Country Music Spotlight: Laura Walsh Exclusive CLN Interview

Arizona native, Laura Walsh, is a Nashville recording artist, who is actively involved in the Country/Pop/Indie music scene throughout the Southwest, and she writes all of her own music. Laura recently released her album titled, Take Your Time. You can find her music on iTunes and is constantly playing on radio stations everywhere, and now on internet radio stations such as, Pandora, iTunes Radio, and Spotify.
Just before her next performance tomorrow evening with Chris Cagle at Speakeasy Saloon & Grill (click for more info) in Chandler, AZ, Laura Walsh sat down with me for an exclusive interview:
Aaron Kuhl: At what age did you start pursuing your dreams as a singer? Tell me a little about your music background. 

Laura Walsh: “It’s super corny, but ever since I was 3 years old I knew I wanted to be a singer and I didn’t tell a soul. I didn’t tell anybody until I graduated high school. My Mom asked me, “What do you want to do with your life?” I told her and she was like, “Oh, that’s nice, well you are going to go to college.” So I went to college, had a scholarship, and I am really glad I did that. I actually tell all the young aspiring artists that I meet to go to school and get good grades. Because I had a scholarship I was able to go to college, because I went to college I was able to work at the radio station as an intern since they only work with college students, and because of that, I was able to get my song on the radio and all of these huge opportunities that came about-like opening for Miranda Lambert and Lee Brice.”
Aaron Kuhl: What do you like best, acoustic or full band performances?
Laura Walsh: “I guess it depends on the venue, because some of the most fun show’s I have had is during an acoustic show because people are so much more engaged. But I have to say, playing with a full band in front of 50,000 people on the 4^th of July was one of the biggest and most exciting events I have ever done.”
Aaron Kuhl: So would you say that show during 4^th of July was your most memorable performance?
Laura Walsh: “To be completely honest, my most memorable performance was when I opened up for Lee Brice and it was a little acoustic piece-it was just me & my guitar player. This never happens, but we ran through our set list and the sound guy was like, “do one more!” And I remember thinking to myself when I first played at Toby Keith’s Bar there is no way I would ever be able to sing a worship song. When we were playing during Lee Brice’s concert, it was all during when the Sandy Hook thing had happened. So my guitar player and I looked at each other and said, “let’s play a worship song, I think that’s what the people need right now.”
Aaron Kuhl: Were you scared about the response you would get from people singing a worship song in a bar?

Laura Walsh: “Yes at first I thought that they would wonder why I would do that at a bar, but the response was really good and they were blown away. Actually, from that it has pushed me to do it in other places and have sung worship songs in other bars and every time I get scared or nervous about it, somebody always comes up to me afterwards and they are like “I am so glad you did that, I was going through this and it really helped me.”

Aaron Kuhl: Does having faith play a major role in your life?
Laura Walsh: “Yes, faith is very important to me. I know a lot of people think their own luck or work is what gets them to where they are, but I personally believe otherwise. I think that all of the opportunities I’ve had, which are pretty big breaks for an independent artist who has just started, that it’s a God thing, it’s totally a God thing. This is a God thing, everything is, and how pieces all orchestrate together. It’s amazing to me. I know there is a higher power and it is important to me that people know that’s what it is about me, but I am also not going to be thumping Bibles on people’s heads.”
Aaron Kuhl: If you could play with any artist that you haven’t played with yet, who would it be?
Laura Walsh: “Grace Potter, hands down. Although, I would kind of be scared to, because I would go on and then she would go on and blow everyone away so I would be like, AHHH. But I love Grace Potter, she is more rock n’ roll and I love it!”
Aaron Kuhl: How are you feeling about your next show with Chris Cagle tomorrow?

Laura Walsh: “I am excited, I am just floored by the opportunity!”