With a voice full of soul and emotion combined with a range of genre-blending instrumentals, Laura Cheadle is hard to miss. With her father James Cheadle being immersed in the Philly music scene, Laura was destined to follow the same path, now amassing a following throughout the city from her live performances with her family accompanying her as her band. Keep reading to hear about her songwriting process with emotions flowing, and how she has adapted her art to fit stay-at-home orders!
PPRG: Which track is a ‘must-listen’ for someone who hasn’t heard your music before?
Laura Cheadle: Wow, what a question! When I write music, I typically am madly in love with the most recent song I finished. However, this makes me think as to what defines me as an artist. I think I have to say a few: “Change (It’s Alright)” is a song that was co-written with my father, James Cheadle, and friend Nora Targonski. It holds a very powerful message about opening up to necessary shifts in life, without which, we can’t grow. I love the emotion it pulls out of me when I sing it, and the response it gets, so it’s definitely one I love singing live, and coming alive within this song.
My most recent album, “Chill,” featured an R&B track, “Reverberate,” that expresses that “groove” pocket where I love to sit, as well as the sultry lyrics I like to put in my love songs. We filmed a half-animated music video for it right here in Philadelphia, and I love its funky sound.
PPRG: You’ve held multiple live stream concerts on your social media recently, which have a different energy than a live performance. How do you think that will impact your future in-person performances?
LC: I am truly growing as a musician! Not only did I go from a five piece band to a solo act, but I set up my entire loft space with studio equipment that I learned to use, so it’s like a whole new world. It was challenging to adapt to playing solo again, and to find nuances within my playing that I never developed before. Now I’m planning to put some acoustic songs in the show. I am definitely looking forward to going back to touring with my band again, and I can’t wait to tell a live audience how much they mean to me. I miss that connection so much!
PPRG: Your career has skyrocketed recently! James Taylor reposting your cover on Instagram, becoming an Endorsed Artist for Traveler Guitar, and having your song “Hey There Devil” featured on a television show (FreeForm’s Good Trouble) are all huge accomplishments! How did it feel for you during these experiences?
LC: These experiences blew my mind– I feel they were manifestations! James Taylor is one of my favorite artists of all time, and he shared my video after I had put his name down on a vision board. I also played Traveler Guitars for YEARS and had taken photos with the guitars before my manager, Sherry Marcus, got in contact with them to make me an official Brand Ambassador. Representing them at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) was a phenomenal experience, and I’m very proud to have their affiliation and endorsement. The TV music placement was the cherry on top!
Before the quarantine hit, my manager and I laid down a lot of groundwork for what’s coming next, as I stay aligned and positive, like gearing up for a new album!
PPRG: You’ve described your music as something “you can feel in your heart” and as having “lyrics that speak to your soul.” What processes and emotions during your songwriting fuel these lyrics?
LC: When I write, I write what I am feeling in that moment. I am a true Pisces; a dreamer in every sense of the word. If I am not feeling a song, it doesn’t feel right to sing. I do enjoy co-writing as well, but the lyrics must be aligned with how I originally started writing the song. A perfect example of this is my newest song, “Spend My Days,”(the performance video is on my social media!). I wrote the guitar parts months before the lyrics. One night, around 2am, I went into my music loft and wrote the first verse and chorus. The lyrics spoke to my soul as if it was always meant to be sung from my lips. This song is about being with someone different than you, but it just seems to work. A few weeks later, my manager Sherry came over, and she finished the lyrics for me. Yet there was no disconnect in the lyrics; we managed to align and the lyrics spoke to me.
PPRG: Besides your family, which performer has been your favorite to share the stage with?
LC: I have been blessed to perform with many great artists. The one that comes to my mind immediately is Peter Tork of The MONKEES. Sadly, Peter passed away, but this memory will always remain in my heart. I opened for Peter a few years ago and he was so warm and welcoming. He watched our soundcheck and applauded, even inviting us into his backstage area to chat. By the end of the concert, he invited my entire family band, (including my starstruck mother) to sing “Daydream Believer” and “Mojo Workin” on stage with him! This was a moment I will never ever forget. To this day, his team still posts about me often on social media. I am forever grateful.
PPRG: How has Philadelphia’s culture shaped your sound and approach to music?
LC: Philadelphia is in my soul. My father James, who is my music director, played for Philadelphia International in the Gamble & Huff Days. He was part of the Philly International infamous hit-making scene, and has also recorded with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Don Cornell, The Four Aces, Grover Washington Jr., The Soul Survivors, and so many more. Growing up with a Philly-influenced father, and starting to perform when I was very young, I was destined to have that Philadelphia sound in my heart and in my music. My song, “Higher Place” is a song I wrote with him that features that authentic Philadelphia sound. Every time I play the song live in Philly, the crowd goes wild!
PPRG: Are there any Philly artists who have influenced you?
LC: Absolutely. Jill Scott, is such a truly original artist– from her music and presentation to her ingenious “Who is Jill Scott?” campaign all over the city before the days of social media. Everything about her artistry inspired me; she wasn’t just talented, she was smart, and that’s such an important piece of this industry. She also had a beautiful rapport with her band on stage; there was always a mutual respect there. Erykah Badu definitely made an impression on me. And it’s impossible not to have been influenced by Patti LaBelle, for the raw emotion and fearlessness she brings, especially with range. Stevie Wonder is not from Philly, but no one has inspired me more, so I need to credit him too. Overall, I think the whole attitude and energy of my music and brand is very “Philadelphia,” and that always makes me smile and feel proud!
PPRG: What’s coming next for you and your music?
LC: Lately, figuring out what’s next has left us without a clear direction. Figuring out ways to keep playing music and singing is my job and goal. So with all the live venues closed, we’re doing a livestream from Swedesboro Recording Studio with a formal theme: a Saturday night, special occasion, dress-up show. I want the audience to feel like they came to a concert in an intimate club, and we’re creating a lot of new material for it. Thankfully, now that some of the restrictions have lifted, my dad can play piano and keyboards with me. I’m so much more excited than I ever thought was possible!
Tune into Laura’s live stream this Saturday at 7 p.m. on Facebook, and check her out on Instagram and her website.
