In Times Like Now, LAURA REED Tells Us Of A Place With MILK & HONEY

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In Times Like Now, LAURA REED Tells Us Of A Place With MILK & HONEY – NU Review This bluesy, edgy, harmonica lovin’ soulful sister, Laura Reed, is taking over the entire week at Nashville Unsigned. Today, we are anxiously excited to review her newest single, Milk & Honey. Before we jump into that, let’s ...

In Times Like Now, LAURA REED Tells Us Of A Place With MILK & HONEY – NU Review

This bluesy, edgy, harmonica lovin’ soulful sister, Laura Reed, is taking over the entire week at Nashville Unsigned. Today, we are anxiously excited to review her newest single, Milk & Honey. Before we jump into that, let’s make sure you know what type of badass Laura Reed is.

Who Is Laura Reed

Reed relocated from Johannesburg to North Carolina while she was still just a
child, but her family carried their culture and traditions (as well as their love of writing)
with them wherever they went. At nine years old, Reed saw her first poem published in
print, and at fourteen, she picked up her first guitar.

Open mics and cover sets led to original recordings and homemade CDs, and
before she’d even finished high school, it was clear what Reed was meant to do with
the rest of her life. She took her singular blend of rock, blues, and funk on the road with
her band, Deep Pocket, performing more than 200 pulse-pounding shows a year and
making her own breaks along the way.

Reed would go on to collaborate with everyone from Killer Mike and
Robert Randolph to Karl Denson and Jewel, sing the national anthem at Madison
Square Garden twice, and share bills with Mali Music, India Arie, Miguel, Valerie
June and Anthony Hamilton among others.

Things did indeed get hard, harder than Reed had ever imagined. Her marriage
and production deal both soured, and she soon found herself scraping by as a single
mother on welfare, struggling just to make ends meet. With nowhere else to turn, she
called famed producer Paul Worley (Lady Antebellum, Dixie Chicks), who’d become a
fan and a mentor, and asked his advice.

“I played him some of my demos, and he told me, ‘Put your stuff in storage and get to
Nashville,’” remembers Reed. He told me that my one-year-old and I could come live
with him and his wife while I finished writing my album.”
Over the next six months, Reed poured her heart and soul into writing and
recording what would become her solo debut, ‘The Awakening,’ reinventing herself
personally and professionally with the help of GRAMMY-winning producer Shannon
Sanders (John Legend, India.Arie). The songs earned her a major publishing deal, and
upon its release, the record was a critical hit.

Milk and Honey with Laura Reed and Nashville Unsigned Review

Laura recently teamed up with Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools (bass/
production) and Grammy Award-winning Vance Powell, known for his work with Jack
White, Chris Stapleton, and countless other iconic acts. She released the first single
from the new project, “Milk & Honey” in March 2020 and is garnering attention as a
“not to miss” live show with her powerful vocals, harmonica prowess, and timeless
songwriting. She formed a new collaborative project in Febuary 2020 with guitarist Laur
Joamets, “LORE” and has announced plans to release a new album and tour dates in
2020.

Independence Day for Milk & Honey

Fresh into the Milk & Honey single, Laura Reed feeds us a more rock infused version of her music. Grabbing our hearts and ears with an intro into this single that oozes blues rock that you just can’t ignore. Crediting the feel good, funky fresh and flawless feel to Reed’s monstrous skills on the harmonica. Setting her aside from anyone else in her lane.

Reed opens the song referencing her families migration from Africa to America. Landing in South Carolina, Reed explains her love and adoration for her new home by painting a unique picture of the area. Endless opportunities and beauty wherefore she looks. As the song progresses on, you continue to hear the emotionally-rich vocals of Reed, vowing authenticity in each note and lyric. Further committing you into this tune, Reed’s vocal rasp shows expertise in her control while also making it feel natural. And can we talk about them harmonica skills though?! I mean for real! We’ve met alot of musicians in our day but Laura Reed certainly takes the award on “Best Harmonica Player”.

One of my favorite lines from this single is ” You only need a little to live alot”. Reed talks about how she’s been a musician on the road, a rolling stone, but has managed to find beauty at every stop along the path. I think that is exactly what we are needing to hear at a time like now. Although we are experiencing craziness and catastrophe right now, there is beauty in life. There is beauty everywhere we look, we just need to take a moment and step back to see it.

Milk and Honey with Laura Reed and Nashville Unsigned Review

Without further adieu, jump into the song below, and be sure to check out our Red Couch Late Night interview with Laura below as well.

The Word is Out on Laura Reed

“I don’t really have words to express how much I love Laura’s music. It’s real, it’s
authentic, it’s what the world needs.” Paul Worley (Lady Antebellum, Dixie Chicks)

“People will walk away from (her) performance saying, WOW.” – Gary Kraen, L100
WTLD

“Reed oozes charisma and confidence, her voice nothing less than an instrument of
seduction.” – Blurt

“eclectic and adventurous” – That Mag