Laura Ampersand
Laura Ryder is a piano-wielding songwriter and composer from Co. Mayo, who performs with a varying line up of talented collaborators under the name Laura Ampersand
Laura Ryder is a piano-wielding songwriter and composer from Co. Mayo, who performs with a varying line up of talented collaborators under the name Laura Ampersand. For fans of the likes of Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, Darwin Deez and Joanna Newsom, Laura writes piano-based songs which range from classical-influenced lyrical pieces to energetic full-band alt-pop arrangements. Vestigial, the band’s debut, was released in late 2017. Capable Of is their latest single.
Laura was raised on ELO, Johnathan Richman, classical composers and movie soundtracks, and everything in between. They were never too far from a piano, and always fascinated by lyrics, which culminated in songwriting and composing as a teenager. When not singing songs, Laura can be found composing music and sounds for video games and documentaries. Laura has supported the likes of BC Camplight, Síomha and Last Apollo, and played festivals such as Other Voices, Body and Soul, Electric Picnic, and Knockanstockan
24 is a chaotic space opera disguised as a baroque-pop song. Backed by sweeping string lines and an energetic piano-led band, impatient anxiously-attached lyrics lament general relativity and spacetime. Or maybe just an on-again off-again relationship. Basically, if Interstellar was another dejected pop song about feelings, it might sound a bit like this. Disclaimer: Laura Ampersand may or may not have any understanding of general relativity, the space-time continuum, or human relationships. But look, it has fake theremin in it! 24 was composed and scored in a bedroom, during a solitary lockdown stint. It was produced, recorded and mixed by the brilliant Alex Borwick, between Black Mountain studios and Sonic Recording Studios. It was mastered by Pete Maher.
Fiona apple – Not about love
The lyrics to Fiona Apple’s entire discography are tattooed on my brain. She changed how I play piano and write forever. She is a genius, and listening to her songs feels like standing in her giant genius brain, and that’s probably the best place you could spend an hour so. Her descriptions of the songwriting process and her motivations for songwriting really hit home with me. I picked Not About Love as it was probably one of the first Fiona Apple songs I heard, and kickstarted the obsession. The music video is good craic also.Ben Folds Five – Erase Me
Delightful divorce drama piano rock! I love how many moods and feelings this songs goes through. A speedrun of Ben Fold’s perhaps? But also listen to Still. And all of the Ben Folds music. I first heard Ben Folds music as a child when watching 2006s criminally underrated cinematic marvel called Over The Hedge. This is probably a very strange way to become a fan of Ben Folds. Since then, I have branched out to listen to Ben Folds outside of the film Over The Hedge also. From the piano rock of Ben Folds Five (it’s funny because the band has three members) to his brilliantly orchestrated-heavy solo stuff, it’s all great music and great lyrics!
Regina Spektor - Chemo Limo
Hello anti-folk-ish Regina Spektor era! This whole album, Soviet Kitsch, is so class and really shaped my tiny songwriter brain. I’m not sure when I first got the CD but it was on heavy rotation through secondary school! This song is such a beautiful emotional rollercoaster tragedy. I wish I could attempt to capture the complexities and tragic absurdities of being human in the same way Regina does. Not only does the song break my heart, but it also definitely makes me say the phrase ‘Crispy crispy Benjamin Franklin’ more often than I would if I had never heard it.
Owen Pallett – I Am Not Afraid
E is For Estranged is the first Oven Pallett song I ever heard. I was waiting on a platform when changing trains to go somewhere, and this came on some discover playlist, and my brain melted. I just listened to it on loop for the remainder of the journey while feeling waves of fury and joy. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been away of their existence yet, despite hearing having heard their incredible arrangements for MOST ALBUMS I HAVE HEARD AND LOVED. Check out the list of their contributions to other artist’s albums. Their song I Am Not Afraid breaks my heart every time. I wish to absorb a small percent of their magical arrangement powers.
Kate Bush – Cloudbusting
How could you not be inspired by Kate Bush. What a songwriter, producer, lyricist, musician genius. Such powerful everything. I feel like I don’t have to write much here - her influence and importance as an artist is undeniable. What a fascinating human and artist who tells such important stories in her music.
Andy Shauf - Begin Again
AAAAAAAA Andy Shauf. AAAAAA The Party. Need I say more?
The Party was my gateway drug to the Andy Shauf cinematic universe. He writes such fascinating intertwining characters and narratives. And such amazing arrangements! It’s like eating popcorn that but every kernel explodes into a 3 course meal or something. I am also addicted to his most recent 2023 album, Norm. If you see me in person don’t ask me about it unless you want me to talk for a really long time and make you listen to it.
Kimya Dawson – My Mom
Everything Kimya Dawson writes is perfect, the cascading hyper honesty, attention to the detail, and vivid imagery. No punches are pulled lyrically. This whole album was yet another formative one – Remember That I Love You is so goooooooood, alongside all Kimya’s stuff. My Mom is a great example of her work, jumping from tangible nightmare imagery, to heart-breaking accounts of reality, to childlike moments. She doesn’t shy away from battering us with the fragility of life and love.Johnathan Richman – Abdul and Cleopatra
Get up and do a weird little dance. It’s time to listen to Johnathan Richman. A musical champion unafraid to rhyme Cleopatra with lines like “I wonder where she’s at-ra” and “Wherever she’ll be at-ra”. All other songwriters are cowards. He’s so earnest and unafraid of cheese – a recipe for excellent bops. Listen to Johnathan Richman. Do it. It’s like going to therapy to meet your inner child but easier and cheaper, maybe? Maybe truly good music isn’t afraid of being funny in the process of existing. Having a sense of humour is important!
Sufjan Stevens – Goodbye Evergreen
I ENJOY SUFJAN STEVEN’S MUSIC IMMENSELY AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM LIVE PLEASE. Carrie and Lowell is such an incredible album. All of his albums are such incredible albums, lyrically and musically. I couldn’t pick one so here’s the latest song of his that I love, from his latest album Javelin. Hello, thank you for breaking my heart.
Electric Light Orchestra – It’s Over
ELO – Out of the Blue was a hugely formative album for me. I listened to it again trying to pick a song for this list and just kept changing the song as they played. Here’s ‘It’s Over’ anyways, impossible choices were made. One of many bands I absorbed through osmosis through my Dad, alongside Johnathan Richman! Mr. Blue Sky was a regular fixture in dragging myself to school as a teenager. Big orchestral drama good times!!
Cheeky bonus track: Jockstrap - The City
A later addition to the influences list, but GOD Jockstrap are unreal. This song is a good speedrun of their work! Very inspiring production wise. Turns out we have free will?! I need to go make weirder art.It was impossible to mention all the artists I wanted to obviously, but I’ll just throw some names here in a random order! Feist, Corook, Bombay Bicycle Club, Joanna Newsom, Lucy Rose, Darwin Deez, Villagers, Lump, Beirut, Björk, Little Green Cars, Julia Jacklin, Kraftwerk, Gorillaz, Wild Child, Los Campesinos, Peter and Kerry, We Were Evergreen, The Beatles (small unknown indie boyband) plus 100000000 more)