After making a huge impact with her breakthrough single 'Game Over' last year, London-based artist Laurel Smith has now returned with her first offering of 2021, 'Out The Cage'.
Bringing back more of that dark yet euphoric alt-pop sound that she is quickly gaining a reputation for, 'Out The Cage' sees her return in stellar form. With its rich and soaring aesthetic layered throughout her captivating voice, we can't wait to hear what she has planned for the year ahead.
So with the new single out and about, we sat down with her to find out more about her background and what has inspired her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I played was the cello, although I wouldn’t exactly say I fell in love with it… (I once snapped my bow out of frustration at around 11)
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I liked quite a wide variety of music, my mum used to play me Prince and Pat Metheney while my dad put on CDs of The Police and Michael Jackson in the car.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I remember taking Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” album into show and tell in reception and playing track 8 “Black or White” full volume to the class. (Was definitely more interesting than the stick that “looked like a dinosaur bone” that my friend brought)
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
That would have to either be “In The Night” or (don’t call me basic) “The Hills” by The Weeknd. When I first heard “The Hills” I played the intro over and over, it’s just so powerful and I feel like it catches everybody’s attention when it comes on. (I forced my year 8 piano teacher to help me learn the whole thing off by heart)
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I usually try and put myself in the mood of an aesthetic, I’m not sure if that makes sense, but I find when I can visualise in my mind what the song would look like if it was its own world, it helps me write the lyrics.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’ve started listening to a lot of D-Block Europe, Ashnikko and M1llionz over the past few weeks.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
100% The Weeknd. No more to say.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Definitely getting messages from people telling you how much your song resonated with them or helped them. Music is so powerful I genuinely think it can save lives.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Having a clear vision of a song in your mind and struggling to make it sound the same in real life, although sometimes it isn’t a bad thing when it turns out different, it can be better.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
As a musician in the early stages of your career it can be scary to put all your eggs in one basket and just go for it, turning down uni and other options with the hope that you will succeed in an industry that can be extremely cruel. But in a documentary with Jim Carrey I watched, he said that his father once told him “Better to fail at what you love than fail at what you don’t” which I think is so true, because you can go for the “safe” option of a normal job, but no one says you will succeed at that, so why fail at something you hate?
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Laurel Smith's new single 'Out The Cage' is out now. Check out the new video for it in the player below.