Laura Barrett
Laura Barrett | |
|---|---|
 Barrett at the 2015 Canadian Film Centre Slaight Music Residency Showcase | |
| 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] In December 2008 Laura Barrett was the recipient of a CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for "Sexiest Musician".
In 2009, Barrett took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had her talk about her first concert.[9] 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.[10]
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.
- ^ "Thumbing to Victory". NOW Toronto. August 13, 2008. 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