Laura Marano is an actress and a singer/songwriter. Laura has a new album titled i may be an actress but i can’t fake how I feel. Laura speaks a lot about the album in the interview below. YEM was able to speak with Laura about about conquering her fears of stage fright, who she would like to collaborate with in the future, and the most challenging part of the entire process of making her music.

Young Entertainment Mag: What is your inspiration when it comes to writing music?

Laura Marano: I think I’m definitely very inspired by my life. Songwriting is my way of processings the feelings about anything and everything happening in my life.

YEM: Which of your songs came the most natural to you?

Laura: I think Someday was weirdly the easiest song to write, even though it was hard emotionally. It completely flowed out of me, and felt incredibly easy to write on a technical level. Though I will say, it is hard to listen to sometimes, and honestly still gets me emotional.

“My favorite part of performing is connecting with everyone in the audience, and sharing a moment together. So sometimes, if I need to, I try to pick someone or a few people in the audience I can fully connect with, and they end up being my guiding light during the performance.”

YEM: Do you or have you ever gotten stage fright? If yes, what do you or did you do to conquer those fears

Laura: I never really suffered with stage fright the same way characters I’ve played in the past suffered with it, but I certainly have had plenty of insecurities rear their ugly head when I’ve been about to perform or sing. It might sound weird, but if I ever need a little bit more confidence, I think about connection. My favorite part of performing is connecting with everyone in the audience, and sharing a moment together. So sometimes, if I need to, I try to pick someone or a few people in the audience I can fully connect with, and they end up being my guiding light during the performance.

YEM: And if not, what’s one thing you can tell others who want to pursue this career who may have stage fright?

Laura: The best way of getting over your insecurities about performing is just performing over and over again. The more you do it, the more comfortable you get with it. That was one of my favorite parts of tour. I loved that the pressure wasn’t on just one show. I got to go up every night and aim to do better than the night before, and I loved that so much.

YEM: Is there anyone you wish to collaborate with?

Laura: Oh man, there are so many people I would love to collaborate with. Like…so many people! And I feel so lucky that I was able to collab with a couple incredible artists this year. I loved being able to collab with Ellee Duke and Abigail Barlow, who are two ridiculously talented independent artists that I really admire!!! In terms of future collabs, there are so many talented artists out there that I love, especially on the independent side, like Thuy, Elijah Woods, Haley Joelle, Emlyn, and Mira Housey to name a few!

“I would love for us to collab some day! I just think we both would want to write in a super chill, low pressure situation, and just see what we create.”

YEM: Would you ever consider collaborating with Ross Lynch?

Laura: 1000%! I think he and Rocky are so talented, and I absolutely love their project. I would love for us to collab some day! I just think we both would want to write in a super chill, low pressure situation, and just see what we create.

YEM: What has been the most rewarding part of the experience throughout the process of making this album?

Laura: I think seeing people excited for it truly made me so happy, and obviously finally having it out and hearing people’s reactions have been so rewarding. A few of the comments have made my heart absolutely burst, and I’m truly so thankful to everyone who has listened to it.

YEM: For those who maybe haven’t heard your solo music, how would you best describe your sound? What genre and musical styles do you lean towards?

Laura: I feel like I for sure lean pop, but with quite a bit of a singer/songwriter influence. I always like to say I write moody pop songs, and if that phrase doesn’t give you much clarity, it should make more sense once you listen.

YEM: A major point of this project is centered around your journey as an actress, how has the leap into solo artistry been for you so far?

Laura: Well, my artist career has been something I’ve been pursuing for nearly a decade, with me officially going independent five years ago. Being independent has its challenges, but honestly, so does being on a major label, so I feel very strongly this independent journey has been the right one for me the past few years.

YEM: What has been the most challenging part of the entire process and how did you overcome it?

Laura: I think financially, it’s way riskier and more challenging to pursue music independently, and it certainly has been fairly exhausting emotionally and physically. There were times when making this album, when I felt truly hopeless and depressed, and the only thing I could do was keep going, which is what I did. I’m happy I came out on the other side with an album that I am truly so, so proud of.

YEM: Do you write all of your own songs? Yes or no, what does your creative process look like?

Laura: I wrote all the songs on the album! I usually prefer singing songs I wrote, but in the past, I have sung songs I haven’t written (Boombox being one of those songs). For this album though, I definitely wanted to only include songs I had composed. Some songs I wrote completely by myself, and some songs I wrote with other people. Each song had a different creative process, which is one of the things I love about songwriting. Every time you write, it’s a completely new experience.

YEM: Which do you prefer: the performance aspect or the creation aspect of music? Why?

Laura: This is such a hard question! I think if I had to pick, I prefer the creation aspect, but that’s also what makes the performance aspect so special. Hearing people sing back lyrics that you’ve created is one of the most special experiences ever. 

YEM: This album project you have just released, it’s a whopping 23 songs; what’s your favorite to sing and why?

Laura: That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child! I love them all…plus, my favorites change based on my mood, so that’s another reason it’s hard to pick!

YEM: How did you pick the single(s) to release off of the album?

Laura: The first three singles were chosen because I had performed them on my tour, and the reaction to them was so amazing, I wanted to get them out as soon as possible!

“My album is my reflection on so many things, and above all, it’s an album celebrating the ugly feelings we all try to hide and push away. I decided to be as vulnerable and honest about those feelings, and I hope that inspires people to do the same.”

YEM: What do you hope people take away when listening to your music?

Laura: My album is my reflection on so many things, and above all, it’s an album celebrating the ugly feelings we all try to hide and push away. I decided to be as vulnerable and honest about those feelings, and I hope that inspires people to do the same. I also hope it lets people know there is light on the other side, so keep your head high when you’re in a dark period of your life because I promise, the light will be there at some point.