for women in Rock playing the guitar and singing, following in the footsteps of Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde, the Wilson sisters from Heart, and others who have come before. Only her 4th show on this tour and having only played stateside since July 2011 speaks volumes. Good crowd interaction and love for the fans speaks volumes and if this is what she does in such a short time of playing, give it 2-3 years and she may very well be on top of the Rock-N-Roll game. She is the new kid on the block, the new sheriff in town, and she is gonna clean up. With the likes of Orianthi, Strange Karma, and now Laura Wilde, this is the new Rock invasion! This is the Australian invasion!! Dig it mate!!!
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Laura Wilde 'Sold My Soul' Cover Story
http://issuu.com/theg3agency/docs/musicnowmagazine03?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222
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Laura Wilde Interview
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Laura Wilde is a 21 year old singer/guitarist hailing from Melbourne, Australia. With supermodel loo...Laura Wilde is a 21 year old singer/guitarist hailing from Melbourne, Australia. With supermodel looks, Wilde recently relocated to the United States and landed right smack in the rock 'n' roll capitol of North America -- Los Angeles, California. Laura's influences vary from traditional hard rock, to punk and glam rock, and she has been compared to Suzie Quatro and Joan Jett -- and truth be told, her music fits right in between that of the aforementioned.
Wilde recorded her debut record in Los Angeles in the summer of 2011 and she is on the verge of unleashing 'Sold My Soul' upon the world. The album is a fun, melodic, and rebellious rock 'n' roll effort that will take you away from all of your worries -- if only for 30 minutes. Sleaze Roxx caught up with Laura for a short interview while she was doing press for the album. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it.
Sleaze Roxx: You're originally from Melbourne, Australia and at this time you're in L.A. How long have you been in the United States?
Laura Wilde: A little over a year -- I think 13-14 months.
Sleaze Roxx: You play guitar and you're a singer. Which did you pick up first?
Laura Wilde: I started playing guitar first -- I started around the age of 12. I started Broadway singing when I was about 14 -- don't ask me how or why! (laughs) I started studying opera when I was 16 -- I guess singing and playing guitar went hand in hand for me. I also know how to play bass, piano and drums.
Sleaze Roxx: I know you play guitar and sing on your album, but are you also playing some of the other instruments on the record? Lenny Kravitz does a lot of this on his albums.
Laura Wilde: Yeah I played all of the bass and I drummed on a few tracks as well. My experience playing in other bands in the past has brought various different influences into my style and it keeps it fresh and new. I try to learning something new from everybody.
Sleaze Roxx: On the teaser clip for the song "Sold My Soul" you're playing a Gibson Flying V, is that your instrument of choice?
Laura Wilde: The Flying V is my weapon of choice. It's funny you should mention Lenny Kravitz because I was watching his "Are You Gonna Go My Way" music video when I was three years old. I saw him playing that awesome Gibson Flying V in that cool outfit -- it was all over from there. I actually have someone that made me my own custom W guitar it's kind of like a Flying V, but it's a W rather than a V. It's very cool and it's got vintage '57 original pick-ups. It's a wailer! (laughs)
Sleaze Roxx: 'Sold My Soul' showcases various different subgenres like hard rock, modern rock, punk and glam. Who are some of the artists that have influenced you and shaped you as a musician?
Laura Wilde: When I was growing up some of the bands that influenced me were bands like Green Day, The Foo Fighters and Nirvana. As I got older I started looking at who their influences were and I started listening to 60's and 70's rock 'n' roll. I also got into bands like The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and then I got into glam bands like Slade, T. Rex and Gary Glitter. I also love Led Zeppelin -- Jimmy Page is one of my favorite guitarists. Along with Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and Slash are my three main guitar influences.
Sleaze Roxx: What about vocalists?
Laura Wilde: I love Wendy James from Transvision Vamp and I also love Joan Jett, Suzie Quatro and Shirley Manson from Garbage.
Sleaze Roxx: It's funny you should mention Joan Jett and Suzie Quatro because you're 'Sold My Soul' album fits in with the music of The Runaways and also Suzie Quatro. I think you've heard that before, but how do you take that?
Laura Wilde: I take that as a huge compliment to be compared to those girls. I would never sneer at that comment! (laughs)
Sleaze Roxx: Obviously the girl guitar-driven rock is a given, but 'Sold My Soul' is also a fun melodic record.
Laura Wilde: I had a lot of fun making it and a lot of fun writing it. I'm glad that came through when you heard it.
Sleaze Roxx: Since relocating to Los Angeles you've been gigging in and around the L.A. area. What kind of feedback have you been getting from people that have seen the live show?
Laura Wilde: I've been through a few bands since getting here -- it took a bit to find this band but I'm finally happy with everyone in the band. We gel on stage and we have great chemistry. It's like finding three husbands! (laughs) People have pointed out that we work very well together as a band. We've been getting great feedback on the live show.
Sleaze Roxx: You performed at SXSW in March of this year. What was that experience like and how did you get booked for that event?
Laura Wilde: I'll be honest with you, that was probably the most fun that I've ever had in my life at this point. Being in the presence of crazy, awesome musicians and industry people all in one city was fantastic. I got hooked up with SXSW by Danny B. Harvey who is the guitarist for Headcat. He's a good friend of mine and he took us out and showed us around town. Danny gave us the authentic Austin (Texas) experience along with the SXSW craziness. Danny's very nurturing to up and coming artists and has been very helpful.
Sleaze Roxx: 'Sold My Soul' was originally slated for release in the summer of 2011 but from what I've been hearing it's been pushed back to early 2012. What happened?
Laura Wilde: Yeah, the band kept changing and things kept happening but now its set in stone that the album will be released on January 31, 2012. If it doesn't come out then -- heads will roll! (laughs) Fresh year... fresh start. We'll also be doing a lot of shows around that time. I'm doing a guest spot at South Point (Hotel & Casino) in Vegas on New Year's Eve -- that should be fun.
Sleaze Roxx: How far back does the material that we'll hear on 'Sold My Soul' go? Is it fairly recent?
Laura Wilde: The most recent song is "Sold My Soul". We recorded that in July of this year (2011) and the song that is the oldest is "All Alone" which dates back to April of 2008 -- that one has been hanging around for a while.
Sleaze Roxx: Out of all the songs that made the album which track came together the quickest?
Laura Wilde: I'd have to say that there were two -- "Anything Goes" and "Sold My Soul". "Sold My Soul" was recorded within a couple of hours.
Sleaze Roxx: What song took a while to flesh out and gave you fits?
Laura Wilde: I think the song that took the longest was "For You". It was the first time that I had ever collaborated with someone. I was very unsure of the whole process and we kept missing each other. We finally found time to sit down and write the song together -- that took a while. I really don't think songs should take that long to write! (laughs) If it's natural and flowing you'll hear that in the song.
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Laura Wilde October Cover Story Preview
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Laura Wilde
Laura Wilde, an Australian-born and bred music artist phenom, is a songwriter, an entre...Laura Wilde
Laura Wilde, an Australian-born and bred music artist phenom, is a songwriter, an entrepreneur, and an intelligent and highly motivated woman (just 21) who is set to debut her first American album this year. LA-based today, we think Laura is not only an example of what self mastery looks like in her generation, but what the new age of success in the music industry can be. This isn't your grandmother's Sunset Boulevard hard-luck story. Laura redefines what it means to be a musician artist in a culture that wants to hang on to a dying belief that just because it's rock and roll, it must be evil. Laura is everything your mother would want you to have in a best friend, a business partner, and the girl next door, it's just she has fingers that can crush an electric guitar and bass, arms that wield drum sticks like nobodies business, and a voice that sounds as if every rock female artist known to man got together and created a super-performer. Join Chris Frost and Mike Wilson (writer and visual producer) on their LA journey to Wilde times. Coming in October.
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Laura Wilde Interview
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Skope: Were you excited about being an A2W artist for October?
Laura Wilde: Extremely! I feel as ...Skope: Were you excited about being an A2W artist for October?
Laura Wilde: Extremely! I feel as though I’ve won something. It is a fabulous opportunity and a wonderful chance to gain some exposure.
Skope: What are you currently promoting the most via an album, tour, single etc?
Laura Wilde: My album “Sold My Soul” is due for release January 31st, which I’m really excited about. I’ll also be releasing a few singles,some music videos and touring.
Skope: Do you have any big shows lined up for this month?
Laura Wilde: I’m currently booking dates for a pre album release tour of the West Coast leading up to Christmas. I’ll also be appearing at some high schools around the State to play for some of my younger fans that can’t access the “21 & over” venues.
Skope: DO you plan on putting out any music with a Halloween theme?
Laura Wilde: I do have a track I’ve written called ‘Freeek!’ which is pretty scary and would work well for Halloween. I also have another track “Lets Roll” where I’m dressed as a Super Hero in the video, which could also lend itself to a Halloween theme.
Skope: Do you listen to the local radio where you live?
Laura Wilde: Yes, I listen to Kroq but I’m an avid channel surfer which drives people crazy when they are in the car with me. I hate to feel like I’m missing out on another good song playing on a different station, so I end up hearing nothing!
Skope: Would you agree that the independent scene is stronger than ever?
Laura Wilde: It has to be as the labels aren’t signing acts with the same vigor as they used to. You now have to attain a certain level of success on your own before they will consider you, but then you might think, “Hey, I’ve gotten this far on my own. Where were you when I needed you?”
Skope: What is coming up for you & where you at online?
Laura Wilde: Online I have 3 Facebook friend pages and a Fan Page, a web page on laurawilde.com. I’m also on Twitter and have some videos on my youtube channel but keep your eyes peeled as there is plenty more to come.
I’ve got an exciting year ahead for 2012, where I’m releasing my debut album and touring to promote it. I just had a great show at the Whisky with my awesome new band. I can’t wait to hit the road with them and get it all out there!
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Do we finally have a new Rock voice?
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I have been a music writer for over 40 different publications world-wide. This is my triumphant entr...I have been a music writer for over 40 different publications world-wide. This is my triumphant entrance into the blogging world. Last Wednesday an incident inspired me to write this piece. You need to be sitting down for this one ...
'To make a rock'n'roll record, technology is the least important thing.'
These the carefully chosen words that once departed the warhorse lips of Keith Richards - ushered out by a cloud of smoke .
Now, Richards also said that he was a half-man, half-horse Sagittarius with a license to shit in the street, so...you know.....swings and roundabouts.
However, the sentiments of the initial quote are quite stirring and quite relevant, as we find ourselves standing on the edge of a dark music world in 2011. A world which we have discovered is not flat, but desolate and absent of vision. Absent of soul. Absent of feeling. Absent of brains. And absent of the genre which permitted hundreds of carbon copy sub-genres to be farted out like a cheap fast-food meal that the consumer knows isn't as good as the independent place up the road - but it's cheap and easy to digest without making the brain think too much. ROCK AND ROLL.
We constantly see record labels adopting the "Would you like fries with that" attitude: for every Lady Gaga there are 20 condiment sized Lady Gaga snacks. Not nearly as tasty on their own, but squirt a bit over the old Gaga burger and it'll really fuck up those taste buds, eventually damaging your pallet beyond repair.
How does a kid search for music these days? Well, they don't. More often than not they are force fed the aforementioned junk at such a rate that it becomes very hard to think for themselves. The most ingenious central design of the human being is our state of consciousness and free-will - you could say this is the defining feature of the human being which makes us so amazing. Call it evolution, call it god's design, call it what you like, it's nothing short of amazing. But people nowadays are lured into a false sense of free-will. And when it comes to music, people are fooled into believing that they are exercising free-will.
So where am I going with all of this crazy rambling?
Well...
A few days ago a buddy of mine phoned me up saying "I have the sound you've been looking for!" OK, it was very much a Back to the Future moment, but not that much...It was more along the lines of "I have a rock chick from LA who is pretty fucking cool, you should listen to her".
I was of course skeptical about his spiel. I immediately thought 'Yeah, yeah...I'm sure you do" (while I envisioned some hideously out of key, fame hungry blond with a name that was purposefully misspelled in order to dumb down the consumer even further - like $ally, or ca$h mOn3Y). *shudder*
As it turned out, this girl WAS blond, and on first impression one might think she is a fame hungry model. The fact that she advertised herself as a guitar player was another thing - over the years I've seen and met a lot of "guitar players" who for the most part have thought it might add a bit of cred by holding an axe. And what does the term "Rock Chick" even mean anymore?
He continued by saying "she's the next Lita Ford, the next Joan Jett", which DID make my ears prick up. In 2011, the year of the Gaga, is it possible that something as soulful and genuine as those two artists could be coming through the system? "She's created her own record label" he said, which got me even more excited. I still hadn't heard her music or seen her play guitar yet...So I gave it a spin.
Short review: Fuck yes.
Fucking finally. THIS is what music has been waiting for!!!! This is what forced me to get off my fat ass and post this blog. She looks good, sounds good, rocks the fuck out and she is genuine. Not the product of a conglomeration who's using a rock chick to make some extra money because they've fucked up so many other genres from the past. She's the real deal and her music has soul.
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Laura Wilde on The Jimmy Star Show
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Laura Wilde will be a featured guest on The Jimmy Star Show live radio show hosted by King of Cool, ...Laura Wilde will be a featured guest on The Jimmy Star Show live radio show hosted by King of Cool, Jimmy Star along with his Cool Crowd of cohosts to discuss her music, her upcoming album, and the entertainment industries at large. The Jimmy Star Show is radio's new hit show, featuring the coolest in music, entertainment, fashion and pop culture, all from a fun industry insider perspective in a completely live, unedited fast-paced two-hour conversational format.
Hailing from Australia, rock frontwoman Laura Wilde is intent on bringing a fresh interpretation of traditional rock and roll for a younger generation of fans. The 21 year old singer songwriter plays lead guitar, bass and drums and is set to release her debut album out of Los Angeles, California this year.
Heavily influenced by rock, glam and punk, Wilde's songs are party rock anthems combining the talking swagger of a Blondie with the guitar licks of a Lita Ford. With titles like "Back Seat", and "Love Buyer" the sometimes cheeky, sometimes in your face Wilde's approach is all fun. Her star quality, bold stage presence, and contrasting angelic good looks with hard edged rock style have made for the complete package explaining the heightened industry anticipation of her debut release.
The Jimmy Star Show is pleased to showcase the expertise and talent of Laura Wilde, and all anticipate a fun and informative time talking with her about music, the entertainment industries, and the world. Join King of Cool Jimmy Star, Diva of Cool Drew Albright, Cool Man about Town Alex Blacke and Cool Haunted One Woody Meckes as they have a playful and sometimes wild time with the talented featured guest! You’ll also hear ideas for a fun and successful life from Bright Life with Dr. Drew Albright, the latest celebrity gossip from Blacke Backstage, horror news from Fright Asylum with Woody Meckes, and fabulous fan questions from Star Mail and the live online radio chatroom!
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Australian Rocker Laura Wilde Set to Release her Debut Album
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Laura Wilde is set to release her debut album, Sold My Soul, on January 31, 2012, and will tour and ...Laura Wilde is set to release her debut album, Sold My Soul, on January 31, 2012, and will tour and release singles and videos to support the album.
Laura is the personification of girl power, to be sure….but she’s much more than that. Look past her obvious beauty and cool Aussie accent, and you’ll find a depth and wisdom uncommon for someone only 21 years of age.
Laura not only taught herself to be an accomplished guitarist, but she also favors playing a Flying V. “I was allowed to start playing the guitar when I was 12, after years of nagging my parents. At the age of three, I saw Lenny Kravitz’s music video for ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way,’ where he was playing a Flying V. I was immediately transfixed on the guitar, along with Lenny’s unbelievable attitude. I have two Flying Vs, and was lucky enough to have my own signature Laura Wilde ‘Flying W’ created for me which was pretty special.”
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Australia's Wilde ready to realize American dream with debut album
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One look at, and listen to, Laura Wilde is usually all it takes to elicit the Lita Ford comparisons:...One look at, and listen to, Laura Wilde is usually all it takes to elicit the Lita Ford comparisons:
Long, blond hair? Check.
Guitar? Yep.
Ravishing black-leather appearance? Of course.
Rebellious rock-and-roller fronting her own band? You betcha.
But while Wilde could fit in with a modern-day version of Ford's and Joan Jett's pre-solo group The Runaways, such comparisons are flattering and a bit misguided. Flattering because, well, a female rocker being compared to Ford isn't such a bad thing. Misguided because Wilde is all about making a name for herself.
That's why Wilde, a 21-year-old Australian, is chasing her American dream in Los Angeles -- with Flying V guitar in tow. Having played at the annual South By Southwest (SXSW) industry extravaganza in March in Austin, Wilde is preparing to release her debut album Sold My Soul independently on Aug. 1 through Vice Grip Media. The 11-track disc is a rock record. It's not full-on metal, but it's far from bubblegum pop, too. Did we mention Wilde can also play bass and drums?
Wilde (view her Facebook page here) phoned me last weekend from L.A.:
Q: How well did the writing and recording process come together for Sold My Soul?
A: I actually started writing some of the songs when I was 17 and recording when I was 18. So it's been a very slow process. I'm glad that it's all finally coming together.
Q: Did you also play bass and drums on the album and write all the songs?
A: I played all the guitars, and drums on a couple of tracks, and yes, I wrote all the songs.
Q: How was your SXSW experience? Was that your first trip to Texas?
A: Ah yes, SXSW is mental and huge and fantastic! If any musicians can get there, I highly recommend it. It was my first time, and I fell in love with the city. We'll have to stop by there more often. It's a great opportunity.
Well, then you'll have to come down I-35 to San Antonio, say hello and play a show here as well.
Oh, yes! Definitely.
Q: I've seen the recent photo of you in a Metallica ". . . And Justice For All" T-shirt. Beyond general influences, which bands do you pattern your style and sound after?
A: I got into those old rock bands like Led Zeppelin, stuff like that, and put a new modern twist on it. My '90s influences were more like Green Day. And I absolutely love Slade.
Q: I'm sure you get the Lita Ford comparison a lot. Is that an advantage or a hindrance?
A: I'm very flattered by it. Keep it coming (laughs)! I saw (The Runaways) movie, and I thought it was great. It showed how hard it would've been to break through with young female musicians. It's not easy to do what we do.
Q: You sing "I Sold My Soul to Rock N' Roll . . . and I'm not going home" in the title track. What inspired you to move to L.A. from Australia to chase your dream, and do you worry about things not turning out as well as you'd like after having moved so far?
A: Yes, well, I figured the music scene in Australia is great for different genres, but for Rock N' Roll, it's not really happening. Yes, you have Jet and other great rock bands. But I came out here (to L.A.) when I was 19. If you want to do anything, you're going to have to move out here. With industry people, it's out of sight, out of mind, and they'll forget about you. It's what I was put on this planet to do. I'm not really thinking about it not turning out.
Q: The title track also has the lyric "Met a boy back in Illinois, but my heart belongs to Texas." Since one is my hometown and the other is my current home, I have to ask, what's the story behind that one?
A: Oh, yes (laughs). Being in L.A., you meet aggressive people from all over, and you travel around. It's just about falling in love with different places.
Q: As someone with the kind of looks that can turn heads when you walk into a room, how do you get potential fans to take you seriously as a musician, particularly since you're just starting out?
A: Oh, well, thank you . . . I guess as much as anything, I hone my craft. I've played guitar since I was 12. I've had some struggles with the instrument because my parents didn't want me to touch it. Then I couldn't find appropriate bass players and drummers in Australia while recording, so I had to do it myself. I've worked very hard.
Q: What's the most meaningful song for you on the record and why?
A: Besides "Sold My Soul," there aren't really any happy songs (laughs). I'm a little angry at certain situations.
Q: Anything in particular?
A: You know, if someone breaks my little heart into a bunch of pieces (laughs). It's all very therapeutic.
Q: Tell me about your band. Who plays what?
A: Curt Hart is the drummer, Jeff Subauste is on bass, and I've got a guy called Nills on the other guitar. Nills has a weird surname. He'll be like Madonna. We'll call him by his first name.
Q: How did it come about that you played an acoustic show for the Saudi Arabian Royal Family?
A: I was staying in this hotel in 2009, where every other room was booked by this family. And you know when you're in a hotel, you start making friends with other people. They found out I was in a band and played guitar, and I gave them a CD. Then I got a request that the princess wanted me to play a show for them. It was amazing. I was excited that people from different cultures could appreciate my music.
Q: Well, thanks for taking the time, and best of luck with your album. Can we expect a San Antonio tour stop when you hit the road?
A: Yes, you guys are very high on the agenda!
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Laura Wilde performs first L.A. gig
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Great to see Melbourne singer-songwriter Laura Wilde play her first Los Angeles show at the Viper Ro...Great to see Melbourne singer-songwriter Laura Wilde play her first Los Angeles show at the Viper Room in West Hollywood recently. Laura has settled into Los Angeles life over the past twelve months and has meticulously gone about the business of establishing her name and her sound. The debut album “Sold My Soul” has been carefully prepared and is expected to be released in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, the gig at the Viper Room gave her a chance to be witnessed by keen music observers and to demonstrate her talent to the L.A. public for the first, of hopefully many, times.
Here are some photos of the fiery Australian rocker.
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Laura Wilde Interviewed by Jordan Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HnyGFR9L9U&feature=youtu.be
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Laura Wilde
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She’s one of Aussies rising rock talents and we predict rocker Laura Wilde is already on the way to ...She’s one of Aussies rising rock talents and we predict rocker Laura Wilde is already on the way to becoming Australia’s Joan Jett. Planet Loud had a chat to Laura to find out more about what the future holds in store for the Australian.
Planet Loud – So, how are you today?
Laura Wilde – Well, I just had 4 wisdom teeth yanked out this morning so I’m a bit sad and sorry but the ice-cream and jelly diet is more than making up for it!
Planet Loud – A lot of people won’t know who you are. Tell us a bit about yourself?
Laura Wilde – I’m a 19 year old guitarist from Melbourne, Australia. I also do lead vocals. I am totally instrument obsessed. I used to work in a guitar shop which was great as I was surrounded by awesome guitars all day. On stage I play a Gibson Flying V, but my other fave is the Gretsch Silverjet.
Planet Loud – You’re making a bit of a name for yourself. How are things going for you at the moment?
Laura Wilde – I’m really happy with how things are going at the moment. I’ve had some generous press and the opportunity to play some great gigs in a short space of time. I’ve done about 20 gigs in the last few months and it has been a massive learning curve. I think back to earlier in the year when I hadn’t even done a gig yet and then I got to do my first headline at HiFi Bar last week, which was great fun! It’s awesome that some people believe in me enough to give me a shot.
Planet Loud – I believe you’re heading out to LA at some point. What’s that for?
Laura Wilde – I have some meetings lined up with some ‘industry people’ and a few writing sessions. I won’t have my band with me, so unless I can rustle a few boys together I doubt I’ll be doing gigs. I’ve saved up enough money to buy a nice bass guitar, so I’m looking forward to having a trawl around music shops.
Planet Loud – Have you been to America before? What are you expecting from it?
Laura Wilde – Yes, I’ve been about half a dozen times. My dad works out of a New York based firm so I have been lucky to tag along on some of his business trips. I’m excited to go, but it’s a tough industry. I hope to meet some interesting people and make some good contacts.
Planet Loud – Tell us about your music then…
Laura Wilde – Well, my music is mostly in the rock genre but it’s evolving. Ever since I’ve started using ProTools and recording by myself, I’ve been dipping into a whole lot of other genres. I’m really enjoying writing more punk stuff and even a few ballads have managed to creep in.
Planet Loud – Who and what inspires you musically and lyrically?
Laura Wilde – Musically, I almost have to live in a vacuum to be inspired. The more I hear, the harder I find it to come up with something that is entirely my own. I’ll spend all night on a track and then excitedly show my brother in the morning and he will just shut me down by saying ‘Hey that sounds like the start of Blah Blah!!’ Crushed and disappointed, I’ll have to go back to the drawing board with my tail between my legs! It’s amazing how something can sink into your psyche and you don’t know where you’ve derived it from but it is so obvious to someone else. Lyrically, I am inspired by my life’s experiences. I write about relationships I’ve had and a lot of my tracks are a kind of social commentary on people I have met or come across. If I’m seriously angered and have something to say I can fully write and record a whole track in a couple of hours.
Planet Loud – What made you pick up a guitar and how supportive were your family?
Laura Wilde – Apparently, and I can’t remember this, my older brother was given one of those annoying press-button toy guitars when I was one. I grabbed it, hugged it and if anyone tried to coax it from me I would scream and cry. Since then I always wanted my own electric guitar, but my parents refused to buy me one until I was 12. They would only let me play the piano. That Christmas, there was a square box under the tree that couldn’t possibly be a guitar. My mum hinted that the box contained the whole set of Harry Potter novels! Because I love reading so much! (not). It turned out to be an amp, and a guitar was hiding behind the curtain. Best day of my life! I can’t say that my parents were that supportive, until this year. They freaked when I left university to pursue music. They are still struggling at the thought, but they are really helping me out now.
Planet Loud – What are your goals as an artist?
Laura Wilde – I’d love to write a song that people can really identify with…. a song that really speaks to them and helps them through something difficult, or revs them up or makes them happy. There are many songs by so many brilliant artists that really do all of these things for me. So to write a killer song is one goal. Also I’d love to be proficient on all instruments. At the moment I can play guitar, bass and drums, but I’ve finally come around to liking the piano. I’d really like to be better at all of them. So another goal is to be the best musician I can be, and to be respected by other musicians. I’d also like to be an entertaining performer and be able to whip a crowd up into a frenzy for an entire performance, where everyone is on it, in sync and the chemistry all just works.
Planet Loud – Do you remember the first time you got on stage?
Laura Wilde – Hells yeah! I was totally shit-faced at a pub when I was 16. I had lied to my parents as to my whereabouts. A friend I was with told the guys from the band playing that night that I could play guitar and before I knew it, I was up on stage playing ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ by Jet on bass with the band. The crowd went nuts because it was mostly people from my school and at that point I knew that this was really what I wanted to do. I was on a high for the rest of the night. I got home and excitedly told my parents what had happened. They totally smashed my vibe to smithereens when they grounded me for lying to them.
Planet Loud – If you could talk to any musician alive or dead who would it be and why?
Laura Wilde – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He was a true rock’n’rolla even back in the 1700’s. He had it all goin’ on, I’d love to go back in time and party with him.
Planet Loud – Being a female in a notoriously male industry, are you concerned about your image being given more emphasis than your music?
Laura Wilde – Not really, there are 44 million bands on Myspace and I’m just thrilled to be given any emphasis at all. I’ll just keep doing my `thang’ and hopefully people will like it.
Planet Loud – You’re still quite young as well, what lessons have you learned so far about the music industry?
Laura Wilde – I guess there are very few people that you can trust. Everyone is desperately pushing their own agenda. I’ve been bitterly disappointed with people who I thought were my friends… oh well, I guess it makes for good songwriting material! I also keep my expectations in check so that I am not constantly let down. ‘Hope for the best, but expect the worst’.
Planet Loud – Tell us about the music scene in Aussie. Some great rock bands have come from Aussie, what is it that makes Australia a home of great hard rock?
Laura Wilde – I’m from Melbourne, where we have a very active and well attended live band scene. We have a huge number of very talented, fantastic bands that are coming through at the moment. I think Australia is the home of the working class, rural pub culture which is very ‘blokey’ and conducive to writing hard rock. I notice when I leave Australia that other countries place less emphasis on alcohol and drinking, which is a pretty big part of our leisure time. I guess that whole scene is pretty rock n roll. There is also an adventurous freshness about Australia that lends itself to creativity.
Planet Loud – Who would your ideal gig be with?
Laura Wilde – Kiss. They put on a great show and they are a bit of a performance benchmark. It would also put me in an ideal position to steal Ace Frehley’s smoking Les Paul.
Planet Loud – What does Laura Wilde’s daily routine consist of?
Laura Wilde – I get up around midday, run for 4km, have a very late breakfast around 2pm, have my daily meetings with various people I’m trying to set things up with or songwriting sessions, then rehearsals till late, then mess around on ProTools until about 4am. Yeah!
Planet Loud – I hear a lot of Joan Jett’s hard rock attitude in your music/look. Would you agree with that?
Laura Wilde – Yes, she’s amazing. I’m also a big fan of Suzi Quatro, Chrissy Amphlett and Wendy James. Ma gurls.
Planet Loud – What records did you listen to growing up?
Laura Wilde – Growing up I loved Limp Bizkit ‘Significant Other’, Korn ‘Follow the Leader’, Silverchair ‘Freakshow’ & ‘Neon Ballroom’. I loved anything by Blink 182, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. My friends subjected me to Hanson, and I wanted to rip their fucking heads off.
Planet Loud – When and what can we expect from your debut album?
Laura Wilde – I hope to have an album out early next year. It’s a surprise… good things come to those who wait!
Planet Loud – Okay Laura, aside from the album, what are your plans for 2009 and beyond?
Laura Wilde – I feel like a lot of this year has been focused on the establishment of administrative crap (photo shoots, artwork, web pages, merch store, etc.), so from here I’d love to just concentrate on writing and performing. I guess I’ll just see where the wind blows me!
Planet Loud – Thanks for your time. Anything else to say?
Laura Wilde – Thank you Graham. It’s been an absolute pleasure.
Interview by Graham Finney
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Laura Wilde
[+ Show ]
You just completed a music video for this new song "Back Seat." What elements
did this music video...You just completed a music video for this new song "Back Seat." What elements
did this music video create for the buying public interest?
LW: There's a bit of something for everyone. It was filmed in a mechanics workshop, so I think the boys will enjoy that aspect. For the girls, there is a Cinderella style love story.
You did a ten hour photo shoot for your new music before the New Year.
Why was the shoot so long and did you finish in that span of time?
LW: Well, there were three different locations. So once you factor in make-up and travel time it can stretch out as long as ten hours. By the time we arrived at the last location in Hollywood, it had started raining. My hair was a total mess and my make-up was running, but this got us some great artistic shots. (Laughing out loud)
Talk a little bit about your song “Love Buyer”. What’s the back story on that track?
LW: I wrote the song when I was 17 and hadn't really as yet experienced this type of person. Its basically a social commentary on the double edged sword of men with a financial advantage, exerting power over women who chase money.
Talk a little bit about your song “Nothing Back”. What’s the back story on that track?
LW: Nothing Back is about having strength in your convictions and no regrets. Its about following though with intentions regardless of what people think.
What about your new song, "Back Seat"?
LW: Back seat is about the instigation of change. Its about fighting something that is holding you back from realising your full potential, such as an addiction to either a substance or a person.
Do you write your own lyrics?
LW: Yes, I started writing lyrics when I was about 9. They weren't exactly fabulous, but there is always room for improvement.
What would you like to say to youth worldwide about the value of education & their dreams and goals in general?
LW: Education is something that no one can ever take away from you, and knowledge can never be used to your detriment. I wanted to drop out of school when I was 15 to be a musician but my parents made me finish and even do a year of university. I didn't see it at the time, but it was the best thing that they could have done for me.
With regard to the achievement of their dreams and goals, hard work, perseverance, patience and sacrifice will help you achieve anything you set your mind to.
Does the inspiration for your songs come about through life experience’s or something just in general?
LW: Yes, both. Although I do my best writing when I have a strong emotional reaction towards something.
If you weren’t performing and working in the entertainment industry what would have been your fall back career?
LW: I would've liked to have been a plastic surgeon. Aside from my parents, there were a long line of doctors in my family. I've got a surgery game on Nintendo DS so I get to live out that dream virtually.
Describe yourself in one word and why you choose that word?
LW: Stubborn. Because I am a Capricorn and I stick to my guns and push forward, regardless.
Young Celebrity News
When did you start singing and playing the guitar?
LW: I started playing the guitar when I was 12, although I had been obsessed with them since I was a baby. I started singing when I was about 14. Believe it or not, I studied Classical Opera and Broadway singing.
Who are some of your influences today?
LW: Led Zeppelin, Sweet, T.Rex, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Greenday and Lenny Kravitz.
Do people compare you to any artist out today or ones from the past?
LW: Ones from the past. Like Suzi Quattro, Joan Jett, Lita Ford and most recently Prince because we both play all of our own instruments.
What advice would you give to up and coming young female singers that want to get into singing and playing the guitar?
LW: Determination and hard work should stand you in good stead to get you anywhere you want to go.
Star Chat Magazine
What was it like to hear your music on radio for the first time ever?
LW: It was totally surreal. I was jumping out of my skin with excitement.
What was it like working in a guitar shop in the beginning?
LW: Working there was definitely a learning experience in lots of ways. I met some of the most amazing people. I was so excited to be surrounded by so many beautiful guitars all day.
“Aussie Millions Celebrity Poker Challenge”. What was it like to be part of that in 2010?
LW: It certainly was a challenge! I can't play poker to save my life. I pretty much took the role of the comic relief on the table until I lost everything. Good thing that it was going to charity.
The Autum/Winter Fashion launch Melborne 2010, what was it like to experience this event?
LW: I'm no fashionista, but I love a fashion parade and I was in the front row so it was great fun!
What does your fashion style consist of Laura?
LW: Whatever is not in fashion. By day I dress like a biker. By night like to dress like an 18th century English gentleman or something out of a Tim Burton movie. If I could be styled by anyone it would be Colleen Atwood. I can't afford her just yet, but give it time.
Lastly What do you want to achieve in 2011 that you didn’t complete in 2010?
LW: I'll be releasing my debut album and taking it on tour later in the year. I also shot three music videos in the last few months, which I am very excited about showing everyone. Stay tuned!
supersonic
