Laura
CritchleySometimes I [single]
Sometimes I [album]
What Do We Do [single]
“Laura
Critchley’s new
single, Sometimes I,
delivers vibrant
lyrics
with heartfelt meaning...”
LAURA CRITCHLEY IS SET TO STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT in the New Year with her
single Sometimes I being released on 18 February. The single is remixed
by Ash Howes (who has previously worked with Kylie Minogue and Nelly Furtado)
and is produced by Steve Power (renowned for his work with Robbie Williams).
It is to be the title track to her debut album and offers the perfect Valentine's
message for tongue-tied lovers.Click
to watch Laura's
Sometimes I video.
Laura's mellow voice and feel-good aura add a much-needed calmness and tranquillity
to the world of music.
With a gentle beat and lyrics with meaning, Sometimes I is a mix of melodies
that challenge Laura's vocal accomplishments. Interesting musical twists and
a particularly appealing chorus blend with Laura's own proven talent to complete
a recipe for chart success.
The 23-year-old Liverpudlian beauty continues to rack up serious tri-butes,
and has been tipped for the big time by fellow musicians such
as Mika — "I love Laura's voice, she makes you feel the emotion
in the song".
Laura's sound is steeped in pop beats, riddled with country swing, and each
tune is polished off with a strong, note-perfect voice which has been likened
to Sheryl Crow, Natalie Imbruglia and Leann Rimes. In fact, it was her stunning
voice that prompted Robbie Williams to ask her to sing on his new as-yet-untitled
album. "I thought I was just going to be recording a couple of lines of backing
vocals but I ended
up singing main parts on one of the songs," said a surprised Laura on returning
from Robbie's home studio in Los Angeles.
Another fellow musician who appreciates Laura's voice is Ronan Keating —
he asked Laura to perform at his Ebony & Ivory Ball in aid of Cancer Research.
In addition to Laura playing a set of her own songs, Ronan asked her to duet
with him on Last Thing On My Mind — the duet he previously released
with Leann Rimes. Rod Stewart even told Laura how much he loved her voice!
Laura has been careful in her choice of charity participation and gladly accepted
the Wishing Well Foundation's invitation to become an ambassador. The charity
supports children with autism; a cause close to Laura's heart as a close family
friend suffers with the condition and she believes "music as a means to encourage
communication is fan-tastic, many children with autism are pitch perfect and
music, song and movement can help to encourage social interaction".
Signed through her MySpace page to independent label Big Print Music and managed
by Jeremy Marsh (Take That, Annie Lennox, Craig David), Laura continues to attract
interest — she is currently being considered as a co-host on a new
Channel 4 music and entertainment programme, and most recently has been catapulted
into the Jan 2008 Mojo Playlist at No.5 with her album track Superstar, her
self-written tribute to her hero, Karen Carpenter.
With a strong engaging personality ['delightfully unassuming charm' says
it best — Ed] and stunning vocals on stage [Amazing. And Yes, I've
been thrilled to watch Laura perform live— Ed], her stage perfor-mance
has gone from strength to strength in the past few months and she has supported
the likes of Deacon Blue, The Sugababes and also took to the stage at The Clothes
Show Live at Birmingham NEC in December.
You can see there's a theme developing here. Success beckons and with a catalogue
of brilliant songs to fuel her quest Laura's career is set to skyrocket in 2008.
Talented and gorgeous, Laura sits in the prime position to be admired by legions
of fans. In her own words Laura is "just a girl next door that wants more and
is trying to succeed". Not only is she certain to do precisely that, but she
absolutely deserves to.
“In
pursuit of a dream:
Laura Critchley earns
the endorsements of
the stars...”
THE LONG-HAIRED LOVELY FROM LIVERPOOL — Merseyside's very own
Laura Critchley — has been receiving a great deal of praise not only from
fans but also from respected fellow performers.
The publicity machine has this to say: "Laura's sound is steeped in pop
beats, riddled with country swing, and each tune is polished off with a strong,
note-perfect voice which has been likened to Sheryl Crow, Natalie Imbruglia
and Lianne Rimes." It was her stunning voice that prompted Robbie Williams
to ask her to sing on his new as-yet-untitled album. "I thought I was just going
to be recording a couple of lines of backing vocals," said a delighted Laura,
fresh from Robbie's home studio in Los Angeles, "but I ended up singing main
parts on one of the songs."
At 23 years old, the attractive Liverpudlian singer has racked up some serious
credentials on the road to fame. And Robbie Williams is not the only fellow
musician lining up to pay her compliments!
Ronan Keating, having asked Laura to perform a set of her own songs at his Ebony
& Ivory Ball in aid of Cancer Research, also invited her to sing with him the
duet he'd previously released with Lianne Rimes — Last Thing On My Mind.
The great Rod Stewart told Laura how much he liked her voice and Mika endorses
this by saying: "I love Laura's voice; she makes you feel the emotion in the
song."
Carefully choosing to support the charity The Wishing Well Foundation, Laura
was delighted to be invited to become an ambassador. The charity supports children
with autism and this is a cause close to her heart. A close family friend suffers
with the condition and Laura goes along with the belief that music is an important
part of living with autism. "Music as a means to encourage communication is
fantastic," she says. "Many children with autism are pitch perfect and music,
song and movement can help to encourage social interaction."
Laura is managed by Jeremy Marsh (Take That, Annie Lennox, Craig David) and
was signed through her MySpace page to independent label Big Print Music. She
is being considered as a co-host on a new Channel 4 music and entertainment
programme and more recently was cata-pulted into the January 2008 Mojo Playlist
at number 5 with her album track Superstar, a song she wrote as a tribute
to someone who inspires her — the late Karen Carpenter.
Laura Critchley's live performances are something else. Her strong and engaging
personality melds with stunning vocals to propel this young woman into the limelight.
She has supported Deacon Blue and The Sugababes and she recently took to the
stage at The Clothes Show Live at Birmingham NEC (December 2007).
There is a definite theme developing here for this attractive and talented artiste.
Success is beckoning and, with a catalogue of brilliant songs to fuel her quest,
Laura's career looks set to flourish in 2008. Admired by a legion of fans, Laura
sees herself as "'just a girl next door that wants more and is trying to succeed."
From where we're sitting, nothing should stop her achieving just that.
“Fresh
and jaunty,
that’s
Laura Critchley.
The more you hear
her sing, the more you
want to listen...”
WHEN
I FIRST
HEARD LAURA
CRITCHLEY sing her new single
release What Do We Do, it
sounded very 'full' and satisfying.
The more I hear it; the more I
like it. Not only are a number of
entertainment heavyweights singing her praises, but her debut
single entered the Amazon pre-release singles chart at number 7
in October (2007).
Although fresh and jaunty, the tune has a familiar sound that sits well with
her fine, clear vocals. The more upbeat remix included on the CD is every bit
as enjoyable, and there is a poignancy in her voice that intensifies on her
album Sometimes I.
The publicity machine says: "Laura caught the attention of the tabloids when
she travelled to Los Angeles to record three songs with Robbie Williams at his
home studio. Her phenomenal past year has also seen her win the support of Neil
Fox, Mika, Gordon Ramsey [I wonder exactly which expression he used?
— Ed], The Duchess of York and Jamie Foxx.
"Laura even managed to score a role in a Hollywood movie with John Cusack
and Naomi Watts, tour the UK with the Sugababes and Ray Quinn, stand in for
Will Young at the latest Women's Aid Concert, have her single added to the Radio
2 playlist and feature on the front cover of the Observer Music Monthly.
It seems then, that all the hype abut Laura is justified — not bad for
an artist who just a year ago was virtually unknown!"
She sings with a hint of huskiness and a smile in her voice — you get the
strong impression she's having rather a good time! The album portrays a gamut
of emotions — happy, sad or cautious; from ballad to up-tempo styles —
and at times it sounds very intimate; almost as though she is talking to the
listener. She is so easy to listen to and we are looking forward to hearing
her future releases.
The line from Girl Next Door — "I'm happy being who I am, I ain't
gonna change" — sounded heartfelt, sincere and natural. We should see some
interesting developments from Laura Critchley: a talented young woman who was
brave enough to include a song called Superstar on her album. The words
are: "Superstar, I wonder where you are" — somehow I don't think that is
a question we will be asking Laura as we already know the answer... She'll be
around for a long time!
• Laura Critchley's new single CD What
Do We Do was released on 12 November.
• Her debut album Sometimes I (released
on 19 November) is set to be one of most anticipated by an artist on an independent
label this year.
Sometimes I tracklist: Today's Another Day; What Do We Do;
Shoulder To Lean On; I'll Be OK; Sometimes I; Tell Me; That Kind of Love; Superstar
(Song for Karen); Don't Say; Girl Next Door; Incredible; Lullaby.
"Keep an ear out for her. Laura Critchley, excellent record" — Terry
Wogan, BBC Radio 2
"An upbeat album full of well-written, radio-friendly songs… In a world of manufactured,
synthetic vocals, it's very refreshing to hear a quality singer singing great
acoustic songs" — Acoustic Magazine
"Watch Out… for singer Laura Critchley" — Rav Singh, News of the World
"A sweet, husky voice" — Daily Star
“Laura
Critchley: The Xceptional talent the X Factor
judges overlooked...”
"IT'S NOT YOUR VOICE, YOUR AGE OR THE SONG," said the first-
round X Factor judges after Laura Critchley pressed them for an answer. "It's
just that we've already put through a lot of blonde females today…"
These words may have broken the spirit of many young X Factor hope-fuls but
for Laura this was the turning point in her singing career. After queuing for
twelve hours for her audition only to be dismissed because of the colour of
her hair she decided to take matters into her own hands. She got onto the music
circuit and played live for anyone and everyone who would listen.
One year later her musical CV speaks for itself (see above) — and she's
just getting started! What's that they say about 'Quality will out'? You'd better
believe it.
But the last year hasn't been without its setbacks and heartache for Laura,
either. Her talent still lay undiscovered after auditions for Fame Academy and
Pop Idol. Even handing her demo tape to Louis Walsh himself and singing for
Ant and Dec at the X Factor auditions didn't get her where she is today.
She says: "I guess all good things come to those who want them enough. I want
to show everyone with a musical dream that there
is a life outside of reality television shows."
“Laura
Critchley’s new
“In
pursuit of a dream:
“Fresh
and jaunty,