In the world of artistry and entertainment, it’s often easier to put on a fake face of the perfect persona than it is to let down one's guard and become vulnerable. Though singer/songwriter/piano player Lara Landon realizes she’d probably come across like more of a star if she’d act like every angle of her life was in order, the faith-based tunesmith refuses to veil fragile emotions or lie about her heart’s condition on the debut disc Beloved. Chalk up that integrity to unbreakable family bonds, influenced by her father’s roots in Jordan and mother’s Sicilian bloodline, both of which always stood for honesty, humility and a hard working essence in all aspects of life.
No wonder why the youthful but wiser beyond her years Landon has always stood for creative excellence, even in the days before realizing a God-ordained path as a performer. Whether it was scoring the lead role of “Annie” in a college production at a mere nine years old, talking vocal lessons shortly thereafter or soliciting a demo around to record executives at fourteen, the hopeful’s always had an unbreakable spirit. But that’s not to say she hasn’t had stumbling blocks along the way, most notably a bout with depression and anxiety throughout adolescence, plus complete dismay with the massive music industry a few years later when studying at the arts oriented Belmont University.
“I’ve always been a big fan of reading biographies of other artists and seeing how they went from rags to riches or from nothing to singing in stadiums,” says Landon, citing an astute influence pool who thrived amidst their personal hardships, including Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, Billie Holiday and Johnny Cash. “I’ve always rooted for the underdog and feel like my music can really encourage people who might have felt passed over at some point. It’s a platform I want to take because God can take you right where you are, call you Beloved and lift you up.”
Indeed, Beloved is more than just an album title, but the mark of a personal journey that led Landon to music executive and Essential Records founder Robert Beeson and a record deal with his new Nashville-based label Bema Media – home to such artists as The Rubyz, Mission Six and Manic Drive. However, long before signing the dotted line, the relative newcomer could see God’s flawless plan working through her less than stellar circumstances.
“I remember being at Belmont interning at an online radio show while trying to pursue my music career and there was a band called MIKESCHAIR that was getting really big around campus,” Landon recalls. “I asked the guys who their manager was and they told me about Jeremy Lee, who manages and is married to Plumb. I called him out of the blue and asked if I could come to his office to pick his brain. I was really nervous and scared meeting a big time manager, but I had the courage to tell him I had a show coming up downtown and asked him to come see me.”
And sure enough on a date night with his wife, Lee and a pregnant Plumb caught Landon perform at an intimate writer’s night and walked away as instant fans. In fact, a few weeks later in that same type of setting, they brought back longtime pal Beeson, who not only found a similar type of magnetic musical attraction, but quickly became a mentor to the burgeoning troubadour.
“He started listening to my songs and giving them little tweaks, like saying ‘this one’s just okay so spice it up’ or ‘this one’s missing tension so add some drama,’” confirms Landon.
No sooner had the ink dried than Landon found herself in the studio with A-list producer Michael Omartian (Amy Grant, Chicago, Rod Stewart, The Jackson’s, Whitney Houston), who began the Beloved recording process. “Michael’s cool because he is a legend, but really humble and down to earth,” she explains. “He puts you at ease immediately and felt more like a dad than a producer, often comparing me to his daughter, which made the sessions feel really special since the beginning. Recording with him was different than most producers these days because he also had renowned engineer Terry Christian, which allowed him to focus completely on the creative side, rather than having to worry about technical aspects as well.”
Outside of his Grammy-Award winning talents behind the boards, the collection also features the occasional co-write with Omartian, plus Sonicflood hit-maker and solo star Jason Ingram. At first the concept of teaming up with others for her deeply expository lyrics seemed like a foreign concept, but in the end, Landon realized it was a valuable part of the refining process.
“I was a little reluctant because my songs are so precious and personal to me, but I realized teaming up with someone else on occasion could provide a fresh view,” she suggests of the switch between several individual and a handful of combined credits. “And now when I listen back to Beloved, it sounds like my journals set to music, which means the subject matter won’t be all perfect, happy or wonderful. I’m dealing with stuff that’s harder to accept and I get pretty deep and sometimes a little dark.”
As a result, the tunes contained therein fall somewhere along the stylistic plane of Plumb, electronic innovator Imogen Heap, plus piano siren Tori Amos, wrapped around the epic and cinematic appeal of musical theatre. The swelling title track is a stirring example of an epiphany moment in Landon’s life where she chronicles the Lord’s unconditional guidance over her life, which simultaneously serves to directly combat insecurities and inferior feelings on any plane. The ingeniously programmed “Lift Me Up” adds a gloriously chilling effect across a tender prayer of perseverance, while the gorgeous vocal radiance and pearly chord progressions throughout “Closer” indicate an imperfect believer in route to greater holiness. Yet the lead single “Presence of Love” is perhaps the textbook tune to display Landon’s many musical gifts, coupled with a remarkably relatable message.
“It sounds the most poppy and lighthearted, but discusses the deeper topic of how hard it is to be filled and think in the presence of God’s love,” she suggests. “I often times think ‘how can I grasp and realize that?’ and I want people to be encouraged by that song and long for what God's presence feels like without being afraid or intimidated.”
With the project poised to hit streets in September 2009, Landon is gearing up for greater visibility on the road where she’s thus far been an approachable interacter who faithfully follows up with her fans throughout an extensive online community. And she’s quick to point out that her fervent series of MySpace messages and emails isn’t some sort of gimmick or means of casual chit-chat, but an actual investment into the lives of her listeners.
“I’m the kind of person you can talk to who’s actually reachable and responsive,” she sums up. “I’m here to tell people that nothing can separate them from God's love, He likes you, He's fond of you and you are worth everything to Him. God likes your personality and your individuality, even if you might not fit into the crowd, and you don’t have to change that to be a Christian because He likes the variety!”
