Laura Doherty is an independent recording artist who has won Parent's Choice Awards for her first two albums. She's releasing a new one, In a Heartbeat, just in time for Valentine's Day (available February 11th). The songs on the album are perfect for young kids up through early elementary, but aren't so kiddish that they're annoying to parents. She has a friendly, real voice and a laid-back, jazzy style. There's even a song that teaches kids about the parts of a drum kit (that was my girls' favorite) and a song titled "It's Ok to be Shy."
I had a chance to interview Laura to find out more about her.
What inspired you to start recording children's songs?
I was songwriting and
recording adult music for nearly ten years, all the while working with
kids in the Wiggleworms programs (early-childhood music program) at the
Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, when I decided to try writing
original children's songs. The first children's song I wrote, called "El
Train" was born on the El train in Chicago, riding downtown to a gig
and I was running late. My nervous energy turned into singing lyrics on
the train, and it turned into a song! I tested it out in my music
classes and noticed the moms in the circle were singing along right
away, and
the kids loved "riding on the train" too!
How did your hometown and your current city add to the feel of the music on this album?
I've been living in Chicago for nearly 20 years, so I consider it my
hometown. Chicago's got such a rich jazz, blues and folk culture which I
think is reflected in these songs and certainly where I get some of my
musical influence.
I
spent the first 18 years of my life growing up in the suburbs of NY
(Westchester County), and recently got to spend half a year living there
in 2012 (teaching music in preschools, and touring in the northeast). I
also did quite a bit of songwriting for the record during my time in
NY. Woolly Bear is a song about the fuzzy caterpillars I saw there in
the Fall, which I have not seen in the midwest. I also wrote Butterfly
and Heartbeat in NY. The nature and beauty of the area is reflected in
my songs. I'm now back living in urban Chicago, but I have lots of love
for both Chicago and NY!
How would you describe your musical style?
My musical
style is acoustic, breezy folk-pop for kids and families that's very
harmony-driven. When performing with my band, my live show features lots
of acoustic instruments, including guitar, upright bass, mandolin,
ukulele and more.
Are there any favorite songs you remember loving as a kid?
Favorite songs as a kid...starting from around age 7 or 8 yrs.
- I was really into the "Free to Be You and Me" record, and the music from Broadway's "Annie"
- I also liked lots of 70s soft-rock...records that were in my parents' collection: Barry Manilow, The Carpenters
-
I also liked all my brother's records...Billy Joel, Air Supply, and then
later in high school when I was learning to play guitar I was obsessed
with the Beatles, Neil Young, James Taylor, CSN, Indigo
Girls....anything with a great harmony
--I've
always loved music since I was a young child. My earliest memory
(around age 4 or 5) is my mom dancing in the kitchen to "Raindrops Keep
Falling on my Head," which I recorded on my first children's album "Kids
in the City."
--Paper
Moon, which I recorded on "In a Heartbeat" is actually a song I learned
in middle school chorus and it always stuck with me!
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