Not many artists are brave enough to put out their debut LP as a concept album, but that’s what Laura Veirs did with ‘The Triumphs and Travails of Orphan Mae’. Her rise to fame came with 2004’s Carbon Glacier, the first of four records steeped in and themed on, nature. Carbon Glacier was earth, Year of Meteors was sky, Saltbreakers was sea and July Flame was...guess what? Fire. We begin our conversation for The Art of Longevity with fire and the epic perfection of July Flame.
About a decade ago one of my favourite bands, Spoon was written up as the ‘best band in the world’ by The Guardian (Dave Simpson) based on their critical reviews. If we applied the same thinking to Laura Veirs, then she would probably be regarded as the greatest solo artist in the world. Her work is revered by critics (and fans of course!). There’s no such thing as a critical review for any of her 11 albums. But how does Laura measure her own success? The answer is, she doesn’t stop to think about it, much. Instead, as one project gets done, she’s into the next. A prolific songwriter and increasingly accomplished musician, Laura is constantly moving forward with all the restless energy of a fast flowing river.
Perhaps it’s because her albums really are like statements of parts of her life. Not many artists are brave enough to put out their first LP as a concept album, but that’s what her debut The Triumphs and Travails of Orphan Mae (2001) was. Her rise to fame came with 2004’s Carbon Glacier, the first of four records steeped in and themed on, nature. Carbon Glacier was earth, Year of Meteors was sky, Saltbreakers was sea and July Flame was...guess what? Fire. If you have never heard July Flame, you’ve been missing something truly special. But here’s the thing...Laura Veirs made her masterpiece in the aftermath of being dropped by a major label (Nonesuch, despite two very decent - and critically revered - albums, with them). And it sold better than anything she’d released up to that point.
Sometimes creative peaks are met with commercial peaks and when that happens, the world opens up to artists. It was the beginning of a fruitful independent career with a successful album of children’s music Tumble Bee right after July Flame (still brave then). For Laura Veirs the album is the thing - the perfect expression of music as an art form - at least on vinyl. Each album she makes is a complete work, hence those rapturous reviews. The trials of Orphan Mae was a bold opening act, but for Laura Veirs the journey continues…continually brave...album by album, and the song economy be damned!
We’re with her all the way.
Lookout for our forthcoming artist retrospective on Laura but for now, listen in on what makes her tick and how we might have even nudged her into the next project. Whatever it is - it will be four or five stars in all the papers.