Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Jane Jones.
Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Yes, I will try! But being brief is hard because the story in long.
I have been singing my whole life since I was like 3 years old, subsequently working through my teen years and then studying musical theatre at the Boston Conservatory of Music and then graduating with a BFA in theatre arts at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I worked doing some regional musical theatre and then journey out to Los Angeles. Within a year of being in Los Angeles, I got a record deal, got an agent, and things seemed to be going well. But this business always has a clever way of throwing some interesting curve balls. We got dropped from the label, and I started singing background for major artists. I was always really good at singing harmony. One of my first gigs with singing with Aliyah on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Since then, I have sung, recorded, and performed with some huge names in the business such as Enrique Iglesias, Aerosmith, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Fantastic Negrito, Vintage Trouble, Teena Marie, Katharine Mcphee, Dave Matthews Band, Cheap Trick, Ceelo, The Black Eyed Peas, 50 cent, Yolanda Adams, Carrie Underwood, Bret McKenzie and the list goes on and on. I have performed on almost every music-related television show, including the Academy Awards (2020 and 2023) the Grammy’s, the Latin Grammy’s, The American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, the Echo Awards, NRJ Awards, BBC, MTV India, American Idol, The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, America’s Got Talent, The Tonight with Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon, almost every single music related show on Univison and Telemundo and many many more.
I have sung on movie and television soundtracks such as Dora and The Lost City of Gold, Bad Boys for Life, Sex and the City 2, Letter’s to Juliet, We Will Rise, The Get Down, the Neighbors, American Housewife, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Death in Paradise, Little American and Six Thirty and many more.
I am also a producer, songwriter, playwright, and now I am focusing on producing my projects and helping others. I have release two albums of my own independently; one is called TO MY PLANET BOO -2005 (produced by Grammy award winner Xavier Dphrepaulezz), aka Fantastic Negrito, Everything Changes -2012, and my latest EP called Weep Willow -2021. I have performed my own solo shows worldwide.
I currently run my own company called the Laura Jane International Vocal Studio, where I have clients globally. What started out as a vocal coaching “hub” has turned into a boutique business related to all things music. This includes artist development, music contracting, vocal producing, vocal arranging, chart writing, PR teams, and much more. I have clients all over the United States and the world, including Texas, California, New York, Florida, Washington D.C., England, Qatar, and Brazil. I love it!
I decided to make Houston my second home in 2022. I am still travelling for work all the time. Houston is a robust city with a huge art scene. Houston has always spoken to me. And that says a lot considering I have performed and travelled to 101 countries and been in quite a number of big cities globally and almost all of the big cities in the United States. The people and the art scene in Houston is unique.
Since coming to Houston, I am working on a number of projects. I want to produce and birth a few things here. Ultimately I want to create art and work for other and help people.
I am the co-producer and co-creator of the King Cole Legacy Experience alongside colleague Horace Alexander Young. This is a concert series playing tribute to Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. Our world premiere performance was at the Ensemble Theatre in 2023. We featured a 23-piece pops orchestra with the help of the Recording Industry’s Music Performance Trust Fund. We received great feedback as well as a mention in the International Musicians Magazine in March of 2023. We also did a program for Juneteenth expanding the show and are looking to do more in 2024.
I am a playwright and am currently looking for funding to produce a world-premiere play called Angela… Herstory of a Revolutionary. This is a play based on the autobiography of Angela Davis. I am hoping to launch this in Houston in 2024.
I received my first grant through the Houston Arts Alliance, and I am conducting two vocal workshop. One is on September 9th, 2023, called the Laura Jane Vocal Performance Workshop, and the other is called the Laura Jane Vocal Recording Workshop, which will occur in 2024 – STAY TUNED.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There is nothing about the entertainment business that is smooth. This journey is not for the weak. You must be a true artist at heart and love this to keep doing it. It can be extremely competitive and can really wear on your spirit sometimes. I love art. I cannot live without music and art. So therefore, I keep going no matter what – but trust me – the challenges and struggles are real. Success in this business consists of defeat. You must be prepared for this professionally and spiritually. But success will come. You must believe in yourself and stand by your mission statement at all times. There will be people who secretly will want you to fail, sad but true. But as I say to all my clients – FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer and musician first and at heart. I love music and breathe it. I literally do not think I can live without it. I am known for this. I am known for being a vocalist, the biggest stars in music. I am also known as an artist singer-songwriter. I would like to think I am also known for wanting to help people. I think helping others is the important “yin to the yang” of this industry. In other words, it cannot always be about YOU!
It is interesting when I think about what sets me apart from the others. I was talking to a relative recently about trying to figure how I got here, how am I “me” on a whole level, which affects my drive, my thinking, the art I create. Is it that my father encouraged individuality in my family? Is it that my father was a federal judge and forced us to read and then state eloquently our point of view? Is it that when I went to college in Boston, I was literally surrounded by really smart young people doing amazing things? How am I me? Why do I think the impossible is possible? Why do I enjoy an occasional obstacle? Why do I think an obstacle is an opportunity? Why do I still lead from my heart especially if something or someone hurts me. I don’t know.
So, I guess what sets me apart is that I will keep going and do what I love, help others, and create art. No Matter what!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think it is incredible important first and foremost to study your craft. You must be good at what you do. We are living in a time when social media has created monsters within certain people. People want to be famous; they have an incessant craving for attention. It is misguided. Sometimes it is dangerous and will take you from your path. Study your craft, work on what you are actually doing. The other thing is ethics. I think ethics and integrity is almost number one in your path to success. Steady strong steps, building blocks to build you castle, your dream, your legacy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurajanemusic.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/miss_janejonez
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mizzlaurajane/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-jones-b436b18/
- Youtube: @laurajanesmusic
Image Credits
Quain Photography
Kim McClean
Michael Hart
