Laura Younger

"The lovely Laura Younger- eldest daughter of the Hilltop residents- followed for the first of several times she would join us in the remaining days. Her spunky attitude, clever lyrics and calm confidence had her father choked up with pride and had all of us wondering why we sucked so much at 17." -DJ of Brother Big Bad

"Still in shock after seeing you... anyone reading, you must see this lady play!!!!" - Mozzy Green

"Yet another stunning set from you on Sunday, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful songs & voice with us." - Acoustic Soul Club

"If I had the money...I'd give you a record deal." - Big Baby Ernie

"Just a quick (but still massive) THANKYOU!!! for your fantastic support set at our gig at The Quay Theatre in Sudbury on Friday. You were certainly a suitably tough act to follow and we had some very positive feedback from the audience. Hope you enjoyed the gig too and here's to it being the first of many! A star is born!" - AloneMe





- Various

From Colchester, England comes Laura Younger with her sharply observed tales of love and life. . This acoustic offering is the debut release of Colchester's Laura Younger. With a running time of just under 35 minutes she has gone for the 'less-is-more' approach, and it certainly pays off with an album that is thankfully bereft of distracting filler tracks to get in the way of some outstanding songs.
We open with one of the best tracks, "City Girls", a superb mid tempo number that gets us of to a flying start. This is followed by "Forever" with some wonderfully cutting lyrics typified by, "said you'd make some time for me like best friends should, but all that's on your mind is her size 8 waist in sexy lace lingerie". "Unclean" is another fine song, and with its anger laced lyrics Laura shows she is quite willing to go over to the dark side.
The highlight of the album however is the stunning "Note to Self", which features Valerie Thompson of Boston (USA) band Fluttr Effect providing accompaniment on electric cello. The result is a haunting, melodic, gothic-like track with enough atmosphere for a small planet. Not far behind is "Misfit", with heartfelt lyrics that surely the entire planet will have been able to identify with at some time in their life.
The strength of the album lies in Laura's song writing. She writes from the soul and has created multi-faceted songs with a depth of feeling that defy her still tender 17 years. Although at times a bit rough at the edges, and there are some tracks you feel would benefit from the addition of some percussion or additional backing to fill out the sound, the quality of the material is undeniable.
Comparisons with KT Tunstall and Alanis Morissette, or even Joni Mitchell for that matter seem inevitable. However don't let that fool you, Laura is not just another acoustic clone, she has an individuality and uniqueness all of her own.
With this album Laura has created music that makes you sad, music that makes you happy, and above all music that makes you want to hear more of her … a lot more.
- Blues Bunny

AT least two fantastic young acts with Observer area connections will share the bill with Welsh rockers Super Furry Animals at this weekend's Standon Calling festival...

...playing at Standon Calling, this time on Sunday, is the appropriately named singer-songwriter Laura Younger. The 19-year-old acoustic artist, who has already toured the UK and played at festivals in America, blends delicate finger-picked guitar lines with melodic vocals and lyrics about love, life, the universe and everything.

Not long after picking up the guitar at the age of 15, Laura began frequenting open-mic nights to get experience of playing live. She soon became a regular at the Half Moon's Acoustic Club, which gave her a solid foundation on which to build her career.

Last year, Laura released a single called I'm Not Sorry, the proceeds of which were donated to Brazilian street children's charity Viva A Vida.

She has since released a self-financed debut album, Note to Self, and hopes to carry on making music with a little outside help.

"When I started out, I was doing everything - not just the music, but all my management and promotion," she told the Observer.

"It all got very stressful after a while though and I had to take a break. Luckily I've got some people helping me out with that side of things now and I'm ready to get back into gigging and touring.

"I've also just got a drummer and a bassist, which should help get venues interested - when you're playing on your own there's always a danger of being drowned out!"

Standon Calling will take place at Standon Lordship in Barwick Road on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Aug 1-3). The line-up also includes indie stars The Maccabees and The Mystery Jets.

Tickets, which can be purchased in advance, cost £89.

For more information and tickets, visit www.standon-calling.com . For more about Mozzy Green and Laura Younger, visit www.myspace.com/mozzygreen or www.myspace.com/laurayounger .
- Herts and Essex Observer

Laura Younger is from Colchester. Brimming with the confidence of youth, she performs some songs from her debut album "Note to Self". Her song writing shows lyrical sensibilities that exceed our expectations of one so young. The songs are well constructed and really rather catchy. Of particular note is "City Girls". The next day - now bereft of alcohol - we debate the use of the word "beauteous" in this song with her. Is it a real word? Apparently it is. We retire wounded. The kitten has claws. Laura Younger returns with "Maybe Never". She gives a touching, sensitive rendition of one of the best songs on her CD. She more than holds her own against the noisy boys in the bands. - Blues Bunny

Soon the quaint Lordship tent is carpeted with colourful Sunday supplements and stretched out bodies. Festivalwise chooses to go for an early swim before settling down to sweet tea and some local talent from the likes of the astoundingly gifted Laura Younger and her punchier-than-Marling guitar folk-pop.
- FestivalWise

Contact: Laura Younger
laura_younger@hotmail.co.uk
07749 86 5678

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL TEENAGER PLAYS CHARITY GIG AT V FESTIVAL
Singer-Songwriter Laura Younger Launches Charity Single to Help Street Kids in Brasil

Eighteen year old Laura Younger from Nayland near Colchester will be playing in the Viva a
Vida charity tent at this year’s V Festival in Chelmsford. She will be selling a V Festival
exclusive Cd single at the event to help raise money to help treat and rehabilitate street
children and low income adolescents in Salvador, Brasil who are addicted to drugs.

“The city of Salvador can now be described as being in the midst of a crack "epidemic". With the introduction of crack into the city in 1997 drug consumption patterns have changed as many have now started using the drug. Parts of the historical centre of the city have now become known as "crack-land", reflecting the fact that this is where crack users and crack traffickers congregate. Many street children and youth from low-income backgrounds finance their drug habit through begging or petty crime. This has led to harsh policing and the detention of these adolescents in remand centres, when in fact what these youngsters need is rehabilitative therapy and life skills training. Adolescents, especially street children, need a specialised treatment programme catering to their specific needs.” - www.vivaavida.org

Laura has always been keen to help in charity work in the past and has used her music to help
raise money for St Helena’s Hospice, Essex Air Ambulance, and other local charities. She
says “If we can sell all of the singles at V Festival we can make over a thousand pounds for
Viva a Vida. I’m so proud to be a part of this project; to know that I am helping children to
get off drugs and regain their passion for life is really rewarding. The work that Viva a Vida
does in Salvador, helping these boys to turn their lives around is vital. They are currently the
only residential rehabilitation centre of that kind in Salvador and with enough help from us
they can extend their support to the girls as well.”

The single “I’m Not Sorry” was recorded at Central Studios by Nathan Wacey (Recording engineer/producer New Town Kings, Koopa) with Sax parts by Dan of New Town Kings, Bass by Fergie of Groove Doctors and Drums by Si James. The single was duplicated at Cd Sourcing.

For those who won’t be attending the V Festival this year, there will also be a single launch event at The Quay Theatre in Sudbury on Friday August the 3rd where the single will also be available. To book tickets please call the Quay Theatre Box Office on 01787 374745

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If you would like anymore information or to schedule an interview please contact Laura Younger on 07749 865678 or laura_younger@hotmail.co.uk - Thank you.
- Viva a Vida charity single @ V Festival

"This charming young prodigy from Colchester England demonstrates "an eclectic musical taste reflected in her songs that are fresh honest melodic & lyrically intense. She admirably expresses herself in music in a way that is clever yet comprehendible; memorable but not cliché."

Personally, we were delighted to hear songs that stood out on their own, had words that where not recycled but were straight honest and inventive. To have the kind of talent that can compete with the many applications we received for this event is remarkable enough, to achieve this through talent alone at such an age is nothing short of miraculous."

- Benjamin Ruth at CMEAS

"This charming young prodigy from Colchester England demonstrates "an eclectic musical taste reflected in her songs that are fresh honest melodic & lyrically intense. She admirably expresses herself in music in a way that is clever yet comprehendible; memorable but not cliché."

Personally, we were delighted to hear songs that stood out on their own, had words that where not recycled but were straight honest and inventive. To have the kind of talent that can compete with the many applications we received for this event is remarkable enough, to achieve this through talent alone at such an age is nothing short of miraculous."

- Benjamin Ruth at CMEAS