Australian Troubadour Lays Roots in Europe. - Lucas Laufen: In Cologne
Krister Axel
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Lucas Laufen is a classically influenced singer and folk guitarist who left everything behind in his coastal town of Port Lincoln, Australia, to live the dream as a troubadour on the road in Europe. Laufen began with piano at the age of eight, quickly moving on to trumpet, and finally acoustic guitar in his teenage years as he began to write songs. After school and a brief experience working 60-hour weeks, he yearned for a different life altogether.
Laufen found comfort and a stability of sorts in the German capital of Berlin, as he put down roots and used the city as a base to release his debut EP "Goodbye." He followed up on his success with a tour through 11 different countries, performing in clubs, living rooms and concert halls. After two years of writing while on the road, Lucas travelled to Christchurch in New Zealand to fold his many experiences into a song of personal testament. "I Know Where Silence Lives" was produced by Ben Edwards (Marlon Williams, Aldous Harding, Julia Jacklin) at The Sitting Room, overlooking the ocean and recorded next to nature.
In recent years he has continued writing and performing, opening for the likes of Hollow Coves, Billie Marten, and many others in his ceaseless touring throughout Europe. Laufen's music features a return to organic sounds, and "In Cologne" is a light and meditative study in natural vibes and understated groove built from primarily acoustic guitar and piano. This rhythmic ballad sports a dead-simple brushes-on-snare pocket and delicious hints of trumpet, while Laufen splits the distance between Nick Drake and Sufjan Stevens. With whispered vocal tones, impressive fingerstyle, and a bit of starry-eyed pathos Laufen delivers another dynamic and lyrical masterpiece.
Visit Lucas Laufen on Instagram.