LAUREL & THE ELECTRIC CIRCUS
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Laurel signs with A&R Select
Hollywood, CA – The newest member of A&R Select's elite roster of artists is Laurel.
“She's a dedicated musician who takes her art and career seriously,” according to a spokesman for A&R Select, Hollywood's hottest, indie A&R firm. “We're excited to have her on board.”
“Music makes up the very fiber of who I am,” Laurel says, explaining her captivated devotion to her craft. “When I perform it, it runs through me, channeling energy that I didn't even know I had, just to express the song.”
Laurel says she believes music is more than just a means of making money. It's about self-expression, creating art that fulfills and provides therapy for her fellow music fans. “I was born with a talent to help people feel a wide array of emotions through music.”
“It's electrifying to see Laurel take the stage and and inspire such synergy with her and her fans,” says A&R Select.
Laurel reiterates her core goal as a performer, saying, “My ultimate dream is not primarily to make millions with my music, but to share something between my band, myself and my audience ... It's a rush, an ecstasy to have a common bond with a crowd.”
At the same time, she respects the fact that music is a business. Laurel combines an unquenchable thirst to create music with an astute, sharp business sense. “I believe you have to work your music from all angles,” she says. “It's not enough to have a great product or a great show. You have to have a great business head as well ...”
The power of her music, it has been observed by a number of hearers, is rooted in her ability to explore meaningful ideas rooted in day-to-day existence. “I tend to be inspired by real life experiences and feelings, good and bad, the power of love and equally the awesome strength of loving yourself and how that can affect your life to the fullest.”
Laurel has opened for American Idol's Kimberly Caldwell, national recording artist Leon Russell and more. She has performed on the Houston Pride mainstage as well as at the Janis Joplin Birthday Bash, the Sweet Auburn Springfest, the Mardi Gras Krewe of Illusions Ball, the Cutting Edge Music Business Conference. Laurel has been featured on a number of occasions on WB, CBS and NBC affiliates. The Lake Charles '05 Rock Off declared Laurel its winner. Her touring has brought her to countless varied and sundry venues, from small and homey to big and awe-inducing.
When she's not performing, Laurel is busy promoting her most recent release, 2006's “Sweet Insanity.”
And all the hard work, she says, is for the fans. “Fans are most important to me as an artist,” Laurel declares. “I'm privileged to have met so many supportive people in general.
“And I've been privileged to be a part of the gay and lesbian community in this country and consider it an honor to be able to promote my music within such a welcoming family.”
Laurel recognizes her fans as the source of her success. “I am grateful to all my fans who have helped me achieve the success I have experienced already and consider it a joint effort and dream of all of ours.”
More information is available by visiting www.laurelbuzz.com, www.myspace.com/laurelmusic and www.arselect.com.
- A&R
…fabulous. Love your voice!!
Judy Samuel, Oasis CD
- Oasis CD Manufacturing
“Some people are born with a God-given talent. Laurel was born with two. She has the gift of a beautiful voice and the gift of a natural stage presence. Laurels husky and sensual voice, perfectly match her ability to perform on stage. It doesn’t matter if she is singing rock, pop, r & b, soul or country, Laurels ability to sing them with such power will keep lovers of all genres’ riveted through her performance and dancing in their seats! She provides more than just musical enjoyment, she provides all around entertainment.”
Dee Main, author, Soul of a Poet
- Dee Main, Soul of a Poet
Sweet Insanity is the latest release from Laurel Barineau, a sultry singer, with slightly raspy vocals that you'll be amazed by when you hear them.
Laurel belts out songs that range from, pop, rock, and dance to the blues with soulful vocals. I like the way she's described on her MySpace page, "Sounds Like: If Etta James, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, and Rod Stewart had a foursome, Laurel would be their illegitimate child."
The entire band lineup is, Laurel (lead vocals), Jason Barbee (lead guitar), Nick Nolden (bass guitar/vocals), Mike Cash (drums/vocals), Bull Durham (keys/vocals).
It all starts off with the rocking track, "Rain Down" that besides Laurel's great smoking vocals also offers some nice guitar parts including a solo at the 3:40 point in the song. This song and many of the others also have a really nice bass line running through them.
Track-6 "It's Not Over (When You Go)" is another nice track that features the sultry side of Laurel's vocals along with some nice saxophone all set to against an R&B lounge feel.
Track-9 "Back to Innocence" goes down the club sound route with its pumped up bass beats that made my stereo speakers rattle.
Sweet Insanity ends with "Right Outside Your Door," a melodic type ballad that features some real nice vocal harmonies.
Sweet Insanity features high-energy songs filled with Laurel's vocals that have a sensual playfulness to them. This is one very talented singer who can do it all from soulful blues to ripping rock lyrics.
Do yourself a favor and get Laurel Barineau's Sweet Insanity release.
- C.W. Ross,Senior Writer,Indie Music Stop
There are moments during a live performance where the performer
resonates energy levels that can pull in the wallflowers and Laurel does just this. Her music is a metamorphosis of talent and energy.
- Her Magazine, Texarkana Gazette Publication
Jambalaya News,Leslie Berman, noted writer/critic of publications such as Village Voice, writes...
"A high energy cover band fronted by the long-hair-tossing bold-voice alto, who soared, swooped, and delivered slinky, sassy, emotionally charged songs that made even the most ludicrous[cover] lyrics seem arch, witty, and meaning filled."
..."Laurel and the Electic Circus..Highly recommended, whenever, wherever." - Phil de Albuquerque
Discography
The band's most recent recording, The Recession Sessions, offers 5 new rock and dance songs. Laurel's debut album, Sweet Insanity, is a collection of 11 original songs. Several tracks have been featured on numerous internet stations, including NTG. "Could You Love Me" was featured on Oasis Cd Manufacturing's and Infa-Red Record Label's 2007 nationally released sampler. "Rain Down", one of the album's edgier rock tracks, is featured on the internet docu-ality, Pure Stock Web Show (purestock.tv), "Fire It Up" ranked in the top 100 singles on myspace.com statewide, and as a recent member of Hollywood label, A & R Select, Laurel's tracks are lighting up the ratings via their online store catalog as well as having sold numerous copies via cdbaby and and amazon.com.
More on "Sweet Insanity"...
Primarily in the rock genre, Sweet has a surprising range of influences including r&b, pop, blues and jazz. But with Laurel’s soulful, at times raspy, at times sirenlike voice weaving throughout, a common thread of power and emotion pulls it all together leaving a little something for all ages and backgrounds. Early on, Sweet’s third cut, “Could You Love Me”, generated rave reviews by a broad fanbase at shows, on the internet, and on two national label compilations, for its transcendence into all genres. The acoustic flavor of the music and lyrics, portraying a person futilely asking if she can change anything about herself to entice a lover, strikes a real chord with anyone who has ever been in a strained relationship. And although the content of the work does include the many facets of romantic love, including the sultry yet harder rocking song, “Skin Tight” (…’Whatever you want me to do, I’m at your command / Just lead me around your skin, with the touch of your hand’… ), there are other faces of love, like r&b favorite, “Back to Innocence”, which is written from an abusive father’s regretful point of view. Coloring the music with many different styles, Laurel has shared the drawing board and the stage with several talented musicians, including co-producer and bassist, Kyn Mott, who co-wrote a number of songs, as well as solely afted, “Goodbye Looks Good on You”, especially with Laurel’s vocals in mind. Guitarist, Kenny Sanders, coming to the album with a resume befitting any rock star, including recording with nationally acclaimed producer, Robert Margonleff (Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett, Devo, Robin Trower), co-wrote adult contemporary favorite, “It’s Not Over (When You Go). Sizzling passion and heartbreak, coupled with the playfulness as seen in her live acts are reflected in this original work with intelligent production and musicianship. On stage, a gut wrenching plea on her knees or dancing on tables, comparatively, on cd, a comedic smoker trying to use a lighter on “Fire It Up” or the powerful guitar lead worthy of the thunderous imagery on the album’s hard rockin’ opener,“Rain Down”. Released under Laurel’s independent label, Harbar Records, Sweet Insanity has been narrowing the lines between a passionate entertainer and a powerful work of art.
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Bio
"Dynamic, powerful, captivating" is how fans sum up Laurel’s show. Touring extensively from Arkansas to Florida, this Louisiana based act packs a punch that is unforgetable.
With performances including Port Arthur’s Janis Joplin Birthday Bash, opening for grammy winning funkster, Leon Russell and American Idol’s Kimberly Caldwell, performing on Houston and Atlanta festival stages for up to 100,000 attendees, and most recently for a multitude of European fans at two of Mexico's most luxurious resorts, Laurel is best described as a show-stopping, “in your face”, soulful rocker audiences have come to love. High energy performances, offering a variety of favorites as well as savvy originals, guarantee to get everyone moving. Covering a wide array of party classics from the likes of Tina Turner, Janis Joplin and AC/DC, to contemporary hits by Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry and Gretchen Wilson, this siren gives a commanding performance with a raspy power and sultry, sexy tones likened to Stevie Nicks and Etta James.
Emerging from a gospel and blues background combined with theatre and vocal training from Florida State University’s School of Music, Laurel has secured her niche in performing in front of live audiences. Over the last decade, she has been fortunate to season her show with a number of talented musicians including guitarist, Kenny Sanders, winner of the Fender/Eric Clapton Scholarship, who went on to record and tour with Della Reese and nationally acclaimed producer Robert Margonleff (Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett, Devo, Robin Trower) and Danny Reid, bassist for 80's glam rock, The New York Dolls . She currently tours with her band, "ELECTRIC CIRCUS", comprised of seasoned musicians Jake Fontenot (lead guitar & backing vocals), Jacob Robles (drums) and Dean Holiday (bass & vocals).
“Some people are born with a God-given talent. Laurel was born with two. She has the gift of a beautiful voice and the gift of a natural stage presence… She provides more than just musical enjoyment, she provides all around entertainment.” says Dee Main, author of Soul of a Poet.
With tracks receiving airplay on internet radio, and promoted on national 2007 samplers from Oasis Cd and Infa-Red Records, Laurel's debut original album, Sweet Insanity, has made a splash while their
new EP, The Recession Sessions" is making headway. Scouted for Hollywood label, A&R Select, and generating interest from coast to coast for Pride celebrations with numerous television and radio performances across Louisiana and Texas, Laurel’s energetic style has been turning heads across the country and is sure to capture your attention!
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