lau.ra

Musician — London

01Profile

A lau.ra Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Laura Bettinson, aka lau.ra DJ, producer and vocalist, born in the Midlands but living in London.

Describe your style in three words?
'80s, Slouchy, Shiny.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Watching Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at Coachella in 2012 when the Tupac hologram came out. I've never felt such a powerful wave of energy run through such a massive crowd of people.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
Kraftwerk and Talking Heads. Because I would've loved to have seen them play live.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Pop art. Punk. '90s Rave.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Prince, I wouldn't even want to talk to him really. Just watch him work for an hour in the studio and drink in a little bit of his genius.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
There used to be this great venue in London Bridge called Shunt. It was a nightclub slash performance art space and we used to get lost and have some really weird nights there when I first moved to London. Sadly it doesn't exist anymore.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Delia Derbyshire, we were both born in the same city (Coventry) and she carried out pioneering work with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop during the 1960s. A musician and composer of electronic music said to have influenced producers such as Aphex Twin and The Chemical Brothers.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Saturday Night' by Whigfield. Six year old me bought this on cassette from Our Price with my pocket money and wore the thing out.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Heartbroken' by T2. A bang bang banger. Still.

One record you would keep forever?
'Archangel' by Burial. Emotional electronic music with a garage flavour. My favourite. 

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Finally' by Kings of Tomorrow. One of the best vocals in dance music ever written. 

A song you wished you had written?
'Born Slippy' by Underworld. Doesn't get better than this.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Flat Beat' by Mr. Oizo.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Soothing instrumental piano music from The Vernon Spring. There's nothing not to like here.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Wildfire' by SBTRKT.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Weak Become Heroes' by The Streets.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
A few of my favourite new producers in electronic music right now, Nightwave, Meg Ward, Emily Nash and India Jordan.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Laura Bettinson, aka lau.ra DJ, producer and vocalist, born in the Midlands but living in London.

Describe your style in three words?
'80s, Slouchy, Shiny.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Watching Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at Coachella in 2012 when the Tupac hologram came out. I've never felt such a powerful wave of energy run through such a massive crowd of people.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
Kraftwerk and Talking Heads. Because I would've loved to have seen them play live.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Pop art. Punk. '90s Rave.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Prince, I wouldn't even want to talk to him really. Just watch him work for an hour in the studio and drink in a little bit of his genius.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
There used to be this great venue in London Bridge called Shunt. It was a nightclub slash performance art space and we used to get lost and have some really weird nights there when I first moved to London. Sadly it doesn't exist anymore.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Delia Derbyshire, we were both born in the same city (Coventry) and she carried out pioneering work with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop during the 1960s. A musician and composer of electronic music said to have influenced producers such as Aphex Twin and The Chemical Brothers.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Saturday Night' by Whigfield. Six year old me bought this on cassette from Our Price with my pocket money and wore the thing out.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Heartbroken' by T2. A bang bang banger. Still.

One record you would keep forever?
'Archangel' by Burial. Emotional electronic music with a garage flavour. My favourite. 

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Finally' by Kings of Tomorrow. One of the best vocals in dance music ever written. 

A song you wished you had written?
'Born Slippy' by Underworld. Doesn't get better than this.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Flat Beat' by Mr. Oizo.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Soothing instrumental piano music from The Vernon Spring. There's nothing not to like here.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Wildfire' by SBTRKT.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Weak Become Heroes' by The Streets.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
A few of my favourite new producers in electronic music right now, Nightwave, Meg Ward, Emily Nash and India Jordan.

 

05Videos

lau.ra - 'Don't Waste My Time'

lau.ra X Eliza Legzdina - 'Wicked'