Lara Herscovitch

Artist Information

Biography

THE ARTIST

“Pure musical poetry” (The Courier), Lara Herscovitch’s music is an original blend of modern acoustic/folk with blues, jazz, and pop influences. With her voice “clear and smooth like expensive liquor,” she stands “above and beyond the pack” (Northeast Performer). Herscovitch is “a remarkable performer” (WSHU Public Radio), “a rising talent who is truly someone to watch for” (Acoustic Live in NYC). Former State Troubadour of Connecticut (2009-2010), Lara brings a charm, authenticity, and love of performing that immediately resonates with diverse audiences. She has appeared as a guest on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor (American Public Media) and tours from Maine to Miami.

“…Her voice and performance style had me captivated right away. She truly stands out in a crowd” (Valley Folk). “It’s rare to come across poets able to inject such an achingly human and knowing warmth into their work... It’s obvious that this musician-composer has hit her stride, that her star’s still rising” (Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange).

THE CURRENT PROJECT

Lara’s new release, Four Wise Monkeys (produced by John Jennings) showcases her ever-growing vision and skill. This relevant, meaningful recording is about facing adversity and undergoing transformation — personal, social, political. Many songs speak to one of our biggest civil rights challenges: the U.S. has only 5% of the world’s population, and a staggering 25% of its prisoners. The meaning of the proverbial three wise monkeys is debated. When they see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil, some believe they are stopping evil; others believe they are perpetuating it. Their intention in her song (and CD) is clear: Take a stand. Make a choice. Pick a side. Do something. Lara says, “my hope is that we each do something to create a better world. The world needs us, and we need each other. But for the grace go I and all.”

THE PERSON

As Acoustic Live in New York City wrote, “She possesses not only a huge reservoir of musical talent and a voice with a bell-like clarity, but a keen sense of global concern and a fierce intellect.” Herscovitch narrowly escaped law school, and trained instead as a policy social worker. She has worked in the US, Latin America and Asia, on behalf of disadvantaged communities — focusing on education and juvenile justice. Echoes of these themes are in her music, creating an extraordinary combination of talent with intelligence, insight, compassion and leadership. Lara is a native New Englander and lives there currently.

Instrumentation

Normally solo (vox and acoustic guitar), also available with a band: duo or trio (piano, bass), 4-piece includes percussion / drums.

Discography

Four Wise Monkeys - 2012

Through A Frozen Midnight Sky - 2009 ("magic" Moffly Media)

Juror Number 13 - 2006 ("among the best folk releases of this year and possibly many years past." - Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange)

There - 2002 ("If there was just one word for this album it would be 'captivating.'" -Smother.net)

Sin Tierra - 2000 ("Lara Herscovitch is above and beyond the pack." -Northeast Performer)

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace

Audio

• Mirrors and Smoke
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• Let Us Begin
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• But For the Grace
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• Time
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• Better Left Unread
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Lyrics

• Mirrors and Smoke
• Mississippi Lullaby
• Time
• But For the Grace
• Let Us Begin

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "a force"
  

  "Singer/songwriter Herscovitch is a force on the New England Folk Scene."

• "so many great lines, couplets, and extended metaphors that I hardly no where to start..." [+ Show ]
  

  "There are so many great lines, couplets, and extended metaphors in her work that I hardly know wher..."There are so many great lines, couplets, and extended metaphors in her work that I hardly know where to start... It's rare to come across poets able to inject such an achingly human and knowing warmth into their work... It's obvious that this musician-composer has hit her stride, that her star's still rising." -Mark S. Tucker, June 09

• "Herscovitch now is as a matter of course what Baez was then on her best day..." [+ Show ]
  

  "...Herscovitch now is as a matter of course what Baez was then on her best day... it is more than F..."...Herscovitch now is as a matter of course what Baez was then on her best day... it is more than Folk. It is Jazz and World and a handful of other genres (even comedy, as in a Smothers' Brother-type take on being stopped for speeding - Mr. Officer), all melded into a smoothly flowing musical stew... Juror Number 13 is among the best folk releases of this year and possibly many years past." -Frank Gutch Jr.

• "might seem too good to be true, but true it is.” [+ Show ]
  

  “She possesses not only a huge reservoir of musical talent and a voice with a bell-like clarity, but...“She possesses not only a huge reservoir of musical talent and a voice with a bell-like clarity, but a keen sense of global social concern and a fierce intellect… It might seem too good to be true, but true it is.” (full article PDF downloadable on Bio web page, www.LaraHerscovitch.com)

• "one hell of a find"
  

  "...Herscovitch was one hell of a find..." ... "perfect wordcrafting"

• "extraordinarily talented." [+ Show ]
  

  "Lara Herscovitch is doing a fine job of building up a rabid fanbase... Her vocals continue to amaze..."Lara Herscovitch is doing a fine job of building up a rabid fanbase... Her vocals continue to amaze me as she pops and weaves her way in and out of English and Spanish lyrics." ... "She’s extraordinarily talented."

• "not just a pretty face"
  

  "She is not just a pretty face, the more you listen, the more you will like what she does."

• "above and beyond the pack." [+ Show ]
  

  "Lara Herscovitch is above and beyond the pack." ... vocals "clear and smooth like expensive liquor...."Lara Herscovitch is above and beyond the pack." ... vocals "clear and smooth like expensive liquor."

• "those who hear, see, or speak with her will not soon forget her name.” [+ Show ]
  

  "If the name isn't currently sounding off any mental bells, it will... Always friendly and ever read..."If the name isn't currently sounding off any mental bells, it will... Always friendly and ever ready to establish a bond between performer and listener... Herscovitch's songs are moving and full of meaning... those who hear, see, or speak with her will not soon forget her name.”

• "incredible objectivity, honesty and imaginative storytelling." [+ Show ]
  

  "Nothing is forced with this sincere performer, and the sound that results is peaceful and pure... E..."Nothing is forced with this sincere performer, and the sound that results is peaceful and pure... Even the songs that describe “only” love, seem somehow deeper and more intellectual because of Lara’s incredible objectivity, honesty and imaginative storytelling."

• "a welcome alternative... the perfect soundtrack." [+ Show ]
  

  "Pure, crisp, refreshing, singer songwriter Lara Herscovitch is a welcome alternative... this one-ti..."Pure, crisp, refreshing, singer songwriter Lara Herscovitch is a welcome alternative... this one-time would-be lawyer's voice is arresting, warm and engaging; the perfect soundtrack."

Setlist

Basic Requirements

Calendar