| |
Laurie Levine, a 2007 SAMA (South African Music Award) nominee, is fast building a reputation as an artist with a fresh approach and unique sound. A prolific songwriter with a jazzy, soulful voice that breathes life into her songs and embodies the emotional core of her lyrics, Laurie’s music comes from the ‘heartspace’, the word poet Breyten Breytenbach uses to describe South Africa’s anguished beauty. Her songs touch our ‘unspoken’ corners; her sounds are a contemporary interpretation of true folk.
Laurie’s debut album, Unspoken, was nominated for a 2007 SAMA in the hotly contested category of Adult Contemporary English.
The singer- songwriter released her second and latest album, Living Room, in October 2009 through Sheer Music. The album, with its blend of Nashville verve and ‘Nu Folk’ sophistication, is set to break new ground in the local singer-songwriter scene. The album was listed as one of the top ten albums of 2009 in the Sunday Times and Beeld newspapers. While recording, Laurie has also been developing her live act, and the additions of accordion, mandolin and piano have already alerted audiences to her evocative new sound. She is joined on stage by the dynamic Lize Wiid, whose haunting backing vocals enhance the hypnotic quality of the songs off ‘Living Room’. For festivals and events, she can include a full band line-up with bass, drums and guitar.
Laurie performs regularly in and around South Africa and has started touring internationally. Last year she performed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. She has also performed at the famous CBGB’s in New York and at the Forum in London, where she opened for Rodriguez. Her unique songwriting and mature vocal talent has earned her national radio play and performance slots at some of South Africa’s premier music events and festivals, including, amongst others: Oppikoppi, the Joy of Jazz Festival, Splashy Fen, Levis Vintage Sundays, Mr Price Pro, the White Mountain Folk Festival, the Old Mutual Emmarentia Concert Series, and an opening performance for Joe Jackson at Montecasino’s Teatro.
Some reviews of Laurie’s two albums:
Unspoken:
“While her music may best be described as folk, it is as versatile as her voice and gracefully embraces a wide variety of sounds from rock to jazz and even country”- Pretoria News
“Levine’s songwriting is imaginative, complex and endlessly intriguing and her voice is a unique selling point” The Citizen
Singer-songwriter Laurie Levine’s music speaks to the heart. Her style of emotive folk has been compared with that of Tori Amos, but Levine is a talent all on her own.” *Mail and Guardian*
“It’s a nu folk album with good musicianship, cleverly constructed songs and sharp lyrics.”- The Weekender
Living Room:
“The follow-up to Levine’s SAMA-nominated debut Unspoken is an album of unhurried loveliness, full of enduring songs of love and longing”- Sunday Times
“Indie folk with glorious, sprawling arrangements.” The Citizen
“A magical album of mesmerizing vocals and understated backing by a Joburg folk muso who deserves a global audience” *FHM magazine*
|
|