Richest Things.
In the midst of some life threatening struggles, a friend lent us her condo on Lake Dillon for the
weekend. My husband's gentle love and funny spontaneous jokes were healing, and reflecting over the
fact that the weekend was really free, except for eating out, I had to pause and reflect on all my
unearned blessings.
REVIEWS:
... You have a "signature" in all your songs. I don't think you have a steady
genre, but I always look forward to one unexpected twist in the melody in everything you write. K Sweezy
Black Coffee. Okay, so
imagine a kayak guide in the North West with a couple of zoning issues and
personal trials to navigate through. A black cup of steaming fresh coffee
helps her strategize and think through it.
In Deed. This song is about
the situations in life where there are no guidelines, and you're just sorta
out on a limb feeling alone, and that's the real beginning of faith and
learning how to pray from your gut. For me, it was building this house. I hope you enjoy.
P.S. My neighbor, Kathy Swezy, is singing back-ups, and Demetrios Masters
is playing the guitars (besides mine) and producing/engineering, his wife,
Kim is on drums.
REVIEWS:
...Nice song, as a fellow remodeler, it does
have the angst of our prayer! peace, k. wheeler,
www.therefugeonline.org
...Nice guitar work, recording is quality too! Nice Job Girl! R. Sanders
...I like it. I like that Jazz sound. I have enjoyed all the recent songs that I have heard.
Are they going on a new CD? K. Lucas
... I like it - deedle-e-dee! K Spackman
Griffin and Sabine.
This song is adapted from the story book of the same name. It speaks to man's busyness and search for love,
yet having a emptiness in any knowledge of his identity and purpose. Sabine represents God's all
knowing love. She has seen his mistakes and yet offers a healing love. Some people believe that in
order to be healed, the pain is resolved, but I have found that though the pain stays, I have grown
supple enough to endure it, and that I would never know the grace of God or the beauty of comfort if it did
not exist. Pain is actually necessary to knowing truth and knowing others'
souls,~ precious valuable bits of life. The pain itself is a process to a better understanding of God, of
myself of life. On any given day, I admit to the reality of both pain and beauty because we have not yet
crossed over. Pain and Beauty... a constant theme, came from reading Joni Erickson Tada's book, When God
Weeps and shortly after, Young's bestseller, The Shack.
REVIEWS:
...I LOVE this song! It reminds me of a
1960-70 James Bond movie soundtrack, but even better, 'cuz it's YOU! I
am glad you 'splaned what it was about, having not read the book ...
(Although, now I HAVE to read it) and the metaphor about how God knows us
intimately. This is my favorite so far, and I really like so many
others too! Keep writing girlie! (B. Muldrow)
Under the Radar. This song promotes paddling, peddling,
hoofin it or.... no, seriously, this song promotes the benefits of a meek lifestyle, realizing that the Giver
of all our gifts has also set limitations and boundaries on us, and it is actually better to develop
those aspects of life without trying to be a star in an arena where we don't belong. To me, the whole
groove of the music says it all, and makes me happy.
Crazy Thing Album ... To my friends: new,
old and barely introduced, this c.d. presents one of my dearest goals come
true. I hope you want to listen to it over and over. This album
is contemplative in nature, with ironic turns and smiles. Enjoy new
spiritual songs set to modern jazz, soul and rock traditions with lively
acoustic backgrounds. Upright Bass & Fretless Bass: Blake
Eberhard, Bass: Demetrios Masters, Drums, Djembe, Doumbek & Percussion: Kim
Masters, Mandolin & Backup Vocals: Kathryn Swezy, Electric Guitar: Andrew
Tren, Motif es8: Anna De Vlugt, Didgeridoo: Mark Swezy, Sax & Tin
Whistle: Izzy Forsyth, Acoustic Guitar & Vocals: Laura Larkins, Backup
Vocals & Keypad: Mike Flack & Mark Wiederwohl. Co-produced by
Laura Larkins and Mike Flack. Engineered by Mike Flack. Mixed
and Mastered at Maximum Joy! Studio, Northglenn, Colorado. Photograph:
Bill Bartnick. Cover Artwork & C. D. Duplication:
Tony@twmedia.com
Crazy Thing.
Begins with a paradigm shift in the natural world which we each may
experience at one time or another. The key is to survive. And
when you do, there can be a sensation of mind/body disconnect that feels
like levitation. Featuring upright bass solo.
REVIEWS:
...I think this is a good contrast to the
other songs. I am glad that the song kicked in at the 2:45 minute
mark, I know this was your vision for the song... artistic the way you
recorded it, which I think is cool! (Brady Bullock, 1/2 of
The10stringTHING and director of the Songwriters Workshop)
True Blue!
We sometimes cannot even put words to how Faithfulness breaks into our
bungled circumstances, but it feels as refreshing as the true blue of a
Colorado sky. Jazz Rock.
REVIEWS:
...Laura you have great songs and you're one
of the artists in high rotation on
www.musictogousa.com! (G. Foley)
Muddy River. Okay, I've
always been a little ornery, and this tune presents the underbelly of the
romantic river theme. Good Christian mums will want to cover the ears
of their little ones. With Mandolin.
REVIEWS:
... Laura, So nice to have you with us on Indieheaven. You have a very nice
voice! Keep up the excellent faith-work! (K. Mohr, President, Indieheaven)
Laura, Your music is a breath of fresh air! I love your voice and the mix of
instruments you use. NOT the same ole same ole pop stuff on the
radio... When does the NEXT album come out? (Susan)
Faith Like Peter.
My musical idol at age 10 was a neighbor who played guitar and wrote songs
at age 13. This is one song originally written by Bobi Muldrow, that I
continued to sing, and eventually asked if I might update it and record it
for commercial purposes. This is a song I can take anywhere and jam to
with a broad smile. Funky acoustic percussion.
REVIEWS:
... I love "Faith Like Peter", it has such a nice feel to it, the tune is great
and I like the message of the song. (Peter is one of my favorite people in
the bible...) Love your voice, sweet and smooth!!! Hope I get to
meet you one day... (S Scales)
...Faith Like Peter is awesome. Love
the jazz feel, creative lyrics and dynamic vocals. Can't wait to hear
more from you! (L. Collins)
Tree A Life.
A revisit to Eden means a turning away from things that are simply moral,
ethical or appearing religious, to eat from the Tree of Life, Who is living,
and vibrantly lengthening its roots and branches. Groovy Rock.
REVIEWS:
... You know I am a big fan... I love the music and the woman... Rock on Laura.
You are a blessing in my life! (Deb)
...10 seconds in and I like it already. Good
intro... great feel... I like the doubling of the vocals. (Brady
Bullock, 1/2 of The10stringTHING and director of the Songwriters Workshop)
The Wind Swept Down.
So I was literally writing this song on my lap in the car as I was driving
in the midst of a blizzard that eventually closed I-70 and forced me to
follow some truckers from Goodland, Kansas south so that I could make my
Step-mom's birthday on Valentines Day. I thought it would be too
country stylistically for me, but every time I played it for anyone, they
said it gave them chills. They thought it was beautiful, so here it is
~ Johnny Cash / Emmylou Harris style. With Mandolin.
REVIEWS:
... This song makes me feel at peace every time I hear it. It's the message of
the 23rd Psalm expressed in a song. I need music like this in my
hectic, chaotic life. (C Hafen)
...I think Wind Swept Down is an awesome song! It's one of my favorites of
Laura's songs! (B. Wassell)
...Great song! I'm a fan ... structure made
perfect sense and felt good the whole way down. I liked the b section and I
liked the swept down parts! (Brady Bullock, 1/2 of
The10stringTHING and director of the Songwriters Workshop)
Good, Good Shepherd.
Another of the fun groovin' acoustic jazz tunes on the album. I love
this little tune, and can carry him anywhere. Sweet vocal backups.
REVIEWS:
...cool groove ... good repetition of the
title and the verse melodies. I liked you keeping the energy up
throughout and building the bridge. (Brady Bullock, 1/2 of
The10stringTHING and director of the Songwriters Workshop)
My Defender.
Gospel set in traditional improv jazz swing combo style. Vocals soar!
Til We Have Faces. Shades of
Flannery O'Conner, scary movies at midnight, Brahms' Lullaby and Jack the
Knife.... this song inspired by the C. S. Lewis best seller, poses the
question; when it comes down to it, will we want God's justice or God's
love? Or do they have to be mutually exclusive? Nora Jones style
of piano drives this modern eerie lullaby. A quirky cry that may just
raise an eyebrow or two.
REVIEWS:
...music was fun and interesting through and
through ... felt good to listen to. Intricate lyrics that make me want
to listen again to get a better sense. (Brady Bullock, 1/2 of
The10stringTHING and director of the Songwriters Workshop)
Tenderly. The story of
Solomon's lover who poses the question" If you love me, then why, why take
me to the desert? If you are the healer, why, why do you inflict such
purposeful brokenness?" As an artist, there was such a long time when
I could not create, and the senselessness of my life washed over me, and I
had to choose to listen to the lover of my soul and to wait on him.
Hints of Andreas Bochelli's style of love song, with Mandolin.
REVIEWS:
... I listened to this song this morning, and
I'm glad I did. A lot of joy comes thru in that song, and I needed
that. Thanks (D Hallock)
Faithful & True. A song in
the Andreas Bochelli love song genre. The story is as old as humanity,
the betrayal of trust, when the buckle of love forces a victim to look to a
higher power Who, in this case, perpetually spins kindness through the pain.
Tho My Flesh. The grooviest
song of the collection, this tune proudly earns a position of less-than
grade for commercial advertising. Nothing we can offer, sell or buy
will save us. Alas, we are mortals! Deliverance belongs to God.
Beautiful Salvation.
Taken from St. Patrick's
prayer, the beginning of this song acknowledges how to know Christ in every
aspect of life. I found this profoundly revolutionary and singing it
rectifies a lot of my self-centered prayers. The song is antiphonally
sung, and so, it does not fit into the "pop: format at all. In fact, I
almost didn't include it because I felt it was fundamentally flawed.
But several people told me it was their favorite song I also don't
want to be disingenuous when I write or sing about healing. I have a
chronic illness that God has chosen to use rather than take away. My
healing, like my salvation, is progressive. Ultimately, I sit with
God, completely healed and glorified with him. It is this
understanding that is so revolutionary and beautiful to me.
REVIEWS:
...go laura! it is so fun to see what
God keeps putting together, your music, it is deep, rich, beautiful.
look forward to knowing more people will continue to get to enjoy :)
(k. escobar)
Peace. Peace can be sung as
a worship chorus. Christ has broken the curse of demise and death for
all who follow him. The title says it all. In Bassanova.
Yet R We. I Corinthians
13 states we see through a glass darkly, but then, face to face, and we will
know even as we are known. Romans 8 describes all creation as groaning
and suffering until it's redemption. This redemption has always been
my heart's yearning from when I was small, and this song is a prophetical
vision of what that moment might look like, in a Celtic flavor. David
Ruis' song "We will Dance" is foot-printed in the middle.
