Laura Beth Hassell (From Messenger Newspapers)

Laura Beth Hassell

2:16pm Monday 21st January 2008

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MAKING her first album was something of a family affair for Timperley's Laura Beth Hassell.

Her dad Dave, an accomplished and respected percussionist, played on a samba number, Wake Up, on her debut CD If I.

What was it like working with her dad?

"Whenever you work with a family member it can be quite intense but I love working with my dad. He's a very respected musician and it's great working with him," she says, adding that her dad encouraged her all the way when she told him she wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Musically though, this attractive and highly likeable 26 year old is very much her own woman, and she describes her material as a fusion of styles, incorporating jazz, soul, Latin and pop. Inspiration also comes from singer songwriters like 60s icon Joni Mitchell.

Laura Beth has been writing songs since she was a teenager and If I brings together material she wrote from 2004 onwards. What sort of subjects inspire her to write?

"Mainly my experiences through life. So far, the tunes I've written, they've been very personal to me. I'd like to take inspiration from a wider area, like what's going on in the world," she says.

Although she's released her debut CD, Laura Beth is yet to experience the trappings that go with fame and fortune. A regular at venues like Bowdon's Cinnamon Club, this thoughtful young artist hopes that one day she'll make enough money to enable her to live off writing and performing.

At the moment, she divides her time between performing, singing and teaching. All three give her the same amount of satisfaction.

Click here to listen to track 1 from Laura Beth Hassell's debut album, 'If I'

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