Laura Zarougian was one of our discoveries of last year, with some great songs and now here she is again with a couple of singles, what we might have called in the past a double A-sided release, ‘New Used Car‘ and ‘Double-Sided.’ The two songs deliberatley display differnt sides of her character – folky balladerr and stomping rocker, we’ve gone for stomping rocker today.
Laura Zarougian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter based in New York’s Hudson Valley. She calls her music “Armenian Cowgirl,” since it blends Americana and roots music with subtle influences from her Middle Eastern heritage. Born into a family of refugees and immigrants from the Middle East, Zarougian grew up steeped in Armenian folk traditions. However, it was the American folk tradition that captured her heart, with influences ranging from Joni Mitchell and Tom Rush to Joan Baez. She says that “Armenian folk songs, much like the American folk tradition, are strongly linked to the land – the mountains, trees, and birds. These are places that we can’t return to, except through the memories within the music. Songs preserve a place, a moment, or a feeling, in a relatable way.” Looking ahead, Zarougian hints at incorporating more traditional Armenian instruments into her music. “Down the line, I hope to incorporate oud, douduk, zurna, and other Armenian and Middle Eastern instruments in my music,” she says. Sounds good.