BIO:
The scene was a Grammy after-party in LA. The spot was a trendy nightclub in West Hollywood. The interaction was brief, but memorable. Jay-Z, recalling seeing Laura perform a few months earlier, looked a young Laura Warshauer squarely in the eye and said, “You are fantastically talented.” If there’s anything to inspire a budding artist to greater heights, it would be those words, uttered from a modern-day music industry icon.
With her big blue eyes, dark hair, and diminutive stature, one would be amazed at the powerhouse voice and indomitable spirit that is the essence of Laura Warshauer, both on stage and off. Her managers, Scott Ross and Paul Fishkin, will attest to this: “When we walk into a meeting, the vibe and energy immediately change and people sense they are about to experience something very special. Laura doesn’t let them down!”
Laura has that rare quality very few artists possess: she makes every person in of the audience feel as if she is singing only to them. Her performance, whether on stage or in the studio, has that magnetic quality that people naturally gravitate to, which is why in 2010 Laura was chosen by BMI and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame to be the recipient of the first ever (Buddy) Holly Prize. The prestigious award is presented to one young singer-songwriter and performer per year who exhibits “true, great, and original” qualities.
That year, Laura was also invited by BMI to perform at the Martha’s Vineyard Songwriter’s Festival alongside a select group of songwriters, including Keith Stegall, Tom Douglas, Even Stevens, and Thom Schuyler. Regarding her performance, Keith Stegall commented, “[She] can stop time!”
Laura is far from just another female singer-songwriter; Her distinctive sound and style is laced with familiar vocal flavors ranging from Stevie Nicks to Cyndi Lauper to Kate Bush. Laura gets her inspiration for live performance from the live experiences of U2 and Bruce Springsteen. She considers this to be the most important part of her life long journey as a recording artist.
On June 14, 2011, Laura Warshauer released her debut LP The Pink Chariot Mixtape. “[The album] is really about so much more than these songs and recordings. It’s about the moments that each song represents,” Warshauer states. “I felt like I chased down each and every one of those moments, from Brooklyn to New Jersey, to St. Andrews in Scotland and Las Vegas and Los Angeles.”
Several iconic musicians make appearances on The Pink Chariot Mixtape, including E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan, John Fogerty’s drummer Kenny Aronoff, and Hall and Oats guitarist Paul Pesco. Rob Whited and Bobby Lee Parker, touring percussionist/drum tech and side-stage guitar player/guitar tech for The Killers, contributed drums and guitars to the album as well.
Three of the five tracks were produced by legendary producer and record executive Thom Panunzio (Bruce Springsteen, Nelly Furtado, and U2). One of these recordings, “Tonight Tonight,” was licensed to the Style Network’s “How Do I Look.” Other song placements include “Fade Away,” which was used on USA Network’s “In Plain Sight,” and “To Will and Kate, Meet Me at Exit 109,” which was used on “E! True Hollywood Story: Kate and Pippa Middleton,” which also featured both a powerful live performance and interview with Laura.
“To Will And Kate, Meet Me at Exit 109,” garnered much success. The song received press coverage in major outlets such as People Magazine (a two-page spread), Gothamist, Daily Mail (UK), Paris Match (France), AOL Music, and on News 12 New Jersey (1.8 million viewers), where Laura also gave a stirring live performance. The song, inspired by her friendship with the royal couple during her time as a freshman at the University of St. Andrews, debuted on People.com and is currently available as a digital download on iTunes.
In July 2011, “Wishing Well,” the first single from The Pink Chariot Mixtape was serviced to Triple A Radio throughout the US. To support the single, Laura took to the road for special performance dates at Hotel Café in Hollywood, California, Lestat’s in San Diego, California, and the FMQB Triple A Radio Conference in Boulder, Colorado. “Wishing Well” climbed the MediaBase charts for twelve straight weeks.
Earlier last year, Laura began an open-ended residency at The Palms Las Vegas opening for Sony/Signature artist Frankie Moreno. Other performances in 2011 include an appearance at Palace Station as part of the Gibson Artist Showcase, a headlining performance at the Official MPressFest CMJ Showcase at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, opening performance dates with Bob Schneider at WXPN’s World Café, Ram’s Head (Annapolis, MD), and the Stanhope (New Jersey), a performance with Scars on 45 on 92ZEW The Sound of Mobile’s Free Concert Series, and a special performance at the concert celebration for the Songmasters’ “Tis The Season To Be Holly,” which premiered on PBS on December 3, 2011.
During the December 2010 holiday season, Laura Warshauer released “I Love You, Mr. Grinch.” The clever holiday tune, produced by Jason Miller (Kanye West, Keyshia Cole), premiered on Mashable.com—the top source for news, social/digital media, technology, and web culture. On December 5, 2011, Laura re-released the song and video, worldwide.
Laura recently spent time recording multiple songs in Nashville with producer Marshall Altman (Matt Nathanson, Natasha Bedingfield, Marc Broussard, etc.). Her forthcoming album, tentatively titled “Wicked Wicked,” is slated for a Spring 2012 release. There are additional tracks in the works being produced by Bleu McCauley (Demi Lovato, The Jonas Brothers, Hanson).
Other Notable Achievements:
After releasing an album independently, Laura was subsequently discovered by legendary record executive L.A. Reid. In 2008, she released her debut EP via Island Def Jam. She has created her own label “PINK CHARIOT,” which she released her 2011 critically acclaimed Pink Chariot Mixtape album and her 2012 forthcoming release.
Michael Lynn, producer of E! True Hollywood Story, filmed exclusive interviews and content from The Pink Chariot Mixtape recording sessions.
In 2010 Laura was asked by her hometown radio station WBJB to be involved with The Runaways / Sandy West tribute album. Laura’s cover of “Little Lost Girls” was produced by the legendary Thom Pranunzio, and features musicians who work and tour with The Killers. All proceeds from the sale of the album went to the Sandy West Cancer Foundation.
Laura is passionately involved with Women Against Abuse, the Philadelphia-based organization that houses abuse victims and their children. Laura has visited and performed at the shelter, and was twice invited to perform “My Fault” at the organization’s annual ipledge press conference at Drexel University alongside keynote speaker Mayor Michael Nutter.
The Pink Chariot Mixtape
Pink Chariot Records June 2011
CONTACT:
AMANDA CHARNEY
CAITLIN PASKO
LYDIA KANUGA
MANAGEMENT:
Ross Fishkin Entertainment
Scott Ross: (310) 573-0223
Paul Fishkin: (818) 641-4785
LINKS:
OFFICIAL SITE
MYSPACE
PEOPLE MAGAZINE PIECE PART 1
PEOPLE MAGAZINE PIECE PART 2
TOUR:
2/24 @ Lestat’s in San Diego