Indie music star Laurel returns to Havant and South Downs College

ACCLAIMED indie musician and singer Laurel paid a virtual visit to her former college to speak with students about her career.
The cover from Laurel's latest single, 'Best I ever had'.The cover from Laurel's latest single, 'Best I ever had'.
The cover from Laurel's latest single, 'Best I ever had'.

Laurel Arnell-Cullen graduated from Havant and South Downs College in 2012 to forge a successful career in the music industry - recently described by GQ magazine as having moved from ‘indie darling’ to ‘synth-pop queen’.

Speaking about the launch of her career Laurel said: ‘I met someone named Simon through one of my lecturers, Kev Smith, and that’s how things kicked off. I’d been gigging for a while but hadn’t really had any contact with anyone in the music industry. I had interest from a bunch of labels and organised a day to go to London with my mum.’

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The musician spent an hour-and-a-half answering questions that students had submitted in advance, including how she put lyrics to a melody.

The successful singer said: ‘Lyrics have always been the heart of my songs as I came from a ‘folky’ background. I have a method – my inspiration comes from other people’s texts. ​I even read poetry.

‘You have to listen to yourself, you have to stop pushing, stop trying and do something different. It’s really good to break that creative time up and focus on more than one thing in order to be productive.’

When asked by students about how to get into the music industry, Laurel said: ‘You need to be business savvy and know what is going on. Dreams are like manifestations. If you can keep it in your eyesight, you are on your way already.’

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