Laura Barrett
Laura Barrett | |
---|---|
Born | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Education | University of Toronto |
Musical career | |
Genres | Indie pop |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Instruments | |
Labels | Paper Bag |
Member of | |
Laura Alexandra Barrett[1] is a Canadian indie pop singer-songwriter, best known for incorporating the kalimba into her music.[2] In addition to her solo work, Barrett has also performed as a member of The Hidden Cameras, Henri Fabergé and the Adorables, Woodhands and Sheezer.
Barrett was born in Toronto.[3] She studied English literature and linguistics at the University of Toronto, graduating in 2006.[4] She later returned to school to complete a master of education and works as an occasional teacher within the Toronto District School Board.[3]
A classically trained pianist, Barrett began studying piano at 8 years of age.[5] She took up the kalimba as a hobby after buying one on eBay.[4] Her first public performance as a solo performer was a cover of "Smells Like Nirvana" at a "Weird Al" Yankovic tribute concert (She had previously been a part of the band Lake Holiday).[6] She subsequently released two EPs, and was the musical director for a New York City production of Maggie MacDonald's play The Rat King.[7]
Barrett released her first full-length album, Victory Garden, in 2008 on Paper Bag Records.[8] Produced by Paul Aucoin, the album featured Basia Bulat, Ajay Mehra and Lief Mosbaugh.[8] In December 2008 Laura Barrett was the recipient of a CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for "Sexiest Musician".[9]
Barrett took part in the interactive documentary series City Sonic in 2009. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had her talk about her first concert.[10] The first rock concert she attended was, at the age of 12, at the Art Gallery of Ontario for the Rheostatics experimental set Music Inspired by the Group of Seven.[11]
In 2010, Barrett accompanied The Magnetic Fields on their 11-date North American "Realism" tour.
In 2011, she participated in the National Parks Project, collaborating with musicians Cadence Weapon and Mark Hamilton and filmmaker Peter Lynch to produce and score a short film about Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park.
Discography
- Who is the Baker? (2019)
- Victory Garden (2009)
- Earth Sciences (2008)
References
- ^ "NO CRIME IN LOVING". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Laura Barrett • Music School • exclaim.ca". Archived from the original on August 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Rancic, Michael (August 7, 2019). "Interview: Laura Barrett confronts how she and Toronto have changed". NOW Toronto. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Liss, Sarah (January 19, 2006). "Thumbs up!". NOW Toronto. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ Vish Khanna (August 19, 2007). "Laura Barrett". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ "Lake Holiday, American Summer". Mymeanmagpie.bandcamp.com. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ^ Laura Barrett profile at CBC Radio 3.
- ^ a b "Thumbing to Victory". NOW Toronto. August 13, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ Wheeler, Brad (December 18, 2008). "Bucky Awards honours music on indie scene". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ "citysonic.tv". Citysonic.tv. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ^ "Laura Barrett with Martin Tielli at The AGO". City Sonic. October 9, 2009. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
External links
- Canadian women singer-songwriters
- Canadian women pianists
- University of Toronto alumni
- Singers from Toronto
- Living people
- Canadian indie pop musicians
- Paper Bag Records artists
- Canadian women pop singers
- 21st-century Canadian women singers
- 21st-century Canadian pianists
- The Hidden Cameras members
- 21st-century women pianists
- 21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters