54. She Sold 50,000 CDs Out of Her Living Room, with LauraLea

Ep.54: She was being looked at by Warner Brothers, playing sold-out shows in New York… and then she got pregnant and walked away from all of it.LauraLea Taraskus has been a full-time working musician since 1997: 26 consecutive summers at the Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City, six nights a week with her band Tripp Fabulous, and a catalog of original songs she's been playing live but hasn't recorded in over 20 years. Julian and LauraLea go way back — she sang on his album, performed at his wedding, and wrote one of his favorite songs of all time. Now she's heading back into the studio at 50, and her teenage daughter is writing the drum parts.In this conversation, we get into:Her song "Cheers" and why Julian considers it one of the best songs ever writtenRecording a raw, live album in Chicago on sake and gut instinctChoosing motherhood over record deals and realizing it wasn't a sacrificeWhy she refuses to use backing tracks and what that means for a four-piece cover bandGoing back to the studio at 50 with drum parts written by her teenage daughterAbout LauraLea:LauraLea Taraskus is a South Jersey-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has performed full-time for nearly 30 years. She fronts Tripp Fabulous, a four-piece cover band that tours the East Coast from Dewey Beach to Key West, and performs solo acoustic shows year-round. Her 2004 debut album is available on all streaming platforms.Connect with LauraLea:Website: trippfabulousband.comInstagram: instagram.com/lauralea_trippfabulousFacebook: facebook.com/trippfabulousSpotify: open.spotify.com/artist/02AoKp0R0AUsWfo2Omg5Y5Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/lauralea-taraskus/251819215Music Mentioned in this Episode:Songs:Cheers (LauraLea Taraskus)Chemical Whore (LauraLea Taraskus)This Is Mine (LauraLea Taraskus)Perfect (LauraLea Taraskus)Zombie (The Cranberries)Heart Shaped Box (Nirvana)When You Were Young (The Killers)The Story (Brandi Carlile)Gravity (Sara Bareilles)Tennessee Whiskey (Chris Stapleton)Mother (Danzig)Angie (The Rolling Stones)Good Luck Babe (Chappell Roan)Red Wine Supernova (Chappell Roan)Albums & Projects:Grace (Jeff Buckley)LauraLea (LauraLea Taraskus, 2004)Artists & Bands:LauraLea TaraskusTripp FabulousThe CranberriesNirvanaThe KillersBrandi CarlileSara BareillesJeff BuckleyChris StapletonMarcus KingChappell RoanTaylor SwiftSabrina CarpenterKings of LeonMumford & SonsTame ImpalaCage the ElephantDr. DogGnarls BarkleyFour Non BlondesLinda PerryJoan JettElton JohnSydney IrvingPrimusToolDanzigThe Rolling StonesPinkSiaRihannaPhoebe BridgersBoy GeniusThe Warning