Instrumentation:
voice, guitar, banjo, mandolins, violin, cittern, bodhran, jouhikko
Biography
Laurel Premo shares a music full of life that draws from Appalachian, Scandinavian, Folk and Blues roots. From haunting old ballads to feverish instrumental compositions, her music is made for all ears. Laurel plays a variety of instruments, including claw hammer banjo, guitar, violin, cittern and voice, with an emphasis on rhythm and a connection to traditional folk dance.
Laurel was raised in the woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and is earning a degree from University of Michigan School of Music, studying Performing Arts Technology with an emphasis on multimedia art forms. In 2008 she studied traditional Finnish music at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, adding to her already rich blend of musical influences. Laurel has two solo albums, Stung by the Nettle (2009) and Innertwine (2008), and has supported many other artists on recording projects.
"In a time where MySpace is lowering the
standard and expectations of what an artist
should be, Laurel shows that taking the time
to develop talent, songwriting, musicianship,
and a message is still the most important thing
in being a real artist!"
-PJ Olsson, CBS Records Recording Artist
Laurel began her musical career at age 7 with the folk
and traditional group White Water, and performed
about 70 concerts each year, including venues such as
The Ark in Ann Arbor Michigan, and the
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in Finland.
In 2007 Laurel's composition "River Run High" reached the quarter finals in the International Songwriting Competition, in a pool of 14,000 entries.
"I feel a great hunger to learn and to dig. My greatest inspirations are the oldest tunes, with melody and lyric that will ring and haunt for centureis more. I've got my steeltoes on, ready to stomp out a tune with the ancestors." -Laurel Premo
Education
As a student in the Performing Arts Technology
Dept. of the University of Michigan School of Music,
Laurel works with digital audio in composition and
recording, and studies art. Her artistic education and interests include work with screenprinting, fibers, animation, metals, digital video, and graphic design.
Many alternative music educations have helped shaped Laurel's wide interests, including the following:
In fall 2008, Laurel attended the Sibelius Academy of Music in Helsinki, Finland. Living directly in the finnish culture, she studied language, dance, and traditional music, with an emphasis on Scandinavian fiddling.
In 2001, Laurel was awarded a Youth Scholarship for promising young folk musicians at "The Swannanoa Gathering" in Asheville, North Carolina where she spent a week studying under renowned guitar players. She attended the Gathering again in the summer of 2006.
In summer 2005 Laurel attended the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts in order to study Celtic fiddle, step dance, and bodhran.
Laurel played viola with the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and Marquette Symphony Orchestra from 2001-2006. In June 2005, Laurel toured Scotland and England as a viola soloist and member of the Negaunee High School Orchestra. Laurel participated in the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association solo and ensemble competition during high school with flute and viola and in 2004 and 2006 was selected in the top 100 high school musicians in Michigan.