Meet Laura Hamlin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Hamlin.

Laura Hamlin is an Arizona born and raised singer/song writer. She grew up bouncing down back roads listening to classic country artists like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Randy Travis. Current original projects include writing, singing, and doing percussion for local Arizona funk/rock/reggae supergroup Scattered Melodies and funk/pop/rock group Killa Maus. She also belongs to a country/folk lady duo by the name Twofold Marie with fellow local songstress Haley Green, and a male/female duo called Two People Singing with local music man Mike Malecker, aka Mr. Mal. Her first full length album is due to be released on November 7th, 2019 with her Salt River String Band family backing her up. Being in a string band is her life’s dream fulfilled. Find Scattered Melodies music on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and Apple Music. Find links to her YouTube channel, Facebook music page and Instagram page at laurahamlinmusic.com.

Because of terrible stage fright and a general awkwardness being in front of people, I only started playing guitar 11 years ago. Despite my shyness, I always wanted to be a singer and I figured that if I could play guitar, I could just sing wherever I wanted to. Campfires and family get togethers were my first goals. All this time later and I have done back up vocals for several other artists recording projects, written at least 2 more albums-worth of solo original music yet to be recorded, been in 6 bands (Scattered Melodies, Two People Singing, Twofold Marie, Killa Maus & The Desert Rats and Haley Green Band, formerly Ruca which I am no longer actively part of, and now Salt River String Band) and now perform solo and in full band shows all around town.

Love You Most is my first full length album which I wrote and co-wrote with Jack Howell. We began this project in 2014 and after writing for about 2.5 years, we recorded it over the following two years. Since I didn’t have my band, I recruited Josh Montag and Jake Johnston from Scattered Melodies along with other local artists like Chaz Fertal, Danny Torgerson, Mike Maleckar, Haley Green, and Matt Ventre. Jack Howell also played quite a bit and sang a lot on this album. I have two new songs almost done which I recorded with Jesse Morisson (aka Killa Maus) and recruited Kevin Wiscombe and Kazton Boone (current members in Salt River String Band), Josh Williams from Jim Bachmann & The Day Drinkers and Jon Rauhouse (tours with Neko Case) on pedal steel. The new songs (Good Ol Song & In The Fall) are written exclusively by me so far but I plan to bring in some of my new bandmates moving forward on future songs.

There are three key people who, by doing what they love, inspired me to do the same. There are many others but these three had a particularly important role in my journey. Mike Maleckar was the first person to invite me onto a stage with him. He gave me the support and encouragement to just do what I felt inside and until then, I didn’t believe I would ever be strong enough to try. Shortly after that, Josh Montag asked me to write a song with him for the first Scattered Melodies album on a track called Tangles and Threads. His faith in me and the subsequent times he called me back to keep working on new tracks and albums with him helped me to see that I had something to say and he gave me the first opportunity I had ever had to cultivate that and to feel like I was a part of something important. And I then met Haley Green through the Scattered Melodies projects and she invited me into her band and gave me further insight into the world of writing, performing and following your dreams as a woman in the music world. She performed with such passion and taught me the ropes of band/stage life. She opened my eyes and many doors for me and will always be one of the biggest inspirations of my life.

I think we owe it to each other, to be honest about who we are inside and to pursue the passions of our hearts. When we find the courage to open up and share ourselves in this way, we inspire others to do the same. To me, music is meant to heal the broken hearts in the world. It’s the purest form of communication and the way I express myself best. I have learned more from the wisdom I have found in the songs I love than from any other source. And if anything I write or sing touches another person’s heart in any way, I consider that the most beautiful compliment, and the greatest gift of all.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Overcoming stage fright and finding the courage to say what I needed to were the biggest obstacles. But now that that is behind me, it feels even better than I ever dreamed. The bumps in the road make us stronger… More road worthy. I am thankful for those challenges.

Please tell us about your music.
My music brand is very important to me. I sing about true, personal and bittersweet parts of life. I am known for being brutally honest, and for sharing things that help others to feel… To express things they maybe couldn’t on their own. I am proud of finding my voice and my style of speaking or rather singing. It took damn near 3/4 of my life. I think I’m different because my stories and my voice are uniquely mines. It feels good to finally have the courage and life experience to see that.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is a feeling. It’s not tangible, in my opinion. It’s not stuff. It’s contentment. And it’s only defined by each person for themselves. My success probably looks different than yours. I feel my success in my heart, and my bones. The satisfaction of finally being who I was always meant to be.

Pricing:

• Cd’s are $10 in person, $9.99 on CD Baby, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laurahamlinmusic.com
• Email: laurahamlin01@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurahamlinmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurahamlinmusic/

Image Credit:
Jay Stevens, Harry Buedel, Jake Johnston

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