Island Life Tour at The Venue - 7th Oct 2010

Students at Leeds College of Music got a real treat when Island Records latest signings came to the College to perform and answer some questions. Unfortunately Tinashe wasn’t able to make it due to a blown tire, which is a shame as having a quick listen on his Myspace he has seriously funky sound, part Plan B, part Arctic Monkeys.

Pete Lawrie is first up, and there is no denying a handsome streak running through him, the chiselled features of a model with brooding eyes and spackled stubble. The quality of his voice quickly draws attention back to his singing. He has a Bon Jovi tone to his voice, all gritty and masculine. His music is more refined though than simple rock, having a country air to it that gives it a natural folk feel. Throughout the Q and A session he comes across as sincere, polite to a fault and extremely likeable.

The second act is Tennessee born Lauren Prichard who has forsaken the obvious route of Country and Western music for an unashamedly pop sound. For such a tiny slip of a girl she has an almightily powerful voice, very similar to Joss Stone with all the range you would expect from any good diva. Her song ‘Not the Drinking’ is one of those tracks that as soon as you hear it you are hooked, singing along to the chorus instantly and getting everyone in the room head bobbing.  Considering the unusual setting she is obviously a great performer, at one point getting so lost in the song it’s obvious she was born to be on stage. 

Published in Yorkshire Evening Post