Mangawhai-based singer Laura Hunter is releasing her debut single Don't Be Afraid To Love on iTunes today.
The 20-year-old singer-songwriter began playing her own acoustic live gigs in late 2011 at venues in her hometown of Christchurch. She was then taken under the wing of the successful musicians from
Fledge (Ben Campbell, Hera, House of Mountain) and world-renowned MC Tali, providing opportunities such as her featuring on Tali's song Festivally Skank, which they are performing live at the pre-New Year's Festival Rhythm and Alps.
After Hunter completed her degree in mass communications, she moved to Mangawhai Heads.
That's where she's spent the past few months recording her EP with producer Lukas Kelly. It's to be released in January 2013. In the past few weeks she's also toured around Northland, playing live gigs in Whangarei, Tutukaka, Paihia and Mangawhai.
Hunter and Kelly's joint passion for electro and drum and bass has lead them to produce a more upbeat sound.