Laura Jansen 'Elba' released June 17th

‘Elba’ is the new album from Dutch-American singer-songwriter Laura Jansen, released June 17th on Decca. Recorded in her adopted hometown of Los Angeles, ‘Elba’ was produced by Matt Hales - fresh from co-writing and producing Lianne La Havas’s Mercury nominated debut album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough’ - and features duets with Keane’s Tom Chaplin and Ed Harcourt. Its title taken from the Mediterranean island where Napoleon was exiled, ‘Elba’ is Jansen’s first UK release but her second album, her first ‘Bells’ (2009) was a hit in mainland Europe. Jansen's spellbinding cover of Kings Of Leon's 'Use Somebody' (taken from 'Bells') spent more than 6 months in the Top 25 of the Dutch singles chart.

'Elba’ marries Jansen’s dreamy piano-pop sound with elegant, beat-driven production, while retaining the pristine clarity of her voice and emotional resonance of her thoughtful lyrics. Sonically influenced by Miike Snow, Sigur Rós, and Jónsi’s solo album, plus Jansen's musical heroine Kate Bush, the album mixes samples and synthesizers with acoustic piano to beguiling effect.

Born in Breda, Holland, to a Dutch father and an American mother, Laura Jansen began playing piano at age five while her family lived in Brussels, followed by Zurich and Connecticut. After spending two years at a music conservatory in Holland, Jansen transferred to Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music with a scholarship.

Following a stint as a songwriter in Nashville, Jansen moved to the west coast and became a fixture at Los Angeles’ creative musical haven The Hotel Café. In 2008, Jansen spent six weeks on the road singing back-up vocals and playing piano, as well as opening for Joshua Radin, followed by a slot on the national Hotel Café Tour alongside Ingrid Michaelson and Rachael Yamagata. Signed to Universal in 2009, Jansen released a collection of confessional, piano-based alt-pop on debut album 'Bells' and watched it become a best-seller in Europe, with platinum sales in Holland, sell-out tours across Germany, and two tours of China.

www.laurajansen.com 
@LauraJansen