Popular American singer, author and songwriter Laura Pergolizzi is better known today as an LP singer. She does not hide her unconventional orientation, but, on the contrary, talks about it in lyrical songs such as “Other People”, “Lost on You”, etc. Therefore, the husband and children of the LP singer are currently absent.
Singer LP
The androgynous appearance, open and at the same time mysterious smile of LP (b. 1981), her lush, covering part of her face, head of black curls make up the unique image of the singer LP. An integral part of Laura's stage appearance was her sunglasses. “I try to hide behind dark glasses,” LP admits frankly, “sometimes it seems provocative, but it doesn’t bother me.”
On stage, glasses protect the singer from the bright spotlight, but in life they allow her to remain less recognizable. Perhaps this is the only barrier between the singer and her many fans. By nature, LP is a shy person and needs her own personal space. “I need protection,...boyfriend,” LP admits. However, the LP singer does not yet feel the desire to have a husband and children.
Childhood and family
The real name of the LP singer is Laura Pergolizzi.
She was born on March 18, 1981 in Long Island, USA, to Italian American parents. Her maternal grandparents emigrated to New York State from Naples and Palermo. A loving father and mother supported Laura and were always on her side. The girl’s parents were not people of creative professions, but her mother’s hobby was singing, and she liked Laura’s passion for music. The girl herself learned to play the harmonica and ukulele, and her voice, inherited from her mother, amazed her with its strength and expressiveness even in early childhood.
Laura Pergolizzi decided to become a singer
When Laura graduated from school in 1996. Walter Whitman, she had no choice of life path before her. It was not easy for her to come to terms with the early death of her mother, but her father supported her daughter, and Laura, deciding to pursue a musical career, went to the capital of the state of New York, where great prospects opened up for her. By this time, she had come up with the pseudonym LP, making it up from the initial letters of her first and last name.
Laura Pergolizzi wins the hearts of fashionable music lovers
“A lot of people think I look like a rock star, but as soon as I open my mouth, it’s immediately obvious that I’m a pop singer,” American Laura Pergolizzi, better known by her stage name LP, laughs uproariously on the other side of our video call in Skype. Behind her, the Brussels griffon Orson is jumping and barking - the dog really missed his owner, who has been living in hotels and airplanes lately, her schedule is scheduled for six months in advance, very soon she will fly on a tour to Russia and on March 25 will be in Moscow to give concert at Crocus City Hall.
It seems that the public is finally tired of overtly produced projects and craves sincerity like air: they need new Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin and Patti Smith. LP is just from this independent cohort. Even by external signs: an androgynous silhouette, unruly curls a la young Bob Dylan, a charming boyish smile and a dashing whistle that has already become a calling card.
The author and performer of the YouTube hit Lost on You, which has collected a quarter of a billion views, is constantly called an aspiring young singer, but Laura is about to turn thirty-seven, and she released her first album in 2001 - when Rita Ora or Rihanna performed in school amateur performances. The girl’s path to fame was longer and more thorny.
Laura Pergolizzi was born on Long Island and grew up in New York, where she was infected with the spirit of rock and roll permissiveness and a love of music of all types: “Everyone in my family is doctors and lawyers, and I always wanted more. I looked at my idols - Roy Orbison and Leonard Cohen - and dreamed of the stage. When I moved to New York, I was happy if I could perform in some bar a couple of times a month - I had something to pay for housing and food.”
“I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT THE SUCCESS OF LOST ON YOU. WHY, IF THERE IS SO MUCH INTERESTING IN MUSIC?”
After a harsh school of life in New York, the girl moved to Los Angeles. It turned out that her straightforward, emotional songs, full of personal experiences, often played to the accompaniment of only a ukulele, only cause smiles from serious producers. And when she brought the songs Lost on You, Muddy Waters and Strange to the Warner Bros. label, with which she was then working, they simply showed her the door. “At that moment, all I had left,” the singer recalls, “are my songs. So I never tire of repeating: you can’t give up. What seems like trash to one may be a real treasure to another.”
This is how the song Muddy Waters, contemptuously rejected by a venerable record label, attracted the attention of the producers of the series. Netflix filmmakers ended the fourth season of the super-popular prison drama “Orange is the New Black” with a dark, sincere ballad. It became clear that Laura, whose first albums remained unsold, had commercial potential. Although this hardly surprised those who knew that the singer, like the Australian Sia who made waves a couple of years ago, is the co-author of many “other people’s” hits from Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful People to Rita Ora’s Shine Ya Light. She knew what kind of music brought success, but she was not in the mood to dance to someone else’s tune: “I came out to the audience with songs when I was ready. And, apparently, when they were also ready to recognize me.”
Now, having acquired an army of fans, Laura is no longer going to fit into the rigid stylistic framework of show business. A pop musician with the appearance of a rock star, she spent too long honing her style, striving to find a balance between internal and external. “In first place I have Saint Laurent. I spend ninety-nine percent of my time wearing things from this brand. I especially like what Hedi Slimane did. And the rest of the time I wear a T-shirt and jeans!” - Laura laughs. In addition to Saint Laurent, she wears Gucci, Dior and Balenciaga, and this year she became an ambassador for Swiss watches Girard-Perregaux. Her style icons are David Bowie, Serge Gainsbourg, Mick Jagger and Jeff Buckley (we remember him from his brilliant cover of the song “Hallelujah”). “Buckley’s style is a lack of style,” explains Laura. — Fashion is not about how you dress, but about how comfortable you feel in your own skin. Achieving harmony is where true freedom lies.”
Subscribe and get one step closer to fashion professionals.
Photo: Robin Harpers
L.P. Start
In New York, the girl began performing in the duet Lionfish. The lineup also included LP's friend Alicia. The two named the group by combining their zodiac signs - Leo and Pisces. Their music was difficult to classify as any genre: the guys performed both melodic ballads and industrial avant-garde. Lionfish gave concerts in clubs and toured America. The LP's vocals were immediately memorable and delighted listeners.
LP singer in her youth
The girl’s unusual appearance did not go unnoticed: unruly curls, which she owes to her Italian roots, pale skin, bright eyes on a thin face. The girl did not wear makeup and preferred suits that elegantly emphasized her androgynous appearance. Lionfish — Next Time In addition to working with Lionfish, the singer collaborated with the band The Plan and briefly performed in the group Cracker. LP's voice can also be heard on backing vocals by Cracker frontman David Lowery. It was he who helped the girls from Lionfish record a demo record. The band's full-length album, Too Much Love, also recorded at David Lowery's studio, included 11 tracks written by the LP. The disc sold out within days of its release.
Have you had plastic surgery?
The first thing that interests many fans is whether there was plastic surgery for gender reassignment. However, the girl got an androgynous figure by nature, since the hormones required for such an operation would also affect her voice. Laura consciously does not use makeup to hide dark circles under her eyes and remove pale skin, and does not wear dresses or skirts, preferring men's suits and shirts. Pergolizzi is often compared to a young Bob Dylan, and Laura treats this with humor.
As for plastic surgery, most likely mentoplasty was performed, or an implant was possibly inserted. Thanks to this, the chin became more elongated and sharp, the face began to look more harmonious.
The singer herself really likes her appearance and bright image; in an interview, she admits that she has been collecting this image for a long time, because the inner world should be reflected in clothes. The presence of crosses as accessories is not a tribute to religion, but an attribute of rock music, and Laura needs dark glasses to close herself off from the outside world.
2019-06-25
Author: Svetlana Sergienko
First popularity
In 2001, the singer presented her debut album. “Heart-Shaped Scar” was again produced by David Lowery. The album was an incredible success, the LP was called the discovery of the year and the girl was predicted to be a resounding success. The composition from this record was performed in the drama “Eternal Values” with Glenn Close.
The LP singer loves more masculine looks
Three years later, LP released a second album, recorded with Linda Perry, one of the members of 4 NonBlondes. The bright pop-rock “Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol” brought popularity to the LP and attracted the attention of music industry bosses.
The LP singer has not changed her image
One of the executives at Jam Records invited the young singer to record her next album at their studio. LP happily agreed, understanding the need for producer support. However, cooperation with the famous studio did not work out. The producers did not like the girl’s appearance, they insisted on changing her image. But LP, who feels comfortable in men's suits and black sunglasses, did not meet them halfway. True to form, she terminated her contract with the label less than a year later.
Resounding success on stage
A meeting with David Lowery from the group Cracker gave rise to their collaboration: the girl performed a song for their album, and then took up her career. In 2001, her debut album entitled Heart-Shaped Scar was released, and three years later her second solo album, Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol, appeared, however, these compositions did not find a response in the hearts of listeners. For several years, LP was in search of worthy labels, and also wrote songs for such stars as Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Ella Henderson, Cher and others. In 2014, her third album Forever for Now was released, which took only 132nd place in the American charts.
LP
The wild popularity and love of music lovers came to Pergolizzi quite by accident. A Greek stranger wrote to her on Instagram, noting her composition Lost On You. Having asked her permission to use the song, the man published a single in his country, thanks to which numerous listeners from many countries soon learned about the talented girl.
LP has a unique voice; in addition, she plays the ukulele very well and whistles masterfully. She developed this skill during the period when she wrote songs for others. Then Laura often sat in solitude, playing the ukulele and whistling some melodies. The singer managed to visit Russia eight times. Having fallen in love with our cities and Russian listeners, she even got a tattoo on her right hand, writing the word “love”.
Confession
Left without producers, the girl continued to write songs and perform. Her popularity grew, she wrote some of her compositions to order for recognized pop music stars. She has succeeded a lot in the profession of a songwriter. Between 2006 and 2014, LP wrote songs for Cher, Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis and Rihanna.
The LP singer has written songs for many stars
However, she refused to sell the most personal songs. They were included in her next album. "Forever for Now", recorded in 2014 at Warner Bros. Records, became a real breakthrough in the singer’s creative career. The compositions from this record revealed the girl’s name to the whole world.
In 2020, the singer’s fourth album was released. Quite expectedly, “Lost on You”, named after the main track, became a sales leader in both America and Europe.
LP - Lost On You The singer tours a lot, at the end of 2020 she performed in Russia.
Music
In 1998, fate brought Laura together with David Lowery, founder of the rock band Cracker. Having heard this girl sing, the musician immediately invited her to participate in the recording of a new album. Their collaboration resulted in “Cinderella,” one of the first songs on the LP recorded in the studio. The composition was released on the Cracker group's album “Gentleman's blues” as a bonus track. In addition, together with David’s team, the young singer went on tour as a backing vocalist.
By the way, it was Lowry who became the producer of Pergolizzi’s debut album, which was called “Heart-shaped scar” and was released in 2001. AllMusic reviewer Tom Jurek described the album's content as "American rock and roll, made with a soul that is rarely seen these days."
“Her voice is unique enough to last an album or two,” Jurek said, but he was wrong.
Despite the fact that the first LP albums - both “Heart-shaped scar” and “Suburban sprawl & alcohol” (2004) - were not very successful, the girl continued to work hard.
LP song "Wasted"
Relations with record companies also did not work out. In 2006, the singer appeared at the South by Southwest music conference, where her performance created a sensation. Several large companies competed for the right to work with Laura, and she ultimately signed a contract with Island Def Jam Music Group, a subsidiary label of the media holding Universal Music Group.
However, the collaboration soon ended due to creative differences. In 2007, LP began working with the independent label SoBe Entertainment. Soon, one of the recorded songs, “Wasted,” became the theme for the television series “South of Nowhere.” During this period of LP’s creative biography, the songs she wrote for other performers were in much greater demand. To collaborate with celebrities, Pergolizzi moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2010.
LP singer on stage
The first big success was the composition “Cheers (Drink to that)”, on the creation of which a number of authors worked together with Laura. Rihanna performed the song and became a real hit. In addition, the LP wrote for Christina Aguilera, Cher, Backstreet Boys and other performers.
In June 2011, Pergolizzi contributed to the song "Afraid to Sleep", which was performed by The Voice finalist Vicki Martinez. The song became popular and reached number 10 on the iTunes chart. In the fall of that year, LP signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records.
LP song "Into the wild"
Soon after, she recorded the song "Into the wild", which was used in a Citibank advertising campaign. Already in 2012, the album “Into the wild: Live at EastWest Studios” was released, followed by solo concerts and participation in music festivals.
In 2014, the singer released the album “Forever for now,” which included 13 tracks. In September 2015, the LP presented listeners with the first single “Muddy waters” from the upcoming album. This song was later featured in the Season 4 finale of the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black.” In November, the single “Lost on you” was released, which became the title of the new album. The composition took 1st place in the charts of a number of European countries, and received platinum status in Italy, Greece and Poland.
Song LP "Lost on You"
In 2020, Pergolizzi performed in Sochi at the opening of the International Competition for Young Popular Music Performers “New Wave”, where she performed the songs “Lost on you” and “Other people”.
As it turned out, this is not the first time LP is visiting Russia: she previously came to perform at private events. Laura has several Russian friends who periodically introduce the singer to the music of their country. In an interview, Pergolizzi admitted that she was impressed by Russian love songs - so much so that she got a tattoo with the word “love” written in Cyrillic.
Personal life LP
The singer has never hidden her orientation - she prefers girls. Her mother never found out about it, and her father in her youth thought it was some form of teenage rebellion. But realizing that this was not feigned, but her true nature, he, as always and in everything, supported his daughter. The singer experienced her first serious feelings when she met actress Tamzin Brown. The girls dated for a long time, but broke up when Laura suspected her friend of insincerity. The parting was painful for both. The song “Lost on You” is dedicated to Tamzin.
The LP singer and her friend Tamzin Brown
After a short break, singer Lauren Ruth Ward appeared in the life of the star. They started dating in 2020. The girls are connected by a love of music and mutual respect. Their relationship is not a secret. To the delight of many LP fans, an engagement took place in 2020, and soon a wedding.
The LP singer and her girlfriend Lauren Ruth Ward
The singer is fond of yoga. Her love for accessories in the shape of crosses raises many questions. But in an interview, the girl said that she is not religious, and for her crosses are a symbol of rock music.
LP and Lauren Ruth Ward
“Oops... I fell in love!” - LP realized after meeting Lauren Ruth Ward. From 2020 to the present, the LP draws its creative energy from the tender, reverent feelings for singer Lauren Ruth Ward. Having become very popular and famous today, the American singer of Italian origin LP, with her characteristic spontaneity, announced that she was marrying her beloved Lauren Ruth Ward.
Pictured: LP and Lauren Ruth Ward
Lauren Ruth Ward was born in 1988 in Baltimore. Today she lives in Los Angeles, along with LP and their adorable dog Orsen. Before meeting with LP, Lauren performed with an indie folk band, wrote songs and performed them with her slightly hoarse, velvety voice. Her covers, posted on YouTube, were noted by professional musicians.
In 2014, Lauren signed her first music contract with Copeland Entertainment. Throughout her career, the singer advocates for the rights of women and children in Latin America, expressing her position in songs; takes part in numerous charity events, as she has a negative attitude towards violence in any form.
LP, Lauren Ruth Ward and their pet Orsen
