
In the world of artistry and entertainment, it’s often easier to put on
a fake face of the perfect persona than it is to let down one's guard
and become vulnerable. Though singer/songwriter/piano player Lara
Landon realizes she’d probably come across like more of a star if she’d
act like every angle of her life was in order, the faith-based
tunesmith refuses to veil fragile emotions or lie about her heart’s
condition on the debut disc Beloved. Chalk up that integrity to
unbreakable family bonds, influenced by her father’s roots in Jordan
and mother’s Sicilian bloodline, both of which always stood for
honesty, humility and a hard working essence in all aspects of life.
No
wonder why the youthful but wiser beyond her years Landon has always
stood for creative excellence, even in the days before realizing a
God-ordained path as a performer. Whether it was scoring the lead role
of “Annie” in a college production at a mere nine years old, talking
vocal lessons shortly thereafter or soliciting a demo around to record
executives at fourteen, the hopeful’s always had an unbreakable spirit.
But that’s not to say she hasn’t had stumbling blocks along the way,
most notably a bout with depression and anxiety throughout adolescence,
plus complete dismay with the massive music industry a few years later
when studying at the arts oriented Belmont University.
“I’ve
always been a big fan of reading biographies of other artists and
seeing how they went from rags to riches or from nothing to singing in
stadiums,” says Landon, citing an astute influence pool who thrived
amidst their personal hardships, including Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan,
Tracy Chapman, Billie Holiday and Johnny Cash. “I’ve always rooted for
the underdog and feel like my music can really encourage people who
might have felt passed over at some point. It’s a platform I want to
take because God can take you right where you are, call you Beloved and
lift you up.”
Indeed, Beloved is more than just an album title,
but the mark of a personal journey that led Landon to music executive
and Essential Records founder Robert Beeson and a record deal with his
new Nashville-based label Bema Media – home to such artists as The
Rubyz, Mission Six and Manic Drive. However, long before signing the
dotted line, the relative newcomer could see God’s flawless plan
working through her less than stellar circumstances.
“I remember
being at Belmont interning at an online radio show while trying to
pursue my music career and there was a band called MIKESCHAIR that was
getting really big around campus,” Landon recalls. “I asked the guys
who their manager was and they told me about Jeremy Lee, who manages
and is married to Plumb. I called him out of the blue and asked if I
could come to his office to pick his brain. I was really nervous and
scared meeting a big time manager, but I had the courage to tell him I
had a show coming up downtown and asked him to come see me.”
And
sure enough on a date night with his wife, Lee and a pregnant Plumb
caught Landon perform at an intimate writer’s night and walked away as
instant fans. In fact, a few weeks later in that same type of setting,
they brought back longtime pal Beeson, who not only found a similar
type of magnetic musical attraction, but quickly became a mentor to the
burgeoning troubadour.
“He started listening to my songs and
giving them little tweaks, like saying ‘this one’s just okay so spice
it up’ or ‘this one’s missing tension so add some drama,’” confirms
Landon.
No sooner had the ink dried than Landon found herself in
the studio with A-list producer Michael Omartian (Amy Grant, Chicago,
Rod Stewart, The Jackson’s, Whitney Houston), who began the Beloved
recording process. “Michael’s cool because he is a legend, but really
humble and down to earth,” she explains. “He puts you at ease
immediately and felt more like a dad than a producer, often comparing
me to his daughter, which made the sessions feel really special since
the beginning. Recording with him was different than most producers
these days because he also had renowned engineer Terry Christian, which
allowed him to focus completely on the creative side, rather than
having to worry about technical aspects as well.”
Outside of his
Grammy-Award winning talents behind the boards, the collection also
features the occasional co-write with Omartian, plus Sonicflood
hit-maker and solo star Jason Ingram. At first the concept of teaming
up with others for her deeply expository lyrics seemed like a foreign
concept, but in the end, Landon realized it was a valuable part of the
refining process.
“I was a little reluctant because my songs are
so precious and personal to me, but I realized teaming up with someone
else on occasion could provide a fresh view,” she suggests of the
switch between several individual and a handful of combined credits.
“And now when I listen back to Beloved, it sounds like my journals set
to music, which means the subject matter won’t be all perfect, happy or
wonderful. I’m dealing with stuff that’s harder to accept and I get
pretty deep and sometimes a little dark.”
As a result, the tunes
contained therein fall somewhere along the stylistic plane of Plumb,
electronic innovator Imogen Heap, plus piano siren Tori Amos, wrapped
around the epic and cinematic appeal of musical theatre. The swelling
title track is a stirring example of an epiphany moment in Landon’s
life where she chronicles the Lord’s unconditional guidance over her
life, which simultaneously serves to directly combat insecurities and
inferior feelings on any plane. The ingeniously programmed “Lift Me Up”
adds a gloriously chilling effect across a tender prayer of
perseverance, while the gorgeous vocal radiance and pearly chord
progressions throughout “Closer” indicate an imperfect believer in
route to greater holiness. Yet the lead single “Presence of Love” is
perhaps the textbook tune to display Landon’s many musical gifts,
coupled with a remarkably relatable message.
“It sounds the most
poppy and lighthearted, but discusses the deeper topic of how hard it
is to be filled and think in the presence of God’s love,” she suggests.
“I often times think ‘how can I grasp and realize that?’ and I want
people to be encouraged by that song and long for what God's presence
feels like without being afraid or intimidated.”
With the
project poised to hit streets in September 2009, Landon is gearing up
for greater visibility on the road where she’s thus far been an
approachable interacter who faithfully follows up with her fans
throughout an extensive online community. And she’s quick to point out
that her fervent series of MySpace messages and emails isn’t some sort
of gimmick or means of casual chit-chat, but an actual investment into
the lives of her listeners.
“I’m the kind of person you can talk
to who’s actually reachable and responsive,” she sums up. “I’m here to
tell people that nothing can separate them from God's love, He likes
you, He's fond of you and you are worth everything to Him. God likes
your personality and your individuality, even if you might not fit into
the crowd, and you don’t have to change that to be a Christian because
He likes the variety!” ..