We found out some more about celebrated Midlands pop rock artist Laura Musgrave following the release of her vibrant new single ‘Play Again’
Her dynamic brand of modern pop rock and the personable and engrossing nature of her songwriting have seen Midlands artist Laura Musgrave begin to make a name for herself and gain a foothold in the UK music scene over the last few years, leaving an impression on listeners with the fierce and bold nature of her sound and her charismatic charm as an artist and singer.
The artist’s latest single ‘Play Again’ is a powerful showcase of that appeal, utilising her raw and earnest songwriting and impactful, guitar-driven sound to craft a potent release about not giving up or backing down in the face of life’s challenges, capturing this spirit and feeling through her sound. The track is packed full of vibrancy and life throughout, making for an inspiring and rousing listening experience that packs a sonic punch as well as an inspiring one. We had a chat with Laura following the release to find out a little bit more about the inspiration behind it and her wider story and journey as an artist so far.
Who TF is Laura Musgrave?
Hi! I’m a UK pop-rock artist and songwriter, serving up a blend of crunchy guitars and confessional lyrics.
How long have you been making music?
About six years for this most recent chapter. This is my second time in the music industry – I had an earlier artist career as a singer-songwriter and took a break before coming back. It was wild to see how much had changed in my time away from the industry. Everything from songwriting trends, to studio tech, and marketing. I had to learn it all again from scratch, but it’s been a blast this time around, and I’ve been able to do it on my own terms. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Why do you make music?
As a music fan, I love hearing a song and thinking ‘wow, this person just distilled how I feel into lyrics and melody’. It’s like they cracked your heart open somehow and wove it into their music. As a songwriter, that is the ultimate goal for me – not only to express myself, but also to connect with other people. I hope you can relate the emotions in my music to your own experiences and stories. Or even just take a few minutes to rock out and sing along at the top of your lungs!
What are your biggest influences?
There are so many! I take a lot of influence lyrically from singer-songwriters, and musically from rock and alternative bands and artists. I would say the influences you can hear most clearly in my music are Alanis Morissette, Paramore, Taylor Acorn, Letters to Cleo, and early 2000s pop rock.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
Seeing my song ‘Anytime’ on the recent GRAMMYs® ballot for ‘Best Rock Performance’ and ‘Best Rock Song’. Dream stuff to be on there alongside artists like Paramore, Olivia Rodrigo, and Against The Current. A close second would be winning my first music award for ‘International Female Single of the Year (Gold Award)’ at the ISSA Awards in Atlanta, USA in 2023.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
It’s catchy pop-rock that’d fit well on a playlist with artists like Avril Lavigne, Paramore, Taylor Acorn, Olivia Rodrigo, and Pale Waves (especially their pop-punk ‘Unwanted’ album era).
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
As an artist, I’d love to collaborate on a song one day with some of the amazing leading artists in the pop-rock and pop-punk space. As a songwriter, getting future industry recognition for my writing from a peer organisation like the Recording Academy and/or The Ivors Academy would be amazing.
We love your new single ‘Play Again’, what more can you tell us about it?
It’s about starting to find your strength again after feeling like your world has stopped. It’s that turning point when you realize your fight is coming back. You’re determined to face whatever challenges life has in store, even if you’re still figuring out how to pick yourself back up. It’s having that trust in yourself that you’ll find a way to work it out. I wrote ‘Play Again’ with fellow UK songwriter Emma Gale, and it was produced by Becky Willard, with recording in the UK and USA.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
I’m currently writing brand new songs for next year, rehearsing, and planning out my 2025. I can’t wait to see where this next year takes me! Follow along and say hello @lauramusgravemusic on social media.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
I’m lucky to have some incredible supporters, family, and friends cheering me on. It’d be really tough to pick just one! Thank you to each and everyone of you joining me on the journey – whether you’ve been here since the start, or are just discovering my music today. It means the world to me.
