Q & A with Lauren Shera

Lauren Shera's unsteady voice with its unwavering tone is probably the most uniquely beautiful instrument on her new album, Once I was a Bird, rivalling her exquisitely fingerpicked guitar making it easy to see why she is being tauted as "Folk Music's New Royalty." Lured in by the album's misty blue melodies and somber yet strong songwriting, I was happy to have had the opportunity to ask Lauren about her music, career and the album.


CFM: Can you discuss your childhood and how it has influenced you and your music?

LS: I grew up in a very musical household. Both my parents sing and play, and when they weren't there was always music on the stereo. I remember hearing Bob Dylan as a kid and thinking "Who is this guy with the weird voice", and singing along to James Taylor and Nanci Griffith. I think what inspired me to play were these parties we used to have at our house that were centered around a group of musicians singing and playing together...lots of traditional folk songs....and I wanted to be a part of that.

CFM: When did you realize you wanted a career in music?

LS: I think that was a gradual process. I don't remember any one moment, I just know that the longer I worked away at it the more it made sense to continue to pursue music as a career.

CFM: What has been your biggest thrill and/or opportunity since beginning your music career?

LS: Getting to play with artists that I looked up to when I was young, such as Nanci Griffith, Shawn Colvin and Kristin Hersh; those were some very special shows to me. More big thrills were meeting and opening for Ray LaMontagne, playing the Tribute to Bob Dylan concert at NYC's Lincoln center, and playing Bonnaroo last month.

CFM: You're a multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, banjo, and ukulele. When did you start playing these instruments? What got you interested in learning?

LS: Guitar is my main instrument and I began playing that around the age of 13. There's still so much for me to learn on this and all of my instruments, but I feel the most fluent in guitar. Banjo followed a few years later although I remained largely self taught until I went to the Old Town School of Folk Music in 2008 and really learned the traditional stylings of playing the claw hammer banjo, which I think creates some of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. Ukulele has been my most recent addition in the last 4 years and it's been a lot of fun. I had never really considered playing it until my Dad gave me one as a gift and I started messing around and making up songs.  It's such a sweet sounding instrument.

CFM: There's a natural sadness to Once I was a Bird. If not too personal, can you please tell me where you were at both mentally and emotionally while writing and recording the album?

LS: I think that there will always be a part of me drawn to writing melancholy folk songs; even though I consider myself to be a happy person, songwriting has been a creative way to explore the darker parts of life. With that said, this album definitely has a continuity to the theme and it's not even a dark subject matter but actually something that everyone at some point in their life has felt: heartbreak. I was experiencing that during the time that most of the songs were written. But it's funny how things work, because when I felt like I had nothing left to give, I was able to let go and write these songs...like there was some creative reserve I was able to tap into and relieve myself of those burdens.

CFM: What have you been doing since 2006's In My Bones? How have you evolved since recording the album? How is Once I was a Bird different?

LS: Every time you make a record, you learn something. Probably a lot of things. I was 17-18 when I wrote and recorded "In My Bones", and was able to look at that album as a jumping off point to where I wanted the next one to go. "Once I Was A Bird" was more filled out, musically. Instead of a single viola track, we added a whole string quartet in parts. Instead of a shaker or a hand clap, we added drums and all kinds of percussion. Not to say that simplicity doesn't go a long way, and I still consider OIWAB to be relatively simple album in it's presentation, but knowing where to embellish and then where to embellish more was a big contributor to the production of this album. In between records I learned a lot as well. I feel like I became a more seasoned songwriter, which is probably bound to happen the more years you live. Most of the songs were actually written between 2008-2009 so it wasn't so big of a gap...it just took me a little while to get them ready to be heard.

CFM: Do you have one song that is more special than the other songs you've written? Which one? Why?

LS: Obviously the title track means a great deal to me. Looking at it objectively from a songwriter's point of view, I'm most proud of that song; the way the chorus came together, the lyrics and guitar melodies, and the way it unfolded in the studio with the power of strings and harmony vocals was really powerful for me to see and hear.

CFM: How was your first Bonnaroo experience?

LS: Dusty!!! But oh so much fun. I seriously loved every dusty, sweat-drenched, sun-burnt minute of it. Just to be there and hear so many wonderful musicians that I'm totally obsessed with (Buffalo Springfield, Arcade Fire, Abigail Washburn, Justin Townes Earl...to name a few), and then getting to play some of my own music on top of it? In a SHADED tent? How lucky can one girl be?!

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Once I Was A Bird by Lauren Shera