The Longing

Artist Information

Biography

The Longing is an LA-based group whose upcoming release, “Bleed” transcends over-simplistic genre categorization. Founding member and singer, Laura Bradley, harnesses the power of her trademark angelic sound and unleashes her voice with the spectral force of an emotional whiplash as this powerful 13 track rock album spins out into groove-heavy pockets of distortion, atonal dissonance, high-octane hooks and the haunting piano melodies that are the signature of Bradley’s compositional style.

In addition to Laura, The Longing consists of guitarists Yuri Anisonyan and James Kloeppel, bassist Michael Wallace and drummer, Tom Plumb – all formally trained, seasoned session and touring musicians with numerous high-profile production and engineering credits. When asked about the title track, “Bleed” James replied, “I love the harmony, it’s really catchy and it’s got this weird overshadowing overtones/undertones – it is so NOT standard pop!” While the album is emotionally revealing, cohesion is heard in every note. “I think we’ve worked our way towards creating a dynamic that is perfect,” adds Yuri. “This band has a sound, and everyone just gets better. We’ve really started to trust each other.”
The stunning video for the single, “Bleed” was directed by Carmella Cardina, supervising producer of “The Green Room with Paul Provenza” on Showtime along with Bradley’s sister, Flint. Set in a neglected yet beautiful mansion, it traces the story of a woman lost in the history of the old house and its secrets. The imagery of the past and present collide within the memories of romance, intrigue and blood. Tom adds, “It was a great experience. The location was incredible, the whole process was really fun, creatively, and working it out together was amazing.”
The soul wrenching “Cool Dark Slip” opens with Bradley’s haunting solo piano before exploding into an urgency of hard-driven guitars. “All the songs are personal. It’s the only way I know how to write, but this is one the most achingly intimate songs on the album,” Bradley says. “This song simply penned itself. I had recently lost someone I loved to suicide and I was drowning in loss and anger. In order to find forgiveness, I took on the persona, the story of why, and faced the pain, her pain and what it was like to take her own life.”
The melodic and atmospheric, “This Flame” exposes Bradley’s experience with the Angeles National Forest Station fire that burned Bassist/Producer Michael Wallace’s Stonyville Cabin & Studios to the ground in 2010. “The fire took on a feminine identity and I hated her with all my heart. I speak directly to her in the song, telling her how she took from me a sense of safety and security. I had no power against her, and the change she was forcing upon me with her raging inferno. People like to think that the songs are always autobiographical when actually they are not. They are all very personal and meaningful to me, but I’m stepping into a persona as I am affected by a story, a confession, an event or the imagery of a situation. In the end, it’s always personal.”
Rounding out the release is the dramatic and expressive, “Sword & Stone”. “I loved writing Sword & Stone – it was originally commissioned by director Carmella Cardina for her film adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, and it became so much more than a movie theme for me. While I was writing about the dramatic journey of Prospero, the main character, and his transformation from rage and conviction into forgiveness, it broke open a place in me that had no concept of how to truly forgive and what forgiveness ultimately means. I don’t want to forgive you, is our nature. Do it anyway, is our higher calling. “
Bradley has toured nationally as a solo artist in support of her first two album projects, Rain and Storm (distributed by eOne), and became the opening act for both Colin Hay and Dionne Warwick & Friends at Miami’s Bank United Center. With the formation of The Longing, the group has performed at numerous rock venues with a unified vision and sound that electrifies an audience. Impressed by her playful theatrics and easy rapport with an enthusiastic crowd at The Viper Room, Music Connection Magazine reviewer, Lisa Elaine Scott writes, “Laura is an accomplished composer and a sophisticated performer. Her risk-taking lyrical story lines, combined with stellar musicianship and a spellbinding stage presence, make for an outstanding live show. Unafraid to stray from the familiar formula, Laura Bradley and The Longing are creating aural art at its best.”
With “Bleed” about to be released, The Longing’s thoughts have focused to returning to the road. Laura reveals, “I never meant for this to be a project four years in the making, but you have to be able to step away and give something space to grow. The end result is exactly what I’ve always wanted: A fourteen song epic release of dramatic and difficult subjects, propelled by the rich and heavyweight sound of The Longing. I think we were all focused on playing this music live the entire time we were recording. It’s really a concept CD meant to be played live.” Tom says, “Playing live is my favorite part of the whole band! Making the record is fantastic, but playing live is what I enjoy most about music. The fact that the band is so good and so together, to get the right pieces in terms of members and really working hard at arranging the songs “for” the band and all of those things make it such an awesome experience to play live.”

Instrumentation

James Kloeppel - Guitar.
Michael Wallace - Bass.
Tom Plumb - Drums
Yury Anisonyan - Rhythm Guitar
Laura Bradley - Vocals, Piano

Discography

Albums:
Bleed (currently shopping)

Solo Projects by Laura Bradley:
Rain (FairyDustMusic 2007)
The Prayer (special premium package on Fairy Dust Music 2007)
Storm (Streetbeat Records 2004)
Anthems
Singles:
"Skin" (from the album Storm)
"Choosing You"

Official Website

http://www.laurabradley.com

Links

• Facebook
• Artist Website
• MySpace
• ReverbNation

Audio

• Bleed
  Listen  
• This Flame
  Listen  
• Wicked
  Listen  
• The Hunger
  Listen  
• Lips
  Listen  
• Fade
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Bleed
• Lips
• Come On
• Cool Dark Slip
• Dazed
• Not Anymore

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• NME
  

  http://www.nme.com/artists/laura-bradley

• What Radio is Saying About Laura Bradley [+ Show ]
  

  Ever wondered where music really comes from? Without a doubt, Laura Bradley knows. Laura is an abs...Ever wondered where music really comes from? Without a doubt, Laura Bradley knows. Laura is an absolutely brilliant talent with an awesome heart. She has an incredible voice. Her magnificent beauty, appreciation and passion for life radiates so deeply from within. We'll be hearing much more from Laura Bradley in the days to come!

• Laura Bradley "Skin" [+ Show ]
  

  "Skin" is a great song! In today's cookie-cutter world of made-for-television music, it's nice to h..."Skin" is a great song! In today's cookie-cutter world of made-for-television music, it's nice to hear something of quality. Look forward to hearing more from this up-and-coming artist, Laura Bradley.

• Dionne Warwick and Friends - Smooth and Stormy [+ Show ]
  

  Jazzy and nostalgic - sums up the atmosphere on March 25, 2007 when Dionne Warwick performed to an e...Jazzy and nostalgic - sums up the atmosphere on March 25, 2007 when Dionne Warwick performed to an enthusiastic crowd at Bank United Center, Coral Gables, Miami. It certainly seemed like a main event at Couples resort or some similarly "paired up" hideaway, as the "Ooos and Awws" from what appeared to be a mesmerised audience solidified the romantic feel.
  
  Performing for just over an hour, Dionne reinforced her ability to empower millions with her music. Both opening acts, Laura Bradley and Eugene Grey gave great performances setting the pace for Dionne’s powerful final touch.
  
  

• Laura Bradley At Genghis Cohen in LA [+ Show ]
  

  Material: Laura Bradley’s music is acoustic pop-rock with blues and country undertones. Her themes c...Material: Laura Bradley’s music is acoustic pop-rock with blues and country undertones. Her themes cover the typical relationship topics (love, loss, and longing) with a standout emotional song, “Don’t Forget to Write,” about a dying patriarch which bears mention for its somber effect on a boisterous crowd that remained reflective at the song’s end.
  Musicianship: Bradley, in addition to her good looks, possesses not only a melodic mid-high vocal range, but also superb guitar and songwriting capabilities. She is backed by four top-notch musicians. Cunnane’s smooth guitar playing gives the songs a unique blues quality bordering on Pacific Islander, while at the same time staying within the parameters of what the songs need. Wallace is solid with his heavy thumps, and Schreffler’s drumming provides a strong in-the-pocket backbone, using “a bundle of dowel rod” drum sticks to keep the percussive volume in line with the songs’ characteristics.
  Performance: Playing to a full room, Bradley was smooth, lighthearted and fun. She bookended her set by calling on her acoustic Yamaha special edition guitar (named Madeline) and her black Epiphone Sheraton Arch Dot electric guitar (named Delilah) which worked well for her theatrically. Her between-song audience interaction was much like a conversation with old friends. The lighthearted camraderie among the bandmates was genuine and easygoing, filled with jokes and laughter.
  Summary: Laura Bradley is a talented singer/songwriter who offers a friendly, inviting smile with her tunes. Her song “Rain” has been in rotation in Hawaii and she is booking performances at various sporting events nationally, while also writing songs for an upcoming motion picture.
  ––Mike Cavanaugh
  
  

Setlist

Typical set list is 45 - 60 minutes. Set List:
1. Wicked
2. Bleed
3. Fade
4. Lips
5. This Flame
6. The Hunger
7. Big Ass Liar
8. Words
9. Cool Dark Slip
10. Winter
11. Stunned
12. Sword & Stone
13. Amazing Grace
14. Dazed

Basic Requirements

Calendar