Laura Veirs

Laura Veirs

Laura Veirs is an American singer-songwriter from Colorado Springs, and she is also associated with Portland. Born in 1973, she is based in Portland, Oregon. Her work spans alternative country, alternative rock, folk, folk rock, indie folk and indie rock.

Early life and influences

Veirs is raised in Colorado and studies geology and Mandarin Chinese at Carleton College in rural Minnesota. She says she does not listen seriously to music until her 20s, instead absorbing the folk, country, classical and pop music around her at home and on the radio. At college she becomes interested in feminist punk rock from the Pacific Northwest.

Early bands and songwriting

While at Carleton College, Veirs forms an all-female punk band called Rair Kx!. After college she turns more fully towards older country and folk music. Her first songwriting comes during a geological expedition in China, where she works as a translator; she describes using lyrics as a way to cope with being unhappy there.

Solo recordings and collaborations

Veirs releases her self-titled debut album in 1999, recorded live with just voice and guitar. She later makes five records with producer Tucker Martine. Troubled by the Fire appears in 2003 as a full-band album and includes contributions from Bill Frisell and violist Eyvind Kang. She signs to Nonesuch Records the following year for Carbon Glacier, followed by Year of Meteors in 2005. Veirs also collaborates with The Decemberists on “Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)”, which appears on their 2006 album The Crane Wife.

Later releases and projects

Her sixth album, Saltbreakers, appears on Nonesuch Records in 2007, and July Flame follows in 2010. In 2011 she releases Tumble Bee: Laura Veirs Sings Folk Songs For Children, a collection of mostly traditional songs with guest appearances from Colin Meloy, Jim James and Bela Fleck. The album wins a Parents' Choice Award in 2012. In 2012 she releases her first feature film soundtrack, Hello I Must Be Going.

Touring and backing band

Veirs tours regularly in Europe, the United States and Australia, both solo and with her backing band the Saltbreakers. That group includes Karl Blau on bass, guitar and backing vocals, keyboardist Steve Moore, and Tucker Martine on drums.