INTERVIEW: Rocker Laura Cox is ‘Burning Bright’ on her new album
Photo: Laura Cox’s new album is called Burning Bright. Photo courtesy of the artist / Provided by Atom Splitter PR with permission.
There’s no denying it: rock ‘n’ roll guitarist Laura Cox is on “Fire Fire,” and, appropriately enough, that is also the title of her latest single. The musical phenom is showcasing “Fire Fire” off her new album, Burning Bright, which releases Nov. 8.
Cox’s new recording came to life at ICP studios, with the help of producer Howie Weinberg, who once worked with Aerosmith, Oasis and The White Stripes. The 10-song album features such tunes as “Bad Luck Blues,” “Looking Upside Down,” “Freaking Out Loud” and “Letters to the Other Side.” It follows off her last album, Hard Blues Shot.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Cox about Burning Bright. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What can your fans expect from the new album Burning Bright?
They can expect a more personal album than the previous one Hard Blues Shot. We worked on our sound. The lyrics part meant more to me, [and] we got better as musicians, too. I definitely felt more comfortable during the recording of Burning Bright because it reflects who we are now. You can hear an evolution, and that’s what I like about it.
In one hand, some songs are really soft with cool atmospheres, sometimes a little country (‘Looking Upside Down,’ ‘Letters to the Other Side’). And in the other, we wrote harder songs (‘Fire Fire,’ ‘As I Am’). There are less ‘in between’ songs.
When did you realize it was time to record a new album?
I realized it a while ago, but it took some time to write new songs, mostly because we tour a lot and we considered live shows were our priority at that time. We finally got to record our second album last January, and it will be out almost a year after that, on Nov. 8. I’m really impatient and can’t wait to share this new album with you!
When did you first fall in love with the guitar?
I discovered the guitar little by little during childhood. First, thanks to my father, who used to listen to country classics (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson) and rock classics (Dire Straits, AC/DC). I didn’t play guitar at that time (nobody plays music in my family). I really became [interested] in playing rock music when I was in high school. Some friends motivated me to pick up the guitar, and that’s when I really started playing and, most importantly, taking lessons. I had the chance to have a great teacher, and it helped me a lot.
Who were some of your musical influences growing up?
When I started playing, my idols were Slash, Mark Knopfler and Joe Bonamassa. I think these three guitarists played a big part in my education! Slash had that rock and raw tone. Mark Knopfler had that fingerstyle playing that obsessed me, and Joe Bonamassa was just perfection. I was inspired by that, and part of my playing comes from these guitar heroes.
Now I’m more into bands than guitarists themselves. I like to listen to music as a whole. I don’t have the same vision than before. I like listening to songs, more than solos.
What’s on the horizon beyond the release of Burning Bright?
We’ll keep on touring in France and in Europe! I can’t wait to meet fans and hear what they think about Burning Bright. We’re hoping to come to the U.S. next year.
Then, we’ll soon be working on our third album. We have some new riffs in mind, and we’re starting to write new songs. That’s really exciting for me.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Laura Cox’s new album is called Burning Bright. Click here for more information.
