LAOISE talks inspirations, fans and dream tours

LAOISE, an Irish singer from Galway, is only 21 years old and already producing and releasing her music independently. With a dedicated fanbase and several accomplishments under her belt, LAOISE is capturing the attention of listeners worldwide. Her latest single, ‘Again,’ makes a statement and excites fans about what is in store for the future. LAOISE spoke to United by Pop about her future projects, favorite parts about being an artist, and performing.

Can you tell me about how you first got started with music and how your career began?

I’ve always been really into music. I played fiddle, guitar and piano growing up but I also adored pop. I remember when I was about 7 or 8, I would get up early before school to watch B4 on Channel 4 to hear new music and watch its videos. I was devastated when the show stopped running and my dad was my new alarm clock. I guess I became a little obsessed from there and I started writing songs when I was about 14. I released my debut single independently almost two years ago which is hard to believe; it’s all flown by so fast. I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to release my own music to sort of get it off my chest; I let it out into the world so I don’t have to feel the weight of it anymore. I especially feel this with my latest track ‘Again.’

Speaking of ‘Again’ congratulations, it’s a banger. What can you tell me about that track?

Thank you! I’m really proud of it. I wrote it when I was trying to figure out what kind of a person I wanted to be and when women’s rights were being debated in my country, so I was pretty all over the place. I found [that] sometimes it’s hard to stand up in front of a lot of people and express your opinion – it can get a bit scary knowing some people may not like that – but I decided I wanted to use my voice and be heard, because it may just help someone else find that similar courage in themselves, so I wrote ‘Again.’

What has inspired your music either previously or more recently?

I try to find inspiration in everyday life really, it keeps me on my toes and allows me to be much more present. There’s a lot of music in people’s voices and conversations, even though they wouldn’t realize it. Like walking down the street. If I accidentally overhear a snippet of a conversation, my brain will start painting a picture around maybe the one sentence I heard and all of a sudden there’s this narrative [that] I’m trying to create. People are so interesting and mysterious. We’re like undiscovered secret history books and the only person who can read it is that person themselves. The rest of us will only get snippets of it, but sometimes one person will be shown all the pages, and that’s incredible to me. So yes, people and everyday situations are my biggest inspiration recently.

How do you feel your music has evolved as you have grown up through the years?

My music has evolved a lot over the past two years. When I started releasing music, I was so lost both professionally and emotionally. I was fighting depression and anxiety, and music was where I could document and deal with it. Today, I’m in a much healthier and luckier position to be making music all the time and performing for people. I feel a stronger connection with myself and life now. I think that’s showing in my music too – it’s a lot more confident and upbeat and super inspired by pop I used to listen to years ago! I feel it’s important to evolve and change and discover new sides to yourself, and as long as I’m doing that, it’s going to come through in my music.

You have performed at a lot of festivals! How does it feel to perform your songs in front of such large crowds?

Honestly, it’s just so fun. Playing songs that come from my brain and seeing people sing them back to me is always surreal because it just means that they feel the same things I feel, and even though it’s myself and my band on stage, it’s the furthest away from lonely I could ever feel.

https://twitter.com/laoisemusic/status/1051896072392577024

If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be and why?

One word, I guess “frank.” I’m quite an honest person and it’s hard for me to hide what I’m feeling so that comes across in my music, especially in this new EP I’m currently recording!

Who are your musical influences?

So many! I love a mixture of music and grew up listening to anything from traditional Irish music to Kate Bush to Nirvana to the Bee Gees to Taylor Swift. I still like to listen to a wide range of genres because all types of music have so much to offer and I want to be able to do the same in my music.

What is one thing new fans should know about you or your music?

I’d like people to know that I’m not perfect, and none of us are, but I write songs that deal with that and express how important it is to say what you want rather than what other people want you to say. I spent too long using words that people put in my mouth for me, just to make them happy, and it’s such a waste of time. So I sing about that and I’m not scared to anymore.

Who would you love to tour with in 2019 or in the future?

I’m absolutely loving Julia Michaels and Lauv this year, especially their new song together. So that’d be cool! But I mean I love touring so much anyone nice and talented would make me happy!

When you’re not making music, what else do you like to do in your spare time?

I LOVE watching Great British Bake Off and it takes over my life when it comes back at this time of year. I just love food.

What can fans look forward to in the near or distant future?

I’m recording an EP and it’s really fricken fun. I love recording and talking through themes and ideas as well as documenting a little moment in my life that I can look back on in years time. I’m also going on a mini tour around Ireland, where I’ll get to play my first headline show in my hometown, Galway, yay! There may be some nice visuals to accompany my new single ‘Again’ pretty soon too…

Keep up to date with LAOISE on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.