Laura Munan @lauramunan
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Laura, a singer/songwriter, through a mutual friend, and we quickly bonded over conversations about creativity and the journey of following your passion. It's always so inspiring to hear stories of people choosing to pursue their inner calling. I asked Laura five questions to dive deeper into her journey of self-discovery and creativity, in hopes that her story might inspire you too!
In Portal Necklace & Aquamarine Huggies
1. What is music to you and when did you know you wanted to be an artist?
Music has and will always be my outlet - to communicate, reflect, relish, understand, to heal… I’ve been singing all my life and writing since I was around 10. I’ve always felt like I had stories to tell and a message to share but used to be pretty shy about it through my teenage years. Now I feel so empowered to tell my stories because I know other people can relate to them in their own unique ways. It’s always been part of my life, and always been my dream.
2. What inspires you the most in your creative process?
The thing that inspires me most is everyday life. I really enjoy diving into the worlds of my imagination, but the things I’m drawn to write about usually stem from the most mundane and routine parts of my day. I get the best ideas when I’m just going about my life - walking, taking the bus, seeing friends. I really like how my music is grounded in these real experiences. I think it’s such a part of the human condition, and something we’re all trying to understand in our own way - mine’s writing.
3. Growing up as a mixed kid (iban/kiwi), how has this shaped the way that you are today?
How long have you got? 😂 Growing up as a mixed kid has definitely shaped me and my expression heaps. I’m so grateful to have grown up within two very contrasting cultures, it affects the way I experience everything and my perspective on the world. I’d say it makes you really open minded and appreciative of the differences between cultures - feel like a bit of a shapeshifter sometimes. It has however made me hyper aware of my identity and sense of self and belonging. I often find myself having to explain exactly where I’m from to people… sometimes changing my narrative to cater to others who don’t understand. That’s something I’m working on as I get older and more sure of myself, being unapologetic. I love bringing different aspects of my identity into my expression, sharing from both the beautiful and challenging parts of it.
4. Was there a moment when you decided on this path (or anything) that opened up a whole new world?
My first release ‘Wandering’ really unlocked something in me. Until that point I had written a lot but had always been hesitant to share it. So once I had made that first release - which came about thanks to encouragement from friends paired with really minimal planning and thought - it was so empowering. The world didn’t end, and turns out it wasn’t really that deep. Since then my confidence has grown so much and I’ve really learnt to trust myself creatively. The way I approached my second project ‘Solstice’ was with a lot more intention and confidence as a result.
5. For anyone who wants to pursue their passion, their inner calling but is scared to dive into the unknown - what would be your advice/message to them?
I still really feel like I am on this journey myself - I’m like mid-dive right now but that’s okay. I’d say these are exciting times, and again it’s just not that deep. My general rule with creativity, being vulnerable and sharing it is that as long as I love the thing I’m creating then that is enough. I can’t create if I’m thinking about whether other people will like it or not - as long as I like it then I can be proud of it. And statistically if I like it… there will be someone else who does too. If you value and trust in your own taste, you’re in good hands. Trust yourself and just do it - that’s what life is for.
EP Cover for 'Solstice'
