Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laurel Sorenson . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Laurel , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Every time I create as an individual is an opportunity to learn something new. I don’t put that much pressure on it because if I thought about it every time I tried to write, I’d never be able to finish anything or write with the freedom necessary to create anything new. That being said, making an entire record, especially in a collaborative process with a band and a producer, made me feel like every second I was learning something new. This is a beautiful process, but not one without discomfort. If I could give advice to anyone about learning any craft, I would advise them to revel in the discomfort. It means they are learning something or creating something fresh. It means they are on the precipice of growing stronger, wiser, more open.
The Love-In (Theo King, Michael Rasile, and I) had the privilege of making our upcoming record with Tone Def. We collectively learned an immense amount from watching him work and listening to his methods of communication. We learned which ideas were worth chasing and which ones were simply ego-driven. We watched someone who makes records every day get giddy over the ecstasy of a song that had finally started to reveal itself. The long days and bleary eyes are part of the process, but so too are the joy and happy accidents.
Laurel , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am lead singer and songwriter of The Love-In, which is a Nashville-based indie band consisting of Theo King, Michael Rasile, and myself.
We’re a band whose genre-bending arrangements confuse the categories and delight the dancers and deranged. The focus of our music is the story and the groove.
Our upcoming album Revel (set to be released October 2023) consists of our signature combination of memorable melodies, irresistible grooves, and lush soundscapes, showcasing a diverse set of influences from early rock and roll to modern R&B.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to unlearn the idea of “selling out.” I thought to succeed commercially as an artist I had to make my music and myself more like everything else that was out there.
Turns out, there are a lot of people that are better at being like everybody else than I am, and they can do it genuinely too. What I tried to sell, no one was buying.
I’ve found far more satisfaction and made much better art by making what excites me.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Just Kids, by Patti Smith, was incredibly influential for me. It was the first realistic portrayal I had every seen of a young artist’s struggle. Patti accurately depicts what it’s like to understand the vast potential inside you, even when you have no network, few friends, and the wrong haircut.
It shows what happens to your teeth when you don’t have money to go to the dentist because you spent your paycheck on art supplies. It allows the reader into the inner world of someone who can see the romance of their own struggle even as they eat lettuce soup every night.
It is realistic enough about the grit and the grime of an artist’s life to deter anyone who isn’t dedicated, yet sweet and charming enough to help those who are through the tough times.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thelovein.band/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloveinband/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLoveInband/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCThYLpL9xE7KW3hwNqWLx-A
- Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theloveinband
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0K2cEIAWd62izyHKn4nQPx
Image Credits
Kevin & King