Many preferences and passions of adulthood are cultivated at a young age. In this case, it began years ago on late nights in church basements and coffee houses — nights that always ended with sleepy little Laura Bullock being carried home by her parents in her pajamas.
“I still see kids in pajamas at some folk shows,” says Bullock. “That’s one way folk music is sort of different than rock ‘n’ roll — you wouldn’t take your kids to those shows.”
Bullock is a folk singer/songwriter who grew up in Medway, and is currently promoting her CD Points North, which was released last September. She will play songs off that disc, along with some new ones at The Java Hut on Thursday, Jan. 11.
Bullock says her parents were into folk music and she can remember growing up listening to David Wilcox and Ellis Paul. “They are definitely people I was inspired and influenced by,” says Bullock. “Ellis Paul influenced how I play the guitar and even lyrically in some ways.”
Although it may be tempting, don’t automatically think campfires, flasks and banjos when you hear the term “folk music.” Bullock says folk is a very broad genre that can be “old timey” but can also be applied to “more contemporary singers/songwriters,” which is what she considers herself.
“I think what sets folk music apart is that it’s very story-driven,” says Bullock. “It’s about taking the listener on a journey throughout the song.”
As far as a specific message that Bullock tries to convey to listeners, she’s not sure if she really has just one. “Having one message can restrict what you write,” says Bullock. “But I guess no matter what type of story I’m trying to tell — happy or sad — I try to find some thread of hope or moment of redemption that can be brought out.”
Bullock says her college years have influenced her music quite a bit. She did her senior thesis on the Jewish philosopher Abraham Joshua Heschel and says that his ideas on the philosophy of theology influenced her beliefs on finding “that redemptive moment.”
Despite Bullock’s passion for folk music, she says trying to establish a career has been a lot of work, especially self-producing her CD. “It was a challenge,” says Bullock when referring to the process. “But it’s definitely rewarding when the UPS guy drops all those boxes of CDs off at your door.”
The struggles that accompany Bullock’s career have been partially offset by her family and friends, who she says have been “overwhelmingly supportive.” Bullock has been getting play on some radio stations such as WERS in
Boston
and says it’s always funny how many people call her to say they’ve heard her song. “It’s nice to have that kind of support and see people that excited for me,” says Bullock.
For more about Laura Bullock, visit www.laurabullock.com or www.myspace.com/laurabullock.
Stephanie Eckelkamp may be reached at editorial@worcestermag.com.
http://www.worcestermag.com/archives/2007/01-11-07/pm_nightlife.html