Laurie Levine profile picture

Laurie Levine

Album out in shops now

About Me


Laurie Levine’s music comes from the ‘heartspace’, the word poet Breyten Breytenbach uses to describe South Africa’s anguished beauty. Her lyrics touch our ‘unspoken’ corners; her sounds are a contemporary interpretation of true folk. Levine’s debut album, Unspoken, draws on her personal tales of longing and hope to render an atmospheric and electric terrain.
Unspoken, an entirely independent release, was nominated for a 2007 South African Music Award (SAMA) in the hotly contested category of Adult Contemporary English – it was up against Johnny Clegg, Just Jinger, Chris Letcher and Harris Tweed.
At the core of ‘Unspoken’ are a clutch of songs that waste no time in laying claim to the heart of any listener through Levine’s ability to move from the intimate (‘In Your Arms’) to minutely-observed social commentary with the ease of someone born to it.
Laurie lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, and performs with her band which consists of Brendan Ou Tim on bass, former bassist of Henry Ate, Bruce Mclaren Lyall on drums, former drummer of Karoo and Thabang Noosi on guitar, who has played with the likes of Louis Mahlanga, Moses Khumalo and Gloria Bosman.
In 2003 she began a close working relationship with the Drum Café, an association that has impacted significantly on her creative life. The relationship saw the publication of The Drumcafe’s Traditional Music of South Africa, which Levine wrote. The book is today considered a valuable resource by academics and musicians.
In recent years she has performed at the famous CBGBs in New York and opened for Rodriguez at The Forum in London. With her band she has also performed at some of South Africa’s most well-known musical festivals, including Splashy Fen, Oppikoppi, the Mr Price Pro and the Levis Vintage sessions.
Contact:
Linda Thompson (Management)
[email protected]
(27) 011 783 8732/ 072 240 9433
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/25/2005
Band Website: laurielevine.co.za
Band Members: Laurie Levine: Lead vocals and guitar
Brendan Ou'Tim: bass and guitar
Thabang Noosi: guitar
Bruce Mclaren Lyall: Drums and percussion

Influences: Current Favourites: Jeff Buckley, The Bright eyes, My most beautiful Diamond, Feist, Christina Courtin Old Favourites: Suzanne Vega, Cat Power, Heather Nova, Joni Mitchell, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Merchant, The indigo girls, David Kitt, Lucinda Williams, Aimee Mann, Sarah Mclachlan, the cowboy junkies, Natalie Merchant, The be Good Tanyas, Jack Johnson, The Sundays, Sting, Emiliana Torrini, Kathleen Edwards, Damien Rice, Everything but the girl, K's choice, Alison Krauss, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Amos Lee, Ani Di Franco, Beth Orton, Bonnie 'prince' Billie, Lucinda Williams, Dar Williams, Sinead O Connor, Dave Mathews, Heather nova, Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin, Sheryl Crow, Rosie Thomas, Amadou and Mariam, Jolie Holland, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins

Sounds Like: BUY LAURIE LEVINE'S ALBUM 'UNSPOKEN' FROM ONE WORLD ONLINE SHOP (LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING)

DOWNLOAD SONGS FROM CALABASH MUSIC

DOWNLOAD SONGS FROM RHYTHM RECORDS

Record Label: Beyond the Box
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Bretts song

This is a song I wrote for the sweetest most gentle boy. It came to me in the blink of an eye. One of those shadowed moments when everything is so still you can hear your own breath. I remember his pa...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:23:00 PST

An update

The end of the year of creeping towards us quicker that we can imagine, and it a last minute rush to finish up and get things done. Only a couple more shows this year before we take a break to st...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:12:00 PST

DURBAN SHOWS

Laurie Levine performs in Durban for the first time... Two shows only: Date: Thursday 13th September Venue: THE LUNA LOUNGE Address: 168 Old Main Road, Bothas Hill, Beaufort Hill Time: 6 30pm Cost: R3...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Sun, 09 Sep 2007 01:50:00 PST

Thank you

Thanks to everyone for coming together to celebrate the release of Unspoken. I had a brilliant evening and it sure was a fine way to rejoice getting this little creation out i...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:16:00 PST

Unspoken- officially released

 Unspoken   Unspoken has finally finally found a home..... Beyond The Box Music and IRiS have come on board for its official release in SA.   A brand ne...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 02:48:00 PST

SAMA nomination

Would like to share with all my friends the news that 'Unspoken', my debut album has been nominated for a SAMA (South African Music Award) this year. Its been nominated in the category of Best Adult C...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:44:00 PST

In a recent article Joe Blog's asks some questions

What does Laurie Levine leave unspoken? By Robert Laing These nice, clever, pretty girls that matriarchs of respectable families would love to see their son the lawyer or doctor marry, what do they le...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Thu, 09 Nov 2006 10:13:00 PST

RADIOPLAY

I am excited to announce that my first single, UP GOES THE GAUGE, has just been playlisted on highveld stereo- one of Joburg's top radio stations. So..... I am rallying all the support I can get ...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Mon, 09 Oct 2006 08:36:00 PST

Lyrics for Stranger

Excuse me sir never quite got your name I might have seen you before but I dont quite know where Your blue coat your pale skin they remind me of something Youve got that look in your eyes inviting me ...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Mon, 03 Jul 2006 09:53:00 PST

Unspoken

Its been almost a year in the making, but almost ten years since the then somewhat crazy idea of recording my own album occured to me. It started with one song, 'morning sky'. I woke up one day a...
Posted by Laurie Levine on Mon, 03 Jul 2006 09:47:00 PST