Take one listen through Tamara Laurel’s debut LP Runaway, and you’ll find it hard to believe that it was almost never made. Growing up in a small town in Washington, the southern-infused singer-songwriter’s childhood dream of becoming a musician was inhibited by debilitating stage fright. Hiding her voice in choruses and theatre ensembles, she never found the courage to step into the spotlight. Newly 18 with a seemingly impossible dream, Laurel headed off to USC to earn a business degree instead.  Nevertheless, she quietly took guitar and voice lessons after class, “just in case."

After graduating, starting a company, and unsuccessfully trying to convince herself she belonged in corporate America, Laurel happened upon a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform her original songs at Hollywood’s legendary House of Blues. The blue-eyed songbird officially segued from the sidelines to the stage in front of a large crowd on LA’s Sunset Boulevard. Her performance shattered a lifelong fear - but more importantly, gave her the confidence to officially begin.

Right away, Laurel booked studio time, landing Grammy Award-winning Philip Allen (Adele) and Grammy-nominated Luke Tozour (Katy Perry) as co-producers/engineers on her 2014 folk debut Lightning. Together they yielded a striking EP that secured loyal listeners in the country and city alike.

Making waves in the press, Lightning received international accolades and radio play in the US (Guitar Girl Magazine, The Zoe Report) and across the world. Though released independently, her debut single “I Want You” charted overseas, while Lightning overall debuted on the iTunes US Album Charts.

A successful EP under her belt, Laurel once again called upon Philip Allen to record her highly anticipated debut LP, Runaway, which was released  on October 16th. A painfully honest account of the songstress’s life since Lightning, the entirely self-written record is a raw and beautiful nod to breaking up, making up, and finding her way. Laurel and Allen gathered a handful of Orange County’s finest musicians to join them in live tracking instrumentals at OC’s stunning Hybrid Studios.

A definitive departure from Lightning, the harder-hitting, seven-song album is a perfect blend of Americana, Folk, and Alt. Country, and showcases growth in both skill and character in its narrative. Tamara’s message is clear – it’s okay to run. Don’t be surprised if you start wanting to run with her.