M.S. Hi Lauren, How do you do? It’s nice to have you in our webzine.

M.S. As we can see in your myspace, you have already finished the tour with Within Temptation in Europe. What’s your opinion about your concerts? Have you improved your performance even more with all these concerts?

L.H: The tour with Within Temptation was brilliant, I had a really good
time and I think
I‘m constantly improving, its all about experience
and being thrown into different situations and dealing with them. My confidence
has grown and so because of it so has my performance.

M.S. You were in Barcelona when you supported Iron Maiden, your father’s band, How did you feel the audience in Madrid and Barcelona this time? I think that you would be less nervous this time with less people at the room, right?

L.H: I think the Spanish audience are always very supportive and its clear
that they love music because even though before with Maiden and this time round
people don’t necessarily know the songs but they still have a good time and
are very supportive and responsive. It’s nice to be in smaller places sometimes
because you feel closer to the audience and they do to you too.

M.S. There was something strange for us in your gigs.
you hadn’t got merchandising… I wanted to listen some of your songs when I
went home, but we can only listen to them through the internet. Haven’t you
thought about recording a complete album?

L.H: It’s because we didn’t find out we were doing that tour until the last minute, but we are in the process of finishing the album at the moment, and we will have something out around the end of October/early November

M.S I think you will have been asked this many times, but… Why you always sing barefoot?

L.H: I go barefoot because when we started recording in the studio for the very first time I would always take off my shoes because I would feel more comfortable and the first gig I ever did, I was wearing shoes and it felt weird so I took them off and have never worn shoes since.

M.S. It’s obvious where your liking of music comes from, but when did you begin to feel keen on music?

L.H: ‘ve always been keen on music, ‘ve grown up around it and I started singing when I was in school and then carried on singing after school and it sort of naturally fell into place.

M.S. Were you with other band before this one? How do you get in touch with Randy, Richie and Tom?

L.H: No ‘d never sang with a band before. Tom is part of my management
team and is also my producer and Randy used to be in Angel, who my manager used
to manage years ago. I came to know Ritchie through my dad.

M.S. You are only 22 years old and you are completely within the music world, Does your father give you advice about how to carry your career? or does he set you free about it?

L.H: Yeah he gives me advice now and again but ‘m new to this business
so ‘m glad he does. He knows that ‘m well looked after and can’t be with me
all the time so he lets me get on with things in my own way.

M.S. Lauren, what’s the rock’n roll for you?

L.H: Rock ‘n’ Roll to me is about having a good time and enjoying the music.

M.S. Besides Iron Maiden (if you used to listen to them), Which kind
of music did you grow up with? Do you listen to the same music now?

L.H: I did used to listen to Maiden and stuff that dad would play around the house, when I was in school I would listen to Pop stuff because that’s what everyone would listen to and Spice girls were big at the time but I grew out of that.

M.S. Do you have any rock-star as your idol in the music?

L.H: I love Ann Wilson’s voice because its so strong and powerful and there’s not a lot of women role models to look up to in rock so she really stands out for me.

M.S: What "role" do you think play the woman in this "metal/rock world"?

L.H: Not a huge role, its mostly dominated by men but women like Pat Benetar and the Wilson sisters were pioneers and made a big impact. I don’t think its because women are not accepted, they are, but there’s just never been a lot of women doing it. But there are more and more females now in the rock world today than there have ever been I think.

M.S. Although your album is not released yet, we think that with the quantity of gigs that you played, we are talking about a band which wants to have a long future in the music, right? I mean…. this is not a hobbie for you all that can end soon, right?

L.H: No I would hope not, that’s what I’m working towards and that’s what
everyone dreams of but I do know that the music business is very fickle and
its hard to substain longevity although Rock fans are more loyal than any other
genre of music I think.

M.S. We will see you again in Spain in the Bilbao Live Festival, after that, what is the band going to do?

L.H: I finish the festivals at the end of June and then the plan is to
finish the album and concentrate on the release of that but we are already getting
offers (to go out on the road) with more shows starting in November.

M.S. This is the end of the interview, thanks for sharing your time with us, if you want to add something to our readers, now is the time. it’s been very nice…… Good luck and see you soon!!

L.H: Thanks for talking with me, I really appreciate all the support and
email’s hope to see you all out on the road soon!

David A. / Javier Tendero

LINKS:

Within
Temptation + Lauren Harris – 25th March – Sala La Riviera ( Madrid )