Audio interview recorded live Wadawurrung lands.
Audio transcribed and edited on Gadubanud lands.
Interviewed by Sam Owen

As night fell on Day 2 at BTV, Laura built trust early on with a ‘No Scrubs’ edit by Serbian artist Bad Boombox. A wide selection of energetic and vocal driven tracks set up an evening of world class driving swinging techno.

Laura growing up in Winchelsea just down the road from Barunah Plains made this performance all the more special. Her parents and younger brothers also there to experience her historic performance at the Dance Dome.

There was an excitable atmosphere as Laura delivered an impressive display of music from a mix of underground genres. Her set recording on Soundcloud recording already listened to over 34 thousand times in less than 10 days. An accomplishment in itself. Laura playing her newly released track ‘ Our Sun Is a Star’ before ‘Hace Ejercicios’ by role model Nina Kraviz also a special moment.

After years of disruptions to the music industry and the return of festival experiences it was great to see emerging Australian acts such Laura do their thing on the big stage.

We were fortunate enough to sit down with Laura the night of her show. See below for what went down.

Thinking about the year that was. What does it feel like leading into this moment?

It feels really good. I’ve been pretty nervous all day but my parents are here now. With my house just being 20 minutes away and my family knowing the family that once owned this farm. It feels like everything has come full circle. So yeah, it’s just a crazy moment in time having grown up just around the corner from here. And I’m about to play to 10-15 thousand people, it feels pretty scary but I am ready for it! So yeah, I'm very excited, it’s going to be amazing.

Going from club shows in Geelong to playing the biggest dance floor in the country? That is a big leap. How do you explain that to people ?

I don't really know how I guess it's progressed so far. Playing so many gigs you end up getting booked. Playing lots of shows people are able to see me, and get to know what I am about then from there you sort of build a following. You sort of just become more in demand and get booked for bigger and bigger shows. But yeah, I truly believe it just comes from playing so much and just getting more and more exposure. Then it just builds naturally.

I’d love to hear more about your music selection. You have a name for bringing older underground tracks while incorporating more recent appealing music into your sets. Tell me a bit more about that.
Yeah well I guess different generations have varying music tastes. I feel like when I first started playing I was really digging deep into techno and was having my mind blown by all of these amazing tracks I was finding. Then I started playing heaps of classics and ended up getting a lot of attention for that. But then as the years have gone on, I've curated a lot of old music. These days, I am more up to date in the scene and am aware of the many amazing producers out there. At the moment, I am very much all about the new music, but in saying that, all of the new music being made is also still so relatable to all the old stuff. It's really tribal but stripped back to its essence. But you know, it is still very related to what is in right now. So yeah, it's all sort of tied in together with what I first started listening to when I was younger going to house parties. The sort of hip hop inspired techno that has been coming through has been great. These days, I just live for it. It is very inspiring. I’ve noticed it really hits people on the dancefloor in a different way, especially the younger audiences. Yeah it tends to do really well. Overall, I feel like I am tying in my past with my present which is very really cool and nice. So yeah. It's all in sync.

Is it common for your family to join you for a big performance like this?

Not always but I figured it is so close. My family loves music, my dad especially, so I just think it's nice for them to come down. Otherwise they'd be hanging at home so great they can be here to experience it with me.. I also have three siblings and two of them are here. So we are all here out and about having fun. My parents are still young and are still keen to get out and experience things and have a good dance. So yeah, very fun to be able to bring them along. I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for them anyway. Very grateful to have them here at BTV.

So Laura you have a few releases under your belt. Some really big shows under your belt. A lot of experience. What is the outlook for next year (2023)?

It is looking good. So I've released a few remixes over the years and haven't allocated enough time to focus on production in the midst of playing so many gigs. Creating enough time for the studio has been tough. Although, I have managed to finish my first original that is being released in the next few weeks which is really exciting. Which label? Beaufort Beats. It's the local Melbourne label. But yes, I am looking forward to getting a few more releases out this year.

What's one artist you resonate with most?

I feel like I always say this, but I'm going to have to say Nina Kraviz. She has been around longer than me and is obviously at a different level.. But every track she plays and everything that she does. I just think, she just can't do wrong by me. She is a big inspiration for me and resonates with me so much. I really look up to her, I always have, and probably always will.

What is it about her you admire?

The main thing would be her taste in music. For some reason it really resonates with me. We play a little bit differently, like different sounds. But yeah I love everything she plays. She also has amazing stage presence and her label trip is another big inspiration of mine, and yeah. I just really appreciate how she stays true to herself.

How do you take care of yourself to maintain the quality for everything you’re doing?

I need to have a proper routine during the week, because I'm not, you know, working a traditional job. Music can lack structure at times so I need to be really disciplined and organized in the week for me to get things done that I need to do. I get up early and go to the gym before starting my day in the studio. It can be really hard sometimes being only accountable to myself. But I try my best to be disciplined in that way. Otherwise everything just falls apart. So yeah, I guess my biggest thing is still having a really normal routine during the week. When possible I really try not to stay up too late on the weekends unless I am at an important event like BTV. It is good to come here and set up at the camp for a few days and enjoy the festival celebrating New Year's. But yeah, if it's a club show I try and keep things structured by driving there and home. So yeah, I guess that discipline is what it takes to manage all of these opportunities.

Will this be the biggest crowd you have played to?

Yeah. This would be the biggest so far. Growing up just down the road in Winchelsea makes this show very special.

Thank you Laura it was great chatting.
Thank you!

Laura King delivers a stellar performance at BTV’s Dance Dome.