Laura Peek – Key

With her sophomore album, Key, Laura Peek moves from tender playfulness tosoulful introspection, weaving tales of understanding and commiserationthrough the haunting whimsy of her timeless songwriting.

A departure from her collaborative efforts with her backing band, The Winning Hearts, Key sees Peek add more layers to the foundation on which she buildsher conversational narratives. Arrangements co-written by David Christensen (Heavy Blinkers) include cello (Norm Adams), alto flute (Christensen), and accordion (Sageev Oore), creating a focused, intimate fullness, replete with exuberance and a thoughtful simplicity.

Three years in the making, Key is steeped in interpretations of our fundamental emotions—attempts to make sense of the past, reflections on motivations andshared experiences and the ongoing search for an understanding of the foundations we create for ourselves through choices and circumstance.

The songs on Key set free echoes of the past and join them with Peek’s uniquecharacter and voice. “On the Shelf” features a melody collected by folklorist Helen Creighton combined with Peek’s words. “Away from the Harbour” is a moony recollection of prostitution in Victorian Halifax. Reminiscences, experiences, and life stories of Canadian women—be they strangers or family members—are equal in their inspiration.

Key was recorded at Halifax’s Echo Chamber with Charles Austin (SuperFriendz, The Lodge), a re-teaming with Gemini Award winning composer/songwriter/producer Mike O’Neill (The Inbreds, The Beginners) as co-producer.

From the Photographs (Just Friends), Peek’s debut full-length album with her band The Winning Hearts was released in 2007, and peaked at number nine onthe Earshot Online national campus radio charts, reaching number 1 on the chart at CKDU 88.1 FM in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her video for “Stand Right There,” directed by Juno-winning Ante Kovac (Joel Plaskett, Sarah Harmer) currently has more than 300,000 views on YouTube.com.

Peek has toured Canada extensively with The Winning Hearts, playing at Pop Montreal, the Halifax Pop Explosion, Canadian Music Week, and North By North East. She also toured Canada and the United States as a vocalist/multi-instrumentalist with Juno Award winning artist Buck 65.

MP3: “Stay Sharp” from Key:
http://pigeonrow.com/LauraPeekStaySharp.mp3

Hi-res photo of Laura Peek:
http://pigeonrow.com/LauraPeek_by_Mat_Dunlap-1.jpg