Her songs are crafted with rich imagery and a hint of nostalgia. Her voice is moving and intense. Often standing alone on a large stage with just a baby blue telecaster and some nervous banter, Leah Lawson’s presence captivates.
Growing up in Florida, Lawson was homeschooled throughout her formative years and raised in a sheltered, evangelical Christian home. Music became Lawson’s conduit to reckon with her religious trauma and faith deconstruction, in addition to the universal feelings of longing, loss, and love we all share.
The raw, intimate, and candid way Lawson writes makes you feel like you’re overhearing an intimate conversation between close friends. With her delicate vocals accompanied by her folky guitar stylings Lawson transports the listener to a place of comfort; like a trusted confidant simply responding, “Me, too.”
“I think when you grow up the way I did, immersed in the evangelical church, and then you decide to leave that life behind, it can feel really isolating and people may not understand,” says Lawson. “I want others to feel validated in that it’s okay to explore life beyond what you were taught and what you used to believe. I want people to know they aren’t alone and it’s okay to be honest with yourself.”
After spending several years living in Nashville, TN, Lawson is currently residing in Asheville, NC, and preparing to release her debut album, Flood House. The album was recorded at Way Out Studios in Seattle, WA, and produced by Trevor Spencer. Flood House will be released on September 16, 2022, and available for streaming/download on all major music platforms. Follow @lllawson on social media for all of the most up-to-date info and latest releases!
Pop/Soul Singer-Songwriter, Rachel Burns, is a multi-talented Washington DC-based artist who is inspired by iconic singers and entertainers such as Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Tina Turner, and the like. Writing songs that combine life’s humor and heartbreak, Burns infuses the influences of blues, country, and jazz with a theatrical twist in her original music.
We got a chance to catch up with Ryan Argast, the lead singer of Marina City to talk about their latest project 'The Simulation'. Join the fun at www.marinacityband.com
Thank you to our sponsors- Kyser Musical Products
Based out of South Florida, Attorney and Educator, Roger Notario, represents independent artists and brands globally through his firm, Music’s Favorite Law Firm, and provides content to artists though his production and educational company, Apollo’s Counsel. https://apolloscounsel.com
Thank you to our sponsors, Kyser Musical Products!
Erica D'Aurora is a senior publicist with Muddy Paw PR and founder of the international music blog Musical Notes Global. She finds her greatest joy in helping artists achieve their dreams and we are so happy she sat down to chat with us!
Thank you to our sponsors Kyser Musical Products!
Bryard (bree-yard) Huggins is a composer, record producer, and contemporary jazz piano
recording artist from Nashville, TN. He is also founder/CEO of Muse Entertainment, a music
production company and indie record label. In addition, he tours with the Empress of Soul
Gladys Knight as her featured guest artist. Bryard stumbled upon his God-given musical gift at
the age of 4 and composed his first song at the age of 6. A former child prodigy with a gifted ear
for music, now 27, he has released 5 studio jazz albums, 1 instrumental gospel album, and
various singles. Through his company Muse Entertainment, Bryard composes and produces
musical content for diverse clientele nationwide, in the styles of film/TV, commercials, music for
podcasts, stage plays, and more. He also develops and mentors aspiring musical artists, helping
them gain knowledge, the portfolio, and the experience of the recorded music industry. Bryard
holds a bachelor’s degree in commercial music production from College-Conservatory of Music,
University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in music business from Frost School of Music,
University of Miami. He is a member of Nashville’s National Museum of African American
Music’s (NMAAM) emerging artists series and has performed as a featured artist at the Ryman
Auditorium, the Walt Disney Theatre, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and more. Bryard is
currently based in Los Angeles, CA.
Website: www.bryardhuggins.com
IG @bryardofficial
With charisma to match the images she produces, Kaylee Steffel is on the rise as one of the most in-demand photographers on the Nashville music scene. For Steffel, creativity has always been the outlet. However, she vividly remembers the first show that sparked her interest in live photography. “Carrie Underwood. The Play On Tour. She was circling the crowd in a blue truck, swinging on a swing. It was magical,” the 27-year-old says. Cutting her teeth photographing intimate country shows as well as high-energy festivals and artists in Ohio and surrounding states, she wanted more of those moments. After university, she headed into the corporate world working for a Fortune 500 company, but didn’t see a lifetime career. “I knew I wouldn’t be happy without giving it a shot at touring and creating in the music space full-time.” In November 2019, Steffel took the leap after years of waiting and relocated to Nashville, TN. By January 2020, she had a published photo of award-winning artist, Rhonda Funk, in the Nugget Newspaper (Sisters, OR.) — a career first. Unfortunately as her career was hitting a stride, the world shut down. Navigating this proved difficult; however, she pivoted into portraiture and content creating for influence marketers. Originally capturing Country artists exclusively, Steffel has expanded into a wide array of genres including Rap and Pop-Rock. This proved fruitful for her as she found her work getting placements in publications far and wide with Pop-Rock’s Eddie and The Getaway and Pop singer-songwriter, Cassandra. Currently, the Nashville-based creative works as the live photographer for country artist, Ashley Barron, as well as rapper, Hew G., along with creating for a variety of artists across the music spectrum. Thank you to our Sponsor Kyser Musical Products
Lauren & Jeff welcome Minnie Murphy into the Groove Lab to discuss her new single, "Get Over It".
Minnie Murphy was born with music in her DNA. Raised in a musical family, father Jimmy Murphy, a guitarist, mother Patricia Murphy, a piano player,
and she’s a half-sister to early-2000s country staple, Jamie O’Neal. Murphy voyaged across the country with her father to Nashville, where she had the opportunity to write songs with some of the industry’s finest and record a handful of them at the mere age of 16. She has also performed on stages like the Grand Ole Opry and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, to weekly jobs playing piano and singing cover songs with some of her originals mixed in at Maggiano’s and Sambuca in Nashville. For over a decade, she has been in Nashville, working as a writer and recording demos. Minnie’s new single, “Get Over It,” is reflective and delivers a potent mix of classic traditional country along with her unique musical ability to bring passion and real deal emotion to life, both vocally or instrumentally. Her new LP, Evergreen, is due out later in 2021.
Lauren & Jeff welcome country duo Carolina Pine into the Groove Lab to talk about their new music, and what it was like touring with Alan Jackson.