Rising Music Star Laura Brino On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry

An Interview With Eden Gold

You don’t need to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. In the beginning, I felt like I couldn’t pass up any show or opportunity that came my way. This resulted in me playing a ton and traveling around, but it also put me in situations that I wouldn’t have necessarily wanted to be in. Bars and clubs that weren’t rewarding, but instead unwelcoming and sometimes not entirely safe.

As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Laura Brino.

In addition to her great pop sensibilities, Laura Brino’s music is characterized by quick witted refrains and authentic and reflective storytelling.

In 2022, she released No More Surprises, her first album after a decade-long hiatus, which brought a sense of grounding and maturity. As she had begun recording that album while pregnant with her youngest child, it was put on hold after a traumatic birth that nearly killed her and her child.

Laura suffered from PTSD after that experience, and shortly thereafter, the global pandemic struck. Throughout 2021 and 2022, she finished recording No More Surprises and continued writing and processing for a future recording.

Indie folk singer-songwriter Laura Brino is based in Annapolis, Maryland. With catchy refrains and touching lyrics, her music combines elements of folk, rock, and pop.

Her songs have been used in a number of TV shows and movies since she was in her teens in the late 1990s. Aside from four albums released under her own name, she has also released one under the band Lily and the Pearl, a project with her husband Sean “Dracula” Jackson.

Cactus Moon, the latest album by Laura Brino, is available now across music platforms.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in a very close family in a suburban town outside of Annapolis, MD. I spent my childhood immersed in the arts and sports-playing basketball and soccer out in the world, and playing piano, guitar and painting when I was at home. I ended up going to art school, dropping out of art school, going to hair school, moving out west to the Teton Mountains and writing my first album there.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did your journey begin?

My older sister took piano lessons when I was 8 (she is a few years older than me). I would sit down at the piano when she was done practicing, and begin playing some songs by ear. I ended up learning how to read sheet music, and began writing my own songs. I got a guitar when I was 16, and my songwriting really began to blossom.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Shortly after turning 22, I ended up flying out to LA to meet with a producer and manager that had been referred to me by my late cousin. She was in the entertainment industry and passed along my music. I flew out to meet with them for a weekend with my brother. We left the hotel booking up to my mom, who promptly booked us a hotel in Compton. It was unique to say the least. The trip was a whirlwind and it was decided that I would go back out for a week to record a demo. This time I went by myself. During my stay, I was put up in my cousin’s neighbors house, who ended up living next door to Geena Davis. I spent my days getting carted around, recording here and there. On my one day off, I spent the day in the backyard by the pool. I could hear the neighbors on the other side hosting a pool party. The somewhat tame party that began in the afternoon continued to get louder until a backyard full of very spirited friends were talking about Cher on tour. Through the fence on the other side, I could hear Geena Davis’ voice as she was playing with her kids. It was an incredibly surreal moment as I laid there by myself in LA in between a Cher inspired pool party and Geena Davis.

It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

A silly mistake that I made when I was first playing out was I forgot to check my outfit prior to getting on stage. While I stood there, I realized that I had a sticker stuck on my leg with the size of my pants plastered on my leg. I quickly learned to do a final mirror check before heading out to stage. Now, the biggest mistake that I made was I recorded my first album without any click track. I was unaware that this was a thing-so the entire first album has all sorts of time and beat problems. Once I was recording with other people, I learned the power of recording to a click and how necessary it is for a successful recording.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My husband, Sean (musician Dracula Jackson) is one of the people who I am so grateful for. When we met, he invited me to record with him in his studio and it was the first time I was really able to feel like I was a part of my project and in a safe space to explore and learn more about recording. Those early sessions which lead to some beautiful recordings, gave me the confidence to explore more experimental sounds and recording on my own.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I just released CACTUS MOON, my most recent album on April 5, 2024. This project is so close to my heart. It captures the years following the traumatic birth of my second child, where we both almost lost our lives. The PTSD and trauma that followed was unsustainable. A few years later, I began to write music from my childrens’ bed, using just my iphone and small headphones. It was the first time I felt grounded since the trauma. Once this beautiful album was finished and released, I wasn’t quite finished with the entire project, so I decided to create and record 13 music videos of each song on the album which symbolizes the narrative of the album. I premiered these videos at my album release party on April 5th and it was welcomed with such support and love. Currently I am finishing a full length documentary which features behind the scenes footage and making of the album, along with all 13 music videos. This film is set to come out in the fall 2024.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

I love that the arts have always been driven by diverse cultures and they truly celebrate the unique and universal stories of the human experience. As with most industries and systems, there is a great amount of work that can be done to provide more accurate representation. Not only is it important to see diversity represented in music, film and television in order to show the next generations that they can be whatever they want to be; it is crucial to have authentic stories told and carried on so that we can honor the past, learn from the past, and strive to hold space for a more inclusive and equitable future.

As a successful music star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated? How do you overcome obstacles in your career?

I think that one of the biggest challenges that I faced growing up was not having a community of musicians like myself to learn from and help guide me. I really felt like I was forging my own way in an industry that is very heavily masculine. Looking back, I am so proud of the things I was able to accomplish essentially on my own at an early age. Now, one of the biggest obstacles is how oversaturated the music industry is, and how to balance honoring your art with the industry. As I have aged and leaned in to my passions and priorities, I feel that the drive to keep motivated is rooted in the fact that creating keeps my anxiety at bay and helps bring comfort and joy to others.

What are your top 5 things I wish someone told me when I first started; and why?

1 . You don’t need to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. In the beginning, I felt like I couldn’t pass up any show or opportunity that came my way. This resulted in me playing a ton and traveling around, but it also put me in situations that I wouldn’t have necessarily wanted to be in. Bars and clubs that weren’t rewarding, but instead unwelcoming and sometimes not entirely safe.

2 . Stand up for what you believe in. I created music in the past and collaborated with others who really bulldozed my thoughts and creative ideas. As a young woman in a male dominated industry, I felt intimidated and did not always speak up and use my voice.

3 . Success is not measured in numbers. When I first started out, I was measuring the number of people at my shows, the number of cds that I sold, the number of people on my mailing list, the amount I got paid. Over the years, I’ve learned that I feel most successful when I connect with people and they tell me that a song I wrote or performed has deeply moved them or comforted them. These moments are far more successful and meaningful than a number on a streaming service.

4 . The only person who will make boundaries for you is you. No one else will ever create boundaries for you. You need to be cognizant of your energy and time. People will take advantage of your creative energy and time. As long as you give, others will take. It’s important to create the space for yourself to thrive while also protecting your personal time and energy.

5 . Family comes first. It is so easy to get turned on and distracted by the shiny and thrilling parts of the music industry. You may be sought out and complimented for your artistry and promised many different things. Many times, you can turn away from what is most important to play the next big show, or see the next big person. But you can’t every get back the moments with your family. As a mother, I have learned that my priority is always family first. Nearly all of the shows that I play now are at venues and spaces where my children can come.

Can you share some insights into your creative process? How do you approach songwriting? How do you approach musical collaborations?

I am a very prolific songwriter and have gone through many different phases of songwriting. Starting at a young age, I spent time writing songs as a way to overcome challenges and stress in my life. As I continued to write, I realized that there were moments that I channeled to write songs. I have moments when I can write 5 songs in a few hours. I sink into a sort of meditation that is very mindless, and when I come to, I have a handful of songs finished. Both processes are what I use now on a regular basis. On occasion when I am feeling inspired to write, but have neither anxiety to work through, or I am not channeling, I will challenge myself to write a song about something specific- a character from a movie, a friend’s experience, a historical moment. On this most recent album, I invited both Frank Grinds (my stepdaughter Emma) and the Songbird Collective (Meg Murray, Danah Denice, Jeanette Lynn) to be on my album. When they came into the studio, I had them improve the melody to their parts, which resulted in really unexpected and beautiful moments on the album.

Your music has resonated with so many fans worldwide. What do you believe sets your music apart?

I believe that my commitment to authenticity in my voice and through my music truly sets my music apart. There are so many experiences that are part of the human condition which are represented in my music, I feel that most people can find connection with the lyrics and the tunes.

How do you connect with your audience?

I have seen a true increase in the women and mothers who listen to my music over the years. I believe that this is from my own circles that I run in. I am connecting with other women who are finding themselves and exploring the world in a more empowered way. I am connecting with other mothers who are doing everything that they can to survive in their overwhelming stages of life that they find themselves in. As I connect with new people, the stories I tell and the songs that I sing resonate because they can see themselves in me when they listen to my music.

With your busy schedule and demanding performances, how do you prioritize self-care and maintain a balance between your personal life and career in the music industry?

At this point in my life, I only play shows that are meaningful, thoughtful and fit in to my life. If I were to travel for a show, it would need to be convenient for my family to come. I am so committed to putting myself and my family first. I so enjoy performing, and the reality is that having less shows that are more meaningful is far more exciting and rewarding to me than packing my schedule with performances.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I began a children’s curriculum with my best friends that is called Wildhearts Academy. It is rooted in nature, wellness habits and arts integration; and teaches children about the world through the lens of diverse changemakers throughout history. The goal of the curriculum is to get the next generation to look up to these changemakers as the new “influencer” instead of the general influencers on social media. If more people were inspired and obsessed with following the pictures, videos and quotes from trailblazers who have created change in the world, we would be able to instill more compassion and care for the world around us and humanity in general.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

If I were able to sit down with someone and chat, it would be Joni Mitchell. She is such an absolute inspiration and trailblazer for women singer/songwriters. Her ability to authentically tell a story and share songs with the world unapologetically is the driving inspiration behind my own songwriting.

How can our readers continue to follow your work online?

My website, instagram, and youtube are all updated whenever I have created a new song or video. (www.laurabrino.com, instagram.com/laura_brino, youtube.com/laurabrinomusic)

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self- confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.

Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/ EdenGold