Personal experiences set to song

By Kev Hutchings BBC Devon Introducing

Exeter singer songwriter Laura Dugmore is about to enter a recording studio and take that big step all artists dream of, recording the debut EP.

Laura has spent many years working her way up the ladder of success and with a new band in place things are finally taking off for her.

When she came in to record a special acoustic performance for BBC Radio Devon Introducing she told me just how much has changed for her over the past 12 months.

"I wanted to find some focus and Jay, Stuart (her band members) and I began to experiment with old recordings and found a set that we were happy with," she said.

She is certainly a natural when it comes to performing; I sensed straight away that she is completely at one with her music right now and her sound is exactly where she wants it.

It's not just the sound that has changed for Laura, as she explained.

"I feel a lot more confident, it was really great meeting Jay and Stuart and now we just like to keep all the music sounding fresh."

The sound that 20-something Laura has settled on is also accompanied by tales of personal experiences she has lived through, and writing about them isn't at all uncomfortable.

"Whenever anything went wrong through my university years my dad would always tell me it's great songwriting material so now it's almost a form of therapy for me."

Laura has recorded a special acoustic performance for the BBC

That is certainly the case when it comes to one of her tracks, Mr Please, it was written at a particularly tough point of her life.

"I went travelling to Peru and ended up bringing back a nasty parasite.

"It lead to me suffering from chronic fatigue and wrote this song when I was feeling really low, but it's an uplifting song which comes from the heart.

"I like to try and connect with the audience through my songs and I hope they get that when listening to my music or watching me play."

Laura plans on entering the Soundhouse studios at the Exeter Phoenix towards the end of October 2009 and release the EP towards the end of November 2009.