The story of Ukulaylay
Hello 👋🏻 my name is Laura. I’m a ukulele player, singer, songwriter & poet from East Yorkshire. I’m also leader of a local ukulele band – Huxulele. We mainly play cover songs in the Yorkshire area.
My story began around 2012. I have always loved music from being a child. I started out liking the usual pop bands but during my teens started dabbling in all genres. I was very into 60s and 80s at this time but growing and evolving I began to find my style which has to be electronica. Depeche Mode and Hurts being my main influences but growing up I was inspired not only by Martin Gores lyrics but also Morrissey. I think lyrics tell a story and often can picture your take on their lyrics in your head. Gordon Lightfoot being a childhood influencer too. Now I’m into bands such as Bastille & The Script… but there are so many more!
Loving music so much and often scribbling a few notes down, I decided to start playing an instrument. I started to learn to play the guitar mainly acoustic but did have an electric one. I found some chords a struggle having small hands. Some chords were difficult. I also started to attend songwriting weekends up at Dumfries once a year. The beautiful scenery was inspiring. Really sparked the imagination. Attending one of the songwriting weekends I met someone there who introduced me to the ukulele and I have to admit it was love at first sight, so that Monday when I got home, I went to my local Argos to buy a cheap pink number. I absolutely loved it. After practicing a little and getting better I thought it was time to buy a decent one so I did. I sold my guitars and began my ukulele journey. I continued to write and play but never had the courage to perform my stuff, only at the songwriting weekends once a year. I joined a local ukulele group, then began singing lessons and over a few years this gained me the confidence I needed to believe in myself and my own writing.
So after writing a fair few songs and poems over the years, I took the leap over the pandemic, as not being able to do anything gig wise due to the current situation & recorded my first two songs with the help of Strange Reality Music Productions https://www.facebook.com/strangerealitymusic/ . It’s a pretty awesome feeling listening to something you have created. I officially released these – Smile on Your Face and Uncertain on my Bandcamp site http://ukulaylay.bandcamp.com then followed with a video for Smile on Your Face which I made myself via iPhone which can be viewed on YouTube.
I’m feel very proud of my achievements over the years & I’ve continued to create music & poetry during this time. Even getting one of my songs – Missed your show played on BBC introducing Humberside back in 2021. This was something I never thought I’d ever accomplish in my life or have the courage to do so. It was one of the best moments in my life. Having your creativity recognise. Dreams can really come true. You just have to believe.
I have created much more over the years. Please see my band camp pages for merchandise and music releases.
Also I released my first ever poetry book “For Love Lost into Something New” full of original poetry by me & beautiful art work by the lovely Helen McCookerybook.
My thank yous are not only to my always supportive family & friends but to Rich Huxley (the one & only ukulele tutor), Chris Miley for the supportive pushes into – I can do this, – Dale who helped me polish my singing voice but mainly Helen McCookerybook for giving my that initial push to get up & do at one of the songwriting weekends. If it wasn’t for that push I may never have gone on this journey.
Thank you for reading my journey x
Please check out my social media pages:
LINKS:
ukulaylay.com 