“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” — Plato
Very true, according to singer-songwriter Laura Cheadle. Known for her soulful voice and energetic guitar, Cheadle blends many genres within and among her songs, giving rock/pop a soulful twist with a splash of blues. A consistent fan favorite, she was voted “Best Female Artist of 2010” by radio station 93.7 FM WSTW. A native of Pitman, N.J., Cheadle and her family are starring in an episode of the new reality show “America’s Next Family Band” and she has just released a song about equality, “It’s Not Okay.”
PGN: You’re a Jersey girl. What was growing up like? LC: It was all about music. My father, Jim Cheadle, is a musician who was big in the Philly scene. He was part of the Philly International scene and was a staff writer with April-Blackwood Music. He was signed to Columbia Records at 19 to write songs and he wrote songs with producer Jerry Ross for a lot of R&B artists like Jerry Butler, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes and The O’Jays. He’s even played and recorded with DJ Jazzy Jeff and Grover Washington Jr.
PGN: That’s really cool. LC: Yeah, I grew up around all that. I remember being excited about getting to meet Boyz II Men when they first got hot. And I don’t know if you know the group the Soul Survivors, they had that song, [sings] “On the expressway, to your heart.” They were over at our house all the time because my dad played with them.
PGN: When did you start performing? LC: I think my first time performing was with the Appreciation Choir, which my father created for the Persian Gulf War troops in the early ’90s. My twin brothers and I and a number of other kids sang and toured the country with the choir. My dad even produced a music video that was shown on VH1 and MTV. It was amazing, but Jersey keeps you very real and down to earth, which I liked.
PGN: What was a good memory with the twins? LC: When I was about 10 I started playing the drums and we formed a band called — what else — Sibling, and we toured around the area. We played a lot of restaurants, churches, music venues, private parties, parades, you name it. It gave me a lot of confidence to perform, especially having my big brothers with me. They’re six years older than me. PGN: So you were the Karen Carpenter of the group. LC: Yes I was, for sure. So you know she started out on drums too.
PGN: Yup. Love her. And what did your brothers play? LC: My brother Jimmy Lee plays lead guitar and my brother Nick plays keyboards.
PGN: What was your favorite gig? LC: Definitely the 4th of July parade. Every year we’d ride a float and we had people in the back throwing candy and we’d perform for everyone. It was great, just the best time. It’s still my favorite holiday because I had so much fun.
PGN: And when did you start to step out on your own? LC: Well, when I was about 16 I taught myself how to play the guitar. I’d just had my heart broken and it was the perfect vehicle for me to express my feelings and start writing songs.
PGN: So who broke your heart? LC: You know I’ve never spoken about who or what the song was really about, but this is the perfect time! It was the first girl I was ever with. I was 15 and she kissed me [laughs], which I’m still mad about because now she’s straight. It was my first kiss — I don’t count guys — and I was so in love with her. We spent the whole summer together and then she got scared of being with a girl and just stopped talking to me. I was devastated. I never played the guitar but I taught myself and wrote a song called, “I Can’t be in Love with You.” It was on my first CD. The whole album was about the break-up with her and another girl that I dated that year too.
PGN: Did she know the songs were about her? LC: Uh, yes. They both did. And now they’re both straight, married to guys now. I actually ran into one of them recently.
PGN: What was your first “aha” moment realizing that you were gay? LC: I was 4 years old when I first told my mom I liked girls and that I was gay. Four. When I officially came out to her at 15 she said, “Oh, I know. You told me already.” I was really lucky; my parents are very hippie-like and down to earth. My dad has a million gay friends and my mom has a gay brother so they were cool with it. I’ve met a lot of people where the family was not OK, so I’m very fortunate.
PGN: Was your gay uncle an influence? LC: Yes, he still is. But he was shocked when I came out. He said, “But you’re feminine!” [Laughs.] I said, “What does that mean?” He’s much older so I guess it was a generational thing. PGN: Were you out in high school? LC: Uh huh, yes. Actually I think I said I was bi at first, like we do. But by 12th grade I was totally out.
PGN: Has it affected your music career? LC: Well, I went through a phase where I didn’t want to say anything, I just wanted the music to speak for itself, but it became so … I mean, I’m the kind of person where it’s not my identity, I have a lot of male fans and I didn’t come right out and say, “Hey, I’m gay and that’s the only thing I am.” I didn’t hide it but I didn’t announce it either, but now I’m at the point where I just want to be completely, authentically me. It just doesn’t feel right if you’re not saying anything about it.
PGN: Yeah, I actually called your manager to confirm that you were gay, and/or open about it, because I didn’t see anything referring to it on your website, but she confirmed that you were and informed me that she was too! LC: Yeah, I mean I have done all sorts of gay and Pride events. One reason I’m being more open about it is because of the reaction that I get from people at those events at seeing me onstage with my family. My father and brothers are in the band with me and people get really emotional that they’re so supportive. People will cheer and cry and really are moved by it. So we want to really spread the message of love and acceptance that way. PGN: My family is really accepting too and people are always astounded to see them at gay events. Not as much nowadays but especially back a few years it was a lot more unusual. LC: Yeah, I try not to take it for granted. A lot of people still face rejection from their families.
PGN: What was a favorite experience onstage? LC: Opening for the Average White Band.
PGN: “Cut the cake!” That’s awesome. LC: Yeah, it was exciting. It was a great match-up. The energy was really high and we must have sold 200 CDs that night. I opened for the Jonas Brothers, that was funny. They were very sweet. Not my audience, but fun.
PGN: I understand you have a really unique playing style. LC: Well, I’m a drummer first, so when I play guitar I play it as if I’m playing drums; I’m very rhythmic and I don’t use a pick. I have small hands so I have really crazy chord positions. People are always coming up to me, “What are you doing?” I’m a real vibe person, so I just play what feels right for me.
PGN: I read this quote, “When the audience least expects her to do so, Laura rises from her chair and dances, unabashedly shaking her hips and engaging the audience.” LC: [Laughs.] I can’t help myself, I have to get up and move. I’m a big punk music fan so I like to shake it.
PGN: Who were some of your other influences? LC: Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin. I like a lot of old R&B and blues. I was definitely born in the wrong time period.
PGN: Well, something’s working for you. You were selected as the very first Viewer’s Choice winner on 6ABC’s “Tuned In”; the radio station 93.7 WSTW voted you “Best Female Singer of 2009” and “Best Female Artist of 2010”; you have Sennheiser Microphones as a sponsor; and ICE jewelry has asked you to create a collection. Not bad. LC: It’s amazing. I’ve won a lot of fan-based contests. With 6ABC, people were writing every week to have us win. It was incredible. PGN: Where is your fan base from? LC: My biggest fan base is in Philadelphia and New York, but it’s all over the world. We just toured London and have a following there. That was my first time in Europe and, wow, we had some great crowds. Off the stage I got to go see Stonehenge and the Roman baths, Shakespeare’s house. It was a great trip. People were so nice. I was out with my manager, Melanie Rice, and we went to a jazz club and then a gay bar. Melanie left and afterwards I realized that I didn’t have money to get back to the hotel. This guy gave me 60 pounds for a cab! Who does that?
PGN: Nice. [Laughs.] Back to gay stuff … Would someone be able to figure out your orientation from your lyrics? LC: I never say “he” or “she,” I just kind of keep it generic; however, on my new CD coming out, that all changes. I finally say “she” in the song. It’s not that I was avoiding it, I just liked to keep the songs so that anyone could take what they wanted from it. But my new song is also about a break-up and the generic “you” just wasn’t working any more! It was definitely “she.”
PGN: Well, it’ll be interesting to see how the kids react if you do another Jonas Brothers-type concert. Though the kids these days seem to be so much more open. LC: It’s mind-boggling. I meet so many teenagers are they’re all, “Gay? So what?” I didn’t come out all that long ago but people weren’t quite there yet. It’s great.
PGN: So what can you tell me about yourself outside of music? LC: I’m a vegan. I run 10 miles every single day. I’m single. PGN: I don’t think I’ve run 10 miles combined! LC: Yeah, I’m a health nut. I love trying different vegetarian restaurants and Philly has a lot. Like my parents, I have a hippie mentality — I love being free and fun. But mainly I’m a family person.
PGN: What was your favorite outfit as a kid? LC: Oh, I have a ridiculous story. When I was about 9, far too old for it, I would wear this lion costume everywhere, even when it wasn’t Halloween. I’d wear it to birthday parties, you name it. I was a little eccentric.
PGN: Well, I hear you had an unusual beginning. LC: Yeah, I came out of my mother hand first. She had to have a horrible C-section so I always dedicate a song to her for the trouble I put her through just to have me.
PGN: And what does she do? LC: She’s an elementary teacher. She keeps us together and is the only person that can make me belly laugh on a regular basis. She’s awesome. She even sings background on my CDs.
PGN: What’s the best and worst thing about performing with your family? LC: The best is that it’s constant support. It allows me to be very confident and open. It’s not like we’re even working, it’s just like getting together and having a great time. There’s not really a worst thing, maybe the car rides if we’re fighting. But we’re really tight and I can’t imagine it any other way. We have a vibe you can’t explain.
PGN: Do they go on the road with you? LC: Yes, they do. PGN: And you get to party with your manager too. LC: Yeah, it’s great. I’ve worked with a lot of other management and it’s so uncomfortable, they want to use me and being gay as a novelty. They don’t get it and they think I like girls but that I still like guys because I’m feminine. I’ve encountered a lot of perverts at different record labels who were older than my father who tried to hit on me. It’s really nice working with someone who just lets me be myself. She doesn’t try to hide it or push it. She just lets me be me.
PGN: You were voted Super Woman of NJ by South Jersey Magazine because of your work with American Foundation for Children with AIDS, Human Rights Campaign and other organizations. What super power would you like to possess? LC: I’d absolutely love to be able to fly.I feel like that would be the most freeing feeling in the entire world to just let yourself soar.
PGN: What Pride events have you done? LC: I play New Hope Pride every year. I love working with them. I’ve played Allentown, Philadelphia a bunch of times, Ladies 2000. I try to do as many as I possibly can. The audiences are phenomenal. It feels like I’m at home.
PGN: Tell me a little bit about the new reality show you’re going to be on. LC: It’s called “Next Great Family Band,” and it starts airing Sunday on the new Cozi TV network, which is an NBC affiliate. I was on the “10! Show” with the family and the producers saw the clip and asked us to participate. We were picked out of a nationwide search and they came and filmed at our house in South Jersey. PGN: Was it fun? LC: Oh yeah, it was nice to get recognition on a national platform. As a musician, you work so hard, playing little clubs and bars and honing your craft. And I’ve always stuck to my guns; I’ve never changed my music or style of play or anything. I’ve always stayed true to myself. And it being a show that focuses on the family is perfect for us. Our segment will air Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. You get to meet me and the family and then it turns into a competition. Social media will play a big role in the show. People are encouraged to comment on their favorite bands on Facebook, Twitter and the show’s website and, based off of viewers’ comments, the judges will each choose a band to mentor the second half of the season. So I hope people will tune in and write about us! My dad always taught me: Don’t ever make it your goal to be famous, make it your goal to be respected. But we wouldn’t mind winning either!
For more information or tour dates, visit www.lauracheadle.com.
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