Teen sings her love for Christmas in debut single

Saturday 28 November 2020

A 13-year-old singer and musician has put her love of the holidays to music with the help of her guitar teacher - and hopes to donate any proceeds to charities.

Lara wrote the lyrics for ‘The Holidays’ two years ago during the festive season and decided to record it earlier this year.

She first went to her guitar teacher, David Ashurst, of Jenca Music School with an idea for a tune, and he helped her create the song.

Pictured: This was Lara's first recording experience.

“I have written other songs, but this is the first one I take the guitar to,” Lara said. “My teacher helped me with that, he helped me find the chords that go together.”

Lara then recorded the song at the JAMM Studios with her sisters aged seven and five singing the backing vocals and Producer Olly Rybarczuk helping turn it into a “catchy tune."

“I am a very festive person, so I thought it was perfect I had a Christmas song,” Lara said. 

“The recording process was really fun. It was a bit long because we had to take quite a lot of takes and then pieced all the things together.”

Lara’s mum, Nadege O’Connor, also enjoyed witnessing the process. “It was very interesting how you have to record every piece separately.

“It was quite interesting to see how much technology can help you build a song and put it together. You have got to be really at IT in addition to music nowadays. The producer has been amazing he has done so much for the song.”

The song has been released on several platforms and Lara plans on donating any proceeds from it to charities, including WWF because she loves what they do for animals. 

Lara has been passionate about music for several years. She plays the piano, the trumpet and the guitar and singing lessons with Lauren Pollock at Chordz Music School. 

Among her favourite artists, she cites Little Mix and Taylor Swift, but the young girl also has a penchant for 80’s music and the likes of Depeche Mode.

“I have always liked music,” she said. “I do not know what I would do without it, I listen to it all the time. I really like singing too.”

“I really like all music and I quite like the 80’s. I have done a lot of shows with 80’s music so maybe that’s where my love for the 80’s comes from. I just love the style of it.” 

“We are quite musical in the family,” Nadege said. “I have always encouraged the girls to do music.”

Talking about Lara recording her first single, “proud mum” Nadege added: “I just think it’s really great. I think a lot of kids do not get the opportunity to do things they like because it’s always about school and homework. Lara has been home schooled for the last three and a half years. 

“I have always told her to follow her passion. She loves acting and she has done lots of productions where she sings and can use her musical talent. I just let her pursue that passion.

“It’s the great thing with home schooling, you can spend time on things you like. Life is not just all about doing all you’re told, but living your dream and doing something you like. It’s great to be supportive of children and their creativity.”

Pictured: "I am a very festive person," Lara said.

While she still, has to film the video for ‘The Holidays’, Lara is already working on a new song. She will also be doing an album next year and although she hasn’t settled on a peculiar style just yet, it is sure to include “dancy 80’s”. 

“I quite like the 80’s,” Lara said. “I have done a lot of shows with 80’s music so maybe that’s where my love for the 80’s comes from. I just love the style of it.”

“I am grateful that I have had all these experiences,” she added. “It was really fun to experience and I am really happy that I will have the chance to do it again.

“I really want to try and make it. I really want to try and I do not want to give up.

“Music is a really good way of expressing yourself as well, I just love the idea of writing music. It’s a form of therapy for me.”

 To listen to Lara's song, click here.