artist Laura Smith

Artist Information

Biography
In live performance, the band turns up the volume and infuses their songs with an extra jolt of energy. While exuding an undeniable charm, Laura "has commanding stage presence, fabulous vocals and is a superb keyboardist" (Riveting Riffs).  Jeff (bass) and Johnny (drums) provide the rhythmic backbone, while Andrew (guitar/keys/vocals) provides layers of colour. The versatility and musicality of these players is apparent as they supplement their basic instrumentation with textures ranging from sing-along gang vocals, to walls of guitar feedback, to space age synthesizers, and percussion breakdowns. They maintain a studious approach toward crafting new songs and are constantly tweaking and improving arrangements of older ones and have "created a masterpiece and a live show that’s both entertaining and memorable" (Ronatron).

Laura Smith has grown from its original inception of a girl and her piano to a collaborative four-piece band of diverse, accomplished, and experienced musicians. Based out of North Vancouver and Victoria, BC, the current incarnation of the group includes Laura Smith, Andrew Braun, Jeff Riedlinger (Sam Bradley) and Johnny Andrews (Tegan and Sara). They boast years of live experience and numerous music-related pieces of paper between them.

Since the self-produced debut, Sea of Stars, in November 2008, they have toured Western Canada four times, done two CBC Canada Live recordings, showcased at; NXNE, the WCMA’s, Junofest,  played Rifflandia twice, the Vancouver Jazz Festival, Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, the MMVA artist lounge and had the opportunity to open for bands such as Immaculate Machine, Dan Mangan, Said the Whale, Mother Mother and Nicole Atkins.

Sea of Stars has been distributed and is rotation on CBC radio 1, CKUA in Alberta and various college stations debuting number 10 on CFUV. Their first single "Can't Stop" has been in regular rotation on CBC Radio 3. 

“…one can only predict that Laura Smith has an incredible future ahead of her, not only on the Canadian music scene, but we should also be hearing more from her on the international stage as well."  (Riveting Riffs – Vancouver Plaza Club Review)