JIMMY RAE IS LIVE WITH LAURA CHEADLE “THE REAL DEAL FUNK-SOUL DIVA EXTRAORDINAIRE”

I got a chance recently to talk with an incredibly talented artist from Jersey whose infectious music & spirit will captivate you. Laura sings from the heart ALWAYS and performs in such a soulful & energetic manner.  Besides being a funky fresh, jeans-wearing singer/songwriter, Cheadle also prides herself as being a devoted humanitarian.

Laura has played for a ton of charity events and her most recent project includes working with the American Foundation for Children with AIDS.  Laura was even kind enough to offer Skope readers the exclusive video & MP3 for “Change (It’s Alright)”, which is solely dedicated toward bringing awareness to this AIDS charity. I’ve had a chance to listen to the track and witness the video myself and must say that this is amazing work done by Laura Cheadle.  The video and song to “Change (It’s Alright)” makes you realize how special Laura is not just as an artist but also as a person.  Enjoy the talk with this young lady who sets to inspire everyone she comes into contact with through her music. 

Jimmy Rae:  Let’s talk about your latest album, Live On, first; what kind of response has the record been getting?

Laura Cheadle: Oh, wow. The response to my latest album, “Live On”, has been INCREDIBLE! It has received so many amazing press reviews from Skope, Jersey Beat Magazine and Philadelphia Examiner to name a few.  At every show, Live On has been selling extremely well.  I have also been selling so many on Itunes, Amazon and Rhapsody! It is such an amazing feeling to have such a great response to something I put my heart and soul into.

Jimmy Rae:  As far as ‘Live On’ goes, what are you most proud of?

Laura Cheadle: I am most proud of how the songs, recording and my vocals came out.  In particular, I adore how my song “In the AM” came out. It was recorded with only me on acoustic guitar and my drummer and my father on acoustic bass.  I also did the vocals in one take.  I can listen to that song over and over again and feel it’s so easy on the ears.

Jimmy Rae:  You blend rock, soul, funk, pop, jazz & blues together in such a cool fashion.  Just from a listening standpoint, I feel that the audience can really connect with you.  Connecting with your fans/listeners; is that high priority for you?  When making an album like Live On, how much thought goes into that aspect?

Laura Cheadle: I honestly just stay true to myself and never try to write something just to write it. I always write, record and sing from the heart and for what feels right to me. I think my fans and listeners appreciate how genuine the music is.

Jimmy Rae:  Going off of that, you appear to be a down-to-earth young woman that would kick it with anyone.  Would you say this is a huge factor why people might attract to you & your music?  And feel free to tell us more about the laid-back side of Laura Cheadle.  What do you do to unwind?

Laura Cheadle: Haha–Yes, I am very laid back and an open-minded person. I think to be a creative person; you are just born that way and open to new experiences that inspire you to write. On stage, however, I am super Laura as I dance and sing my heart out.  I unwind by going to jazz clubs and taking in the music. I love also just playing my guitar by the ocean.

MP3: “Constantly”

SKOPE IT HERE!

Jimmy Rae:  I see you’re a Jersey girl currently living in the Philadelphia area; what was it like growing up in Jersey and how is the Philly area workin’ out for you?  As a NY native myself, funny that us NYers have ALWAYS referred to New Jersey as Jersey—what’s up with that?   And I have to know what you think about the new reality show, Jersey Shore?  Seems to me that there are so many low-quality reality TV shows being made today.  Creativity & originality seems to be out the window when it comes to making new shows, but the public seems to eat it all up.  So if anyone is at fault here, would it be the television writers for providing garbage material or the American public for consuming it? 

Laura Cheadle: Well, I am actually a JERSEY girl and do not live in Philadelphia.  I am so close to Philadelphia though so I state that I am in the Philadelphia area.  Once a Jersey girl, always a Jersey girl!   I think Jersey shore is entertaining and it doesn’t bother me at all. They aren’t even from New Jersey, they are from NY! They are who they are.  We can only be who we are.  I don’t think it’s neither the television writers nor the public’s fault. I think there is plenty of intellectual television out there (which I watch) and then there is everyone’s guilty pleasure too!

“Change” (It’s Alright) Video:

SKOPE IT HERE!

“Change” (It’s Alright) MP3:

SKOPE IT HERE!

Jimmy Rae:  I’m just so glad that artists like yourself consistently offer original & creative material.  Indie artists/bands bring so much talent to the table and I feel Indie music will give Popular/Mainstream music a run for its money very soon.  I have heard so many times from artists and I also believe that Indie Music is the wave of the future.  How do you feel about this?

Laura Cheadle: I think the independent music scene is amazing.  It really comes down to reaching an audience and them reacting to your music.  Personally, I have been having the time of my life meeting people, packing shows, selling CDs and creating music that is 100% true to me.  Independent artists always hope for a record deal to push their career farther and I think if we already have the fan base from being independent, it will become easier for us to be signed and not have to compromise ourselves or music.

Jimmy Rae:  I see that you’ve had the opportunity to open up for some pretty big bands/artists already such as: The Jonas Brothers, Sister Hazel, Spin Doctors and Constantine Maroulis.  First, I have to ask you this and that is who is your favorite Jonas Brother?  Come on now Laura, I know that you are secretly their #1 fan, so don’t hold back on us!  LoL
On a serious note, what was it like opening up for these groups and how did you get that spot?

Laura Cheadle: Haha–Oh man, I wouldn’t even know who my favorite Jonas Brother is. I only met them at the show I opened–haha. I’ll just say all of them. It was a lot of fun opening for them as they were all so sweet.  I honestly just received phone calls to open for the artists you mentioned above and of course I said yes.  I am very big into networking with people and putting my name out there. I believe that if you put yourself out there in a positive way, you will receive a positive response.

Jimmy Rae:  Does your fan base mainly consist of people on the East Coast?  Do you plan to promote Live On in other states and possibly overseas? 

Laura Cheadle: Although I do have an amazing East Coast following, my fan base does not rest there. I have over 53,000 fans on my social networking sites from all over the U.S. and overseas. My music is currently being played in Japan, Germany, UK, England and Australia on several radio stations. I would LOVE to travel overseas and may be soon!

Jimmy Rae:  I’ve heard through the grapevine that you put on one hell of a show.  I’ve also heard that you put so much energy into each & every live event.  Tell me this, if I were to come to one of your concerts what would I experience and what would I get out of Laura Cheadle playing live?

Laura Cheadle: I will tell you this much: You will NOT see me sitting on a chair strumming my guitar the entire time.  I am constantly engaging the crowd with my dancing and singing.  My band is made up of remarkable musicians including my father James Cheadle, my brother Jimmy Lee Cheadle and my drummer Paul Galonsky. They are seasoned musicians who will light your body on fire with talent! I get the entire crowd dancing with me and it’s such a great time! I have been known to start 100+ people dance parties at my events.

Jimmy Rae:  I see that you’re heavily active with performing benefit concerts, which is just awesome first off.  I commend you for that.  Do you plan on organizing any benefit shows in light of the tragedies that have hit Haiti recently?  I feel so terrible for those people in Haiti and my heart & prayers go out to all of them.  If there was anything I could do to help, I would do it in a heartbeat.  Going off of that, something on my mind though that has really bothered me lately and I’d love to get your insight on this.  Recently, I’ve seen so many high-class celebs come on TV and ask us for donations to help out in Haiti.  Great cause of course, but don’t you think these over-priced celebs with their fancy houses & cars could solve these problems alone by themselves?  It seems to be that these “celebrities” should step up to the plate with their multi-million/billion dollar bank accounts and say to the American Public, “Don’t worry people, we got this”.  I truly believe that so many problems could be resolved this way.  I would have so much more respect for these people if that were to happen.  But instead, they come on TV and go online and ask for money from a society that is in a recession, a public that is tapped out financially and an American society that has seen unemployment rates sky rocket.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d give what I ever can to help human beings in need because it’s always the right thing to do.  I’m just sayin’, I think certain individuals hold a heavier burden when it comes to their financial status.  I hope that Haiti and its people get all the help they need from EVERYONE on this earth.  What are your thoughts on this?

Laura Cheadle: I will be performing a Haiti benefit concert in late February at Princeton High School in Princeton, NJ. All proceeds will benefit Haiti and all my CD sales will go towards Haiti. I am extremely passionate about charity work and benefit concerts and will do anything I can. In the past, I have performed over 50 benefit concerts for Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer and more.  I also perform for an organization called Musicians on Call where I perform at sick individual’s hospital bed sides to try and brighten up their day.  It is always such surreal feelings to see how sick these people are and how music can brighten their day. I just partnered with ShareTheMic, which is an organization that partners independent musicians with a charity. I am now representing American Foundation for Children with AIDS where I will be raising awareness.  My fans will be able to donate on my behalf for this amazing cause.  Two million African Children are HIV+ or have AIDS and are in dire need of medication and food.  I will do anything I can to help and just filmed a music video for my song “Change (It’s Alright)” that will be featuring clips of the children in Africa. It will include all information on how to donate on my behalf.  You can also stay updated my web sites www.lauracheadle.com, www.myspace.com/lauracheadle www.facebook.com/lauracheadle and www.twitter.com/lauracheadle.

I think the celebrities are helping to get people to call in and donate and are using their name to encourage the world. If I were a celebrity, I would be on the shows trying to get people to call in. If I were a celebrity, I would donate as much as I could.

Jimmy Rae:  I see you’re playing a big Birthday Bash show at the Crash Mansion in NYC on Feb. 6.  In advance, I’d like to wish you a Happy Birthday.  So, how excited are you about this event?  Please tell the Skope readers why, if you’re in the NYC area on Feb. 6, you shouldn’t be anywhere else but the Crash Mansion at 9 PM?  Any other big plans for your birthday?

Laura Cheadle:  I am PUMPED for the event.   My actual birthday isn’t until February 20th so it will be a month long birthday for me as I’m having another birthday bash February 13th in Mullica Hill, NJ at Stir It Up Coffee House.

For all of those in the NYC area on Feb 6th, be prepared for one heck of a show! It’s going to be a huge celebration with an OPEN BAR  9-10pm then $2 shot/$4 beer/$5 mixed drink specials all night. I have an incredible high energy set planned for it and it’s just going to be a big party. The Crash Mansion is HUGE and the perfect place to celebrate.  There is also a theme for the night called “Funky Formal” If you would like (not required to), you can dress to impress in your wackiest formal wear and receive $1 shots. There are some other great acts performing that night as well. The whole event is going to be filmed and it’s just going to be a blast. I’d love to celebrate and hang with everyone! www.crashmansion.com . As for my actual birthday on 2/20, I will be at a jazz club enjoying myself with my closest friends.

Jimmy Rae:  I’d like to give you this time to tell all the readers about all of your new & exciting products for sale now on Skope!  Everything from signed CD’s to Funky T-shirts, give ‘em the low down Laura!

Laura Cheadle: Hey! You will receive my FREE LIVE CD with the purchase of my debut album Falling In, my Christmas Album, my WANNA FUNK T-SHIRT or my latest album “Live On”! The first people to order will receive them all signed! You can read all the fabulous reviews on all these albums at http://www.lauracheadle.com/press.php I would love your support!

By Jimmy Rae (jrae@skopemag.com)