Introducing Interview: Lauran Beth

Having kick-started her musical career on YouTube, with a great popularity of videos of her performing impressive covers, Irish artist Lauran Beth has since been captivating listeners with her dreamy alt-pop, and has previously received acclaim from the likes of Hot Press for her debut ‘Just Breathe’.

Lauran’s poignant new single ’11 Years’ offers a shimmering reflection on climate change and its effects, oozing her luscious rich vocals and twinkling pop melodies. We caught up with her to find out more…

Hi Lauran Beth, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hey! I’m a 17 year old singer-songwriter from Offaly, Ireland. My music is mainly pop, but I am influenced by everything!

How did you initially start creating music?
Growing up, my family was quite musical – especially my da. I began playing traditional Irish music when I was seven, but didn’t discover my real passion until I asked for a guitar for Christmas when I was eleven. My da taught me the basics, and the rest is history! I wrote my first proper song ‘Thoughts’ in my bedroom when I was fourteen, and that’s when I discovered my love for songwriting.

Your new single ’11 Years’ is out now – can you tell us what it’s all about?
’11 Years’ is about climate change and the need for society to take it more seriously. As people, we have grown to become selfish in terms of our own wellbeing and indifferent to the needs of plants and animals. ’11 Years’ expresses my personal fears in relation to climate change, as well as the opinion of a need for change. 

You’ve been compared to the likes of KT Tunstall and Orla Gartland, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
I listen to a bit of everything, but I would say main influences at the minute would have to be Avril Lavigne, Melanie Martinez and The 1975. I love artists who are not afraid to be bold in terms of expressing themselves and their projects, and who break social barriers.

In ‘normal’ times, how is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music?
Growing up in a village has really restricted me from seeing many people play live close to home. However, there are some really cool local artists like Jack Keeshan and James Mckelvey who are extremely talented! I’d love to see more music being played in my area.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?
I love to play live, and I hope that people who come to the shows feel like they are safe and belong, as the world can be a scary place at times.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any new/upcoming bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
There are loads of cool artists on the label that I am on, which is the Beardfire Music label. Artists like KTG, Martin McDonnell, Zoe Clarke, Michael T, Moylan and HappyBdayDaniel are so talented and definitely deserve more attention.

And how do you feel the music industry is for new bands at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
I think that that this era is the best for sharing music as there is a huge presence on social media, which makes it easier for people to share projects. However, people can sometimes be reluctant to investigate new music, so that can make things hard. 

Finally, what does the rest of 2020 have in store for Lauran Beth?
I’m really looking forward to picking my brain and writing more music. Hopefully I can record more soon, but I am really excited to grow as a musician and songwriter. 

Huge thanks to Lauran for answering our questions! 

’11 Years’ is out now via Beardfire Music.

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Introducing Interview: Koza

Having made the move from Istanbul to London in order to follow in the footsteps of her musical idols, emerging pop artist Koza recently released her second, dreamy single ‘Hold My Breath’.

We caught up with Koza to find out about her journey so far… 

Hi Koza, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about when you initially decided to start making music?
Hi, thank you for having me! My passion for music and writing goes a long way back. If I had to pinpoint a defining moment, I would say definitely my high school years when I first joined a band and performed on stage. It was the scariest moment of my life, but also the most amazing experience. I had already been writing songs, but there was something about being able to perform them and connect with an audience. That became the dream. 

What inspired you to make the move from Istanbul to London in order to pursue a career in music?
After graduating from high school, I really didn’t know how to proceed to a career in music. All I knew then was that I wouldn’t be satisfied with doing gigs with function bands at weekends, or just singing covers. I wanted to write and sing my own songs, about things that mattered to me – I wanted to sing my own truths. I started writing in English, which came naturally to me because of all my influences growing up. This was part of the reason why I wanted to move to London, so I could explore music in a specific language. The music industry in Turkey didn’t have many established artists writing original songs, and nothing in English, so it didn’t make much sense to me. London, on the other hand, had everything that I was after; the writers, the venues and the culture which I had grown up listening to and loving. The decision to leave my studies in Istanbul and move to London was a tough one but I’m so glad I did it. It’s been tough trying to adapt to a new culture, but it’s helped me grow in ways which I would have never imagined.

Which bands or artists would you consider to be your biggest musical influences?
Growing up I found myself drawn to songs which gave me new perspectives on storytelling or song structure; I really loved Alanis Morissette for this reason. She is an amazing lyricist and her songs are so powerful in their vulnerability. Madonna is another big influence – I mean, I think we can all agree that she is one of the ultimate pop-stars. Then of course Kate Bush – she’s my number 1! I think she’s so eccentric, effortlessly cool and such a talented musician and poet. Her musical language is unique to her and that makes her an amazing artist. My other favourites growing up included Fleetwood Mac, Alicia Keys, Duman, Teoman, No Doubt, Prince, Depeche Mode and The Cure. 

You recently released your dreamy second single, ‘Hold My Breath’. Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the lyrics?
The inspiration was the feeling which I got every time that I thought I was maybe falling in love. I mean, maybe I did fall in love every time… “there are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice.” I don’t know if that makes sense, but every moment of love feels so magical. It’s like that feeling you get when you meet someone and think “maybe?”. These lyrics might be my rawest ones yet, I didn’t change them at all after I wrote them. They were written in a very authentic and joyous moment, and I wanted to write down that feeling and make a song which reflected that.

In ‘normal’ times, how is your local music scene? Do you have a favourite local venue?
I live in Notting Hill and yes, we have a small but very satisfying music scene. Notting Hill Arts Club has always been a favourite. Another place that’s been around for a couple of years now is Laylow, our cool neighbourhood hangout; it’s introduced me to many new artists.

Although it is rather difficult to be making plans at the moment, what are you hoping to have achieved by the end of 2020?
Like you mentioned, it’s a bit tricky right now! My plan was to release two more singles before the year ends. However, quarantine has been very fruitful for me and I am now considering finishing an EP in the same time frame. Either way, I will continue to release music and hopefully start doing live shows from late September. I am very excited to sing my new songs because they’re really special in a way that they will allow me to connect with more people than I ever have done before as an artist. It will hopefully lead to some collaborations with musicians/writers I have not yet had the chance to work with.

Thanks so much to Koza for answering our questions! 

‘Hold My Breath’ is out now. Listen here:


 

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Track Of The Day: Caswell – ‘Distraction’

Hailing from Suffolk, and long-term GIHE fave, power-pop artist Caswell debuts her first release of 2020 in this spunky, energetic track ‘Distraction’.

With an eerie intro that feels like a long echoing hallway leading to a dance-floor, Caswell teases the scenario of the break-up rebounder. Deep low-ended synths set the song’s vein with dark soundscapes that exude a stirring sense of mystery.

‘Distraction’ breaths with both the hurt and hurry that comes with a break-up. Eagerness is evident, but equally is the presence of escapism. Caswell explains that her intention is to take these common, sometimes taboo scenarios and tell it like it is: “Imagining someone other than who you are with is not something people will openly admit, so this song addresses that quite candidly.”

The track’s wit truly transcends the status quo and does so in a fun, catchy way that is bound to have you up and dancing. With lyrical boldness, a euphoric chorus and a downtempo beat that creates its own atmosphere, Caswell has brought us a versatile banger that is equally suited for the club and a late night drive. 

 

‘Distraction’ is out now. Listen on Spotify.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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LISTEN: Little Pale – ‘Don’t You Know U’

If you’re yearning for an online world without filters and false narratives; Little Pale‘s new single ‘Don’t You Know U’ will help to lift your spirits. The South East London artist has created an alt-pop tune gently criticizing the damaging effects of social media, and the impact it’s having on our mental health.

“Got a feeling, streaming for you”, muses Little Pale, over clicking beats, poppy synth textures, and grooving bass lines. Her soft vocals reflect the ease with which social media users can be seduced by the never-ending “shiny, spicy, pixel fortunes” they’re presented with on their feeds.

Little Pale explains the premise of the track further: “I wrote this song last year about social media being this new aesthetic asset to a lot of people. My recent songwriting has been inspired by technology that aids our communication, as for more introverted souls, constant “Online” is not always something that is fully welcomed! The point I’m making is definitely not original, but lyrically, I wanted to portray how this cultural shift has caused people to seek validation virtually, and that such thrills can cheapen the complex originality of the individual into a sort of sameness. I think this is especially true for the younger generation and I hope that the music video that is to accompany this song in the coming weeks reflects that.”

We hope that Little Pale’s new single provides a distraction for anyone feeling a little overwhelmed online at the moment. Listen to ‘Don’t You Know U’ below, and follow Little Pale on Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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