I got a chance to correspond with singer/songwriter Lauren D’Aria and learn more about why we should all pay attention to this rising talent.

CapitalNoise: Where are you from?
Lauren: I am from Laurel, MD..right between Baltimore, MD and D.C.

CN: What inspired you to start performing?

L: I have wanted to  be a singer/songwriter since I was little, before I could even develop complete thoughts ha ha..I don’t ever remember not wanting to write, sing and perform.

CN:Is this something you always wanted to do?

L: Yes, I grew up watching my dad play guitar and sing. I think that had a lot to do with me deciding that it was what I wanted to do.

CN:You have performed at some high profile gigs over the years, what did you take away from them and did it open any doors?

L: Everything can open a door, some big some small. I’ve learned a lot over the years. You have to always be prepared for the best and the worst, you can’t let anything bring you down or let anything take away your drive. There will always be someone better at something than you, and if you can accept that and still love what you do then that will keep you going. Just stay humble and stay driven.

CN:Is a tour currently in the works?

L: I want a tour desperately, but it has to be the RIGHT tour. You cant just hop on any tour and expect it to work out. You have to get paired up with the right bands, to play in front of the right crowd. So I DEFINITELY want to tour soon, but I want it to be the right tour.

CN:What is the best part of touring?

L: I have never been on my own tour, but I have worked on my friends tour, which was amazing. I got a big taste of what touring is like and I loved every second of it, I didn’t want to come home! The best part was meeting people, and seeing all of the different places & waking up in a different city every morning, I love to travel. If I was on my own tour I’m sure the best part would be performing in a different city every night!

CN:What is the hardest part?

L: The hardest part was not being able to shower every day, ha ha… and not having my regular space to do my hair and what not.. I was traveling on a tour bus with 7 or 8 guys (whom are like my family), so having to get ready in a small space crowded with boys was a little difficult but it was totally worth it, you get used to it fast!

CN:What approach do you take while recording your latest album?

L: This next EP is going to be very different from what I’ve done in the past. This time it will be all me, I am writing the music as well as the lyrics and melodies. Before, it was me writing with my band, but this time around I am keeping it acoustic and doing it all myself. I am really, really excited for people to hear what I’ve been up to!

CN:Were there things you wanted to make sure made it onto the album, and what were they?

L: There are definitely a few songs that I’ve recently written that have to be on this next EP. I’m pouring my heart and soul into these songs and some things need to be said and some songs just have a great hook or something, so yeah there are definitely a few things that I will make sure are on this EP.

CN: How has your sound evolved over your career?

L: I have taken a complete 180! When I was little, I wanted to sing country music, when I was a young teenager I recorded an R&B album, in my later teens I started writing and recording for a pop/rock album, recently in my last band we were writing rock music with a heavy classic rock, Led Zeppelin influence, and now I am totally doing my own thing that has an indie/pop/acoustic/folk/country sound to it, ha ha. So I think I’ve entered almost every genre just to find out where I really feel comfortable and at home.

CN:Are there any other deals in the works to further advance and promote your music?

L: I hope! At the time there is nothing in talks, but the more everyone can spread the word; promote, add banners, etc. to their MySpace and Facebook pages, buy my album, everything helps. Every single little thing is SO appreciated because anywhere I go its truly because of fans and people promoting! Promoting is everything these days!

CN:What other businesses do you eventually want to expand and diversify into?

L: I would love to be a songwriter for other artists as well as doing my own thing, no matter what I am doing I am always writing. A lot of times I write really catchy songs, but they’re not the style that I would sing. Designing is another passion of mine, I’ve always been one of those people that buys something from the thrift store and alters it completely, so I would love to do some sort of designing some day. Who knows, I love anything that involves creativity and art.

CN:What was your most memorable moment thus far?

L:Well, working on tour for my friends’ band was definitely memorable because I learned SO much, but playing guitar for the first time on stage, playing the songs I wrote 100%, no matter how big or small the crowd was, it was extremely memorable, I was pouring my heart, soul and life out and it was 100% me, it felt so great!

CN:You have worked with and been groomed by a lot of heavy hitters in the industry. What did you learn and take away from this experience?

L: I have learned to take everything with a grain of salt, haha. I think everyone in this industry would say the same thing, you have to really learn to take things for what they are. You can’t get big headed from one small thing because before you know it, it is gone and forgotten. There is a lot of talk and you have to be able to listen to things as what they really are, not as they seem. I am the kind of person that never gets over excited, because if something good happens I am ready to move on to the next step, I can’t waste one second of time getting excited, haha. I probably should stop for a second and enjoy things in the moment, but I get so ready for the next thing. You have to keep on truckin’

CN:What can we expect from you in the upcoming future?

L: I am almost done writing for a full EP, so as soon as I am done writing, I will be recording an EP, so expect that in 2010! hopefully after that is recorded I can get out there and promote and get on a decent tour! So please, please, make videos about my music and post them on youtube, tell everyone to subscribe to my youtube channel ( www.youtube.com/user/laurendaria ), go check out my myspace ( www.myspace.com/laurendaria ), add my banners to your Facebook or MySpace, tell all of your friends about my music, put LD in your MySpace names, every little small thing helps to get the word out there. The more the word gets out, the more I will be able to get out there   Thank you!!!