Dreams

(5-1-2010)

  In a blog of the end of October, I wrote frankly about my dreams for the future. A blog I got a lot of heartwarming responses to. Now, in the new year, it’s time for the sequel: how I’m making my dreams come true, step by step.

Thanks to the Twitter Auction of 2009, I got an unexpected opportunity to take a big step forwards towards reaching my dream. The famous Dutch singer and performer Marco Borsato donated a generous amount to this charity in return for a livingroomconcert at his house, by me. In my previous blog, you can read about how that went.

Since then, Marco has posted a wonderful blog at his own website in which he, probably without knowing, wrote several things that to me exactly described what being a singer-songwriter is all about. Quote:

Marco Borsato: “Laura knows exactly how to touch the sensitive notes on the piano. A true joy to the ear. Her voice is very beautiful, very high, and she sang about all the senses. Senses she touched then and there! I’m very thrilled that I got to hear her wonderful music and it was a privilege to experience that in such an intimate setting. It was very special to get to know an artist and her music in that way, a way that would not have happened if it weren’t for the auction.”

In October I wrote in my blog: “[…] a bigger dream: I want to touch people with my music. And not just touch them, I want to reach them in such a way that gives them a new or different perspective on themselves and/or the world.”

During the past time, more and more people have told me that they feel truly touched by my music, that it brings them to tears, makes them dream away, gives them a warm feeling. What a gift! Remarks like that give me the strength and knowledge that I’m on the right way to making my dreams come true.

The more concrete form of my dream, to perform my songs with the Dutch Metropole Orchestra, proves more difficult to accomplish. After a failed phonecall, I came into contact with the artistic producer of the Orchestra through e-mail. He returned my mail with a friendly and frank reply, which amongst others, said: “We are an Orchestra that is dependant on the Dutch public broadcasting company, and as such have to do with what several broadcasting producers offer. Only when an artist gets well known through performances and album sales, producers and press will follow, because then it is in their interest to have you in their program or magazine.”

In short: gotta get famous first…  

LadyLau wishes you a tantalizing, sensational and musical 2010!

 (24-12-2009)

 On the 23^rd of December 2009 the time was there: the livingroomconcert for the Twitter Auction for Marco Borsato! In the afternoon I got in the car to the Borsato residence, where I was received in a very friendly and hospitable way by Marco and his family. De ambiance was relaxed, cozy and comfortable. Proudly Marco told me his daughter had just started piano lessons, and of course she showed me her first lesson booklet.

When the whole family sat down on the comfy couches, with something to drink and to eat for everyone, I got seated behind the piano and played. One by one I played songs from Sense: See and Taste, Choice, Sensation and Bittersweet. For all the members of the family that just celebrated their birthday that month, I played the song “Your heart will know mine”, especially now in this time where you can just enjoy each others company. Without words, without signs, purely by sense. Closing off the first part was “Senses”, the song in which all the senses come together to one experience, one moment.

And then there was time for a little break, and to get some new drinks. The kids decided to put on warm clothes and enjoy the snow in the back yard. In the mean time, Marco, Leontien and their friends once again settled on the couches to enjoy the second half. From Hear and Feel to Voices of the Past, a song that is still very intriguing in the acoustic version as opposed to the studio version. A song that can, at the same time, give you the feeling that is described by Won’t you come back: pain, loss and a sort of melancholy that somehow also includes hope. Hope for something better. That same bit of hope that is expressed in Strange, in honour of the loved ones that passed away from us this past year or before that, family or friends. How strange that the world just keeps on moving, without them. A feeling that many will recognise and be reminded of in these upcoming Christmas Days. A feeling which hopefully Rainbow Thoughts can enlighten a bit: the power of positive thinking and how those thoughts can be transformed into tangible things: a touch, a hug, a get together with friends, like this afternoon.

The closing song was Zweven, a song that is my wish for the Borsato family as much as it is for everyone else for the upcoming holidays and the new year: the feeling that everything is a little lighter, a little more energetic and that you can look into the world with a positive gaze and think: today I’m floating!

That feeling was exactly what I had this day, and with a lot of pleasure and joy I look back on a beautiful afternoon, a cozy get together, and I want to thank the Borsato family for their hospitality and openness. I wish you all happy holidays and an inspiring, energetic and marvellous 2010!

LadyLau

Laura ten hoedt 
 

Twitter auction: LadyLau will be playing live in the livingroom of... Marco Borsato!

(23-12-2009) 

Today is the day: LadyLau will be performing Live in the Livingroom of the Borsato-family!  

For those of you who have been following LadyLau on Twitter, the "Twitter Auction" will not have passed unnoticed. This initiative was started by Jessica de Kok to support a charity in Afghanistan (also supported by her husband's Task Force, which was stationed there), that works hard to enhance the quality of primairy education for the Afghanistan children. 

So she started the "Twitter Auction", for which supporters could offer products and services for other to place a bid on. The money raised by collecting the highest biddings per lot, is donated fully to Schoolsupport4Afghanistan and Het Vrouwenhuis van Kabul.

LadyLau decided to support this wonderful charity by offering a livingroom-concert for the highest bidder. To her surprise, the highest bidder turned out to be none other than Marco Borsato, a famous Dutch singer! When the auction was closed, Marco told LadyLau he is very delighted to hear her play live. LadyLau is very much looking forward to this concert and will keep you updated!

Willems Wondere Wiland

LadyLau hit the stage this summer! On the 4th of July, she was on stage at Willems Wondere Weiland!

On April 6th Laura was guest performer at the 100th show of "Kunstvormen" on RTV9. During the show she played several live songs for the small audience of celebrators and the listeners of Ed Kieckens, the deejay. For an impression, please visit www.unieuws.nl, photo's kan be found at the photopage of this site.

 Video "Strange" (live) online!

 A new live video is online for you all to watch. The song "Strange", recorded at the Feel-Sation, 20th of February 2009 at Seats2Meet.com in Utrecht. Click here to view the video!

Second review online: www.progwereld.org!

This welknown Dutch progressive rock website has also reviewed the newest LadyLau album, the result (in Dutch) can be read atwww.progwereld.org! 

First review online: www.ze.nl

The online magazine www.ze.nl interviewed Laura about her work as artist, music therapist, trainer and coach and ofcourse also about the new album. This article is available in dutch only, read it at:

 Launched!

 "Sense" is released! With already two shows down, "Sense" was launched with true Sensation! You can now order your own (signed) copy through the orderpage on this site.

For those of you who can't wait to get the album in your mailbox, there's also the option to download the album under a Creative Commons license: in low quality (free) or high quality (max. €10,-). Go toladylau.bandcamp.com to listen to the songs of the album directly and get your downloads going! 

I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do!

See you on stage.. 

First previews online!