Laura Brino, an American singer-songwriter, showcases her promising musical talent with her latest album, Cactus Moon, characterized by sensitive, honest, and vulnerable compositions, outstanding pop sensibility, and catchy refrains. The album's 13 indie pop tunes explore generational trauma, blending pop, rock, and folk elements with poignant lyrics and memorable refrains, delivering a unique and attentive listening experience.
We sat down with Laura Brino to discuss her music and much more. Here is what she had to say:
Hey Laura Brino, welcome to FLEX! How are you?
I am so great and exhausted! It’s been quite a month. Thank you so much for having me.
Congratulations on your brand-new album 'Cactus Moon' - what inspired this particular project?
This project was really inspired by the traumatic birth of my second daughter and the years that followed. Over the next few years, I struggled with PTSD, lost someone to suicide, navigated motherhood through a global pandemic, and really dug into the idea of breaking generational trauma. It was heavy! When I found my way back to music, it truly helped me process those years and heal a lot of wounds.
And do you have to be in a certain mood to write?
Often times it can be much easier to write about the hard stuff than the happy stuff. Over the years, I have gone through very prolific periods. As a mother to young children I found it really hard to find the time and space to write, so in a way, I shut that part of me off. When I realized that I could do that differently, it truly opened the floodgates, and my writing poured out of me. I have always felt that I channel when I write-whether it is about my own experience or the experiences and stories that I’ve absorbed from people around me.
How was the recording and writing process?
This record was super unique because I began writing these songs while I was finishing up recording my last album, No More Surprises. I had tapped into writing on my phone and using GarageBand and my little headphones to record while I put my kids to bed every night. What started as a desperate move to connect to my music became a nightly habit. My girls would fall asleep in my arms and I would spend the next hour or two just recordings and writing. In fact- most of these early demos have the sounds of my kids’ sound machine and even them snoring. I would send the demos to my producer and then get in the studio to cut the vocals and guitar and piano parts. We brought in some really talented session musicians for this album, while still keeping quite a bit of the synth work that I did from the bed.
For viewers who don't know Laura Brino, how would you describe your sound?
My sound has definitely continued to evolve. I began as a folk singer-songwriter- recording songs as you would hear them live. As I’ve gotten older and less able to tour and play live, due to motherhood, I’ve become much more interested in experimenting with sound in recording. This newest album definitely has far more folk-pop qualities to it than my last Americana album. It’s a healthy mix of songs that get you singing along and tapping your foot and songs that make you curl up and cry.
And what are some of those activities that you engage yourself in when you aren't writing or recording in the studio?
Outside of music, I am a mom, wife, and visual artist. My kids take up most of my time, and I love looking at the world through their eyes. I began a homeschool curriculum for them called Wildhearts Academy that really allows them to connect with nature and art which has been equally rewarding for me. As an art school dropout, I still love painting and truly use my painting time as meditation time- and as a way to heal. I began a painting series called the Cactus Project as a way to help women heal following traumatic births. Outside of all of this, I cherish the time with my husband- going on hikes, watching documentaries, and getting out of town on road trips.