Laura Harley

This weekend I attended the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival.   The experience brought me opportunities and had an unexpected emotional impact, too.

One of the best opportunities was getting to talk one-on-one with a handful of music supervisors who are responsible for placing music in some of today’s most popular films and TV programs.  These people are sought after by thousands of musicians and are almost impossible to contact under usual circumstances.  And so it was a real treat to meet them, hear their insights, actually HAND them my music, and hear them say they will listen.  It might not sound like much to anyone who hasn’t tried to get their music into film and TV, but it was a priceless and rare opportunity.

But I think the most powerful and helpful part of the experience was how I felt and some of the insights I had.  I’ve been a part of the music business for many years now, and I’ve learned that it is a strange and very difficult business.  I think one of the things that makes it so challenging is that there is so much sensationalism and mythology surrounding it.  It takes most musicians years to realize that most of the promises made to them by things they see in the media and from others in the business are just not true.  There are so many people in this industry that want to feed on the desires of music artists to make money, become a big star, or get onto a major label.  It is a complex topic that is too in depth for just one entry here.  (But for a great book that debunks a lot of the myths surrounding the music business, read “So You Wanna Be A Rock And Roll Star” by Jacob Slichter).

Over the years as I’ve experienced victories and disappointments in my musical adventures, I’ve been able to tease apart fact from fiction more and more—now when people make me promises, I know (for the most part) when they are telling me the truth or lying, or when what they are telling me will actually benefit me or not.

What I really appreciated about the music supervisors that spoke at the festival was that they were very real.  They talked about how even for them, very experienced and well-connected people, making deals can be challenging.  And they talked about how there are very few artists they are able to choose for the few slots they have and how even fewer of those artists actually benefit significantly from their placements.  It is much the same for many other things in the business, too (i.e. getting on a label, getting radio airplay, etc.).  Realizing these sorts of things used to make me feel pretty depressed and frustrated as an artist trying to get exposure for my music.

But the GREAT thing is, that it doesn’t depress me anymore!  And the reason is that I’ve learned that I don’t have to depend on anyone else to be successful.  I’ve learned how to build my audience on my own, how to create and record music on my own (and with the help of hired awesome experts that I choose), and how to make money doing what I love.  Yes, it is very hard work, but it is my calling and so I do it.  I also feel so fulfilled by the amazing feedback I get from fans of my music.

There was a time when being satisfied by what I’ve just described was elusive. Rationally, I knew I was already successful, but part of me still longed for something different, some kind of myth of “success” that I thought others had based on what I saw in the media. But, living in LA and seeing things “behind the scenes” has made me so much more thankful for what I have.  Not just thankful, but actually relieved that things haven’t gone a different way for me.  And it feels so good!

So, I have arrived at a place where I still pursue opportunities in the “biz”—I still network, I still pursue “big” opportunities—in short, I still knock on doors to see what will open.  But I no longer depend on those doors to open.  I open my own doors, and if others open for me too, then great.  If not, that’s ok because I already feel happy and I know how to move my career forward on my own.

So, this emotional place is a great and very freeing place to be.  And what makes it even more sweet is that I’ve really worked HARD to get here. I didn’t even know that this perspective existed when I first started in music, but I am so glad it does.  And if you are a musician, I wish it for you, too!

This weekend I’m on my way to the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival. I’m going so that I can connect with filmmakers in the area. Its a great way to share my music with people who are in need of music for their film and TV projects. I’m looking forward to seeing some great films, meeting interesting people, and attending some cool workshops about music and film. If you are going, drop me a line!

So, as I’ve mentioned a few times before, I am working on a companion book to the album I just released. I am a singer and a songwriter, but I am also a life coach. I have a life coaching practice in which I work with people to help them bring more balance, meaning, and fulfillment into their lives.  My songs, like my coaching work, are meant to help people work through their struggles and find strength inside themselves. And so in my forthcoming book, I explore the songs from the new album and pair each song with questions and exercises to help the reader/ listener gain even greater meaning and strength in their lives.

So, I am really excited about the book, and it is coming along well, but right now I am having one of those days. You know, one of those days at work when you feel sort of stuck and find yourself procrastinating by looking at Cute Overload and Pop Sugar, and then you feel kind of lame. In any case, I am learning that writing a book is a lot like writing a song. I have the same struggles and some new ones that are coming up.

The problem with writing a book about ways to help one’s self get through challenges, is that it sometimes feels extra lame when you yourself are feeling challenged. It just makes me wanna be all rebellious, listen to some punk rock, and dance around instead of writing. So, I think I will take my own advice, and the advice I offer in the book, and do just that. Ha! Take that frustration and lameness! I am going to dance it out! Grrrr!  I better cue up the Fugazi, PJ Harvey, and Hole.

One of my songs was featured on a recent episode of “The Contrast Podcast”. Check it out! You may discover some new music you’ll like there, too.

On my way back to LA tonight…

It has been a busy but wonderful couple of weeks. Last Friday I played a house concert in my home town of West St. Paul, MN. I love playing house shows because I can have more of a dialogue with the audience and share more about the stories behind the songs. I was really moved because after the show, many people talked with me about how they were affected by the songs and told me they could really identify with them. While buying my CDs, several people mentioned that they wanted to listen repeatedly as a way to enjoy the music and to work through some things that the music brought up in them. For me, this is the best thing to hear! I really want my music to serve as a “jumping off point” for people to do their own inner work and find new perspectives for themselves. Here are photos from the concert of me playing and of part of the audience:

If you are interested in having me play a concert at your home, please contact me. It is one of my fave venues!

I also went to Ann Arbor and Minneapolis to help with community building activities through the Baha’i Faith, as mentioned in my last post. I learned so much and had such a meaningful time with everyone. I feel so lucky to get to meet and serve with so many wonderful people. Here is a photo of part of the group that worked together in Ann Arbor:

In other news, I’ve been continuing to revise the forthcoming companion book to my latest album, have been taking runs every morning in the crisp fall-like air here in Minnesota, and am preparing to go back to LA next week. I’m also thinking about getting a funky new haircut in a few days. I am ready for a change…More soon…

I’m on my way to Minneapolis today, and then on to Ann Arbor tomorrow for a workshop related to my volunteer work with the Baha’i Faith. We’ll be talking about (and then starting!) some neighborhood-based activities aimed at spiritually empowering children, teens, and adults to transform themselves and their communities. I’m looking forward to meeting many wonderful people there and to learning with them.

After that, I’ll be in Minneapolis in time for some more of this same kind of work. I will also get to see my family on Labor Day, which will be awesome. I can’t wait to get in some family time—I miss my sis, her husband, and my parents a lot! Hopefully I will get a chance to squeeze in some time with my friends while I am there, too. Then, its back to LA again.

Last night, we went to this beautiful lookout spot in the hills at sunset. I took a few photos of the views of LA.

It was very beautiful.

And I just finished a new song! I’m at that stage with it where it is just so exciting to sing it because it is new and about my life right now and I FEEL it so much. I am planning to sing it at the house concert I’m giving on September 5 in St. Paul, MN. If you want to be there, email me at contact[at]lauraharley.com, and I’ll send you the info.

More soon….

Since I’ve been spending so much time in LA, I’ve had many experiences that could really only happen here. You know, moments where you find yourself saying “ONLY in LA!” Some are fun like star sightings (recent sightings include Aimee Mann and Michael Penn at Target last weekend and Malcolm Jamal Warner at the movie theater). Some are un-fun like people I see who have plastic surgery addictions and almost don’t look real—-very sad.

But my favorite moments are the ones that remind me of the glamour and wonder of that partly mythical and partly real place, Hollywood. The other day I had one such moment. I was rushing to see a friend of mine play on the other side of the city. I had just finished a phone meeting that went overtime and I was fumbling with the directions to the club in my car, when all of a sudden I looked up and saw something that made me slow down. As I turned my car onto Hollywood Boulevard, the sun was setting and lighting the sky with brilliant oranges and pinks. Black silhouettes of palm trees towered over me on each side of the road and on my left, windows in the mansions in the Hollywood Hills reflected the sunset. It was so beautiful it took my breath away. Since I was driving, I couldn’t take a photo right then, but I went there the next day to try to capture a little bit of what I saw. This just gives an inkling:

Something about that sight transported me. I got little butterflies in my stomach and felt in awe of the glamour of Hollywood. Visions of movie stars from the ’50s filled my mind and, for a moment, I felt like I was part of it all—like I was one of them—driving down Hollywood in a powder blue convertible with the wind in my wavy hair and movie star scarf trailing behind me. (I actually drive a 2000 Saturn, have straight hair, and was so stressed that day that I didn’t have the presence of mind to accessorize.) I vowed to remember how special it is to be able to spend time in this place where dreams can suddenly come alive and cradle you; stolen moments in the midst of the LA madness.

The past few weeks have been really full—-in terms of level of busy-ness and level of intensity. There have been lots of challenges in my personal life and lots of decisions to be made in my professional life. It was kind of a roller coaster, but I’m feeling hopeful and good about it all now. Highlights in my music world have included:

–Filling lots of CD orders! It has been so much fun to get CD orders and send off my new music to people. And I have been so touched by the feedback. Thank you!

–Playing a fun show at Plum’s in St. Paul. Thanks to everyone who came out to the show! I had a great time. It felt like a performance where my piano playing reached a new level. I’m feeling like things are coming even more naturally which enables me to really sink into the songs and fill them with everything I’ve got.

–Seeing some of my fellow musician friends here in LA at a party this weekend. It was great to re-connect, make some plans to play shows together, and share challenges/ learning of being independent music artists.

–Finishing the first draft of my upcoming book and having the first reader/ editor review it! More info on that coming soon.

And this Saturday, I’m looking forward to seeing my friend and excellent music artist Jane Fuller perform in Sierra Madre at Cafe 322 (322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA). She’s invited me to sing a song, too, and I’ll be going on around 10:00pm. It will be a really fun night—come on out if you are in the area!