Swedish singer-songwriter KLARA has released her new single ‘Laura’ out now via The OfficeStereo/AWAL. Recorded in the surroundings of Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, the charming new offering features on KLARA’s eagerly anticipated debut album ‘Blossom’, out January 2020.
Written by KLARA and co-produced by Erland Cooper, ‘Laura’ boasts a songscape of subtle guitar riffs, ethereal string melodies and rolling drums all harmoniously intertwined in KLARA’s effortless storytelling, contrasting the powerful theme of the single.
Speaking on the track, KLARA says “This song is about a woman I see from time to time in my local area. She was abused at a young age”.
KLARA continues to say “She dealt with feelings of not belonging anywhere and the darkness that comes with that. She told me she found ways to cope. Her favourite thing to do when she was a child was to take her bike and cycle along the beach in LA where she grew up. One day I thought about her and started to write a song from my imagination. I got the urge to talk to her, to ask what her story was and what brought her here to live on the streets. I named the song Laura even before I introduced myself as I had already written some of the verses and thought it fitted the phrasing of the song. When I did introduce myself, I couldn’t believe what a coincidence it was when she told me her name… it was Laura”.
‘Laura’ follows hot on the heels of KLARA’s previously released ‘I Can’t Speak For You’ and ‘These Woods (Human Made)’ of which the latter led her to Number 1 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart and #9 in the Spotify ‘UK Viral 50’. The single also sound-tracked a VOLVO television & cinema commercials in the UK and Australia.
Since meeting Justin Vernon of Bon Iver at Glastonbury 2015 and being invited to spend time with him and his musical cohorts at his Eaux Claires Festival, KLARA returned from Wisconsin with a clear vision for her own music. Mixing the subtleties of a traditional singer songwriter with modern vocal production, KLARA’s work evolves the genre into the modern age. If Bon Iver provide a creative influence, then KLARA’s own love for the church-like reverb of bands such as Daughter and the bold yet sparse power of the London Grammar’s of this world help to shape her sound.
Born in Lund, Sweden, and based in London, KLARA splits her time between London, Sweden and LA, writing her own music in her studio at Church Studios in north London, whilst collaborating with songwriters such as Tim Myers (OneRepublic) and Jimmy Harry (Pink!, Weezer) in LA and writing camps in Sweden with the likes of Cajsa Siik and Annika Norlin (Hello Saferide, Säkert!).
With live dates to be announced soon, ‘Blossom’ is an accomplished body of work offering everything and more from one of the UK’s most promising songwriters.