NOTTINGHAM’S ALL GROWN UP
Tara Shaskey learns it’s not always smooth sailing when planning a tour
It hasn’t been without its trials, but jazz singer Lauren Nottingham is finally embarking on her debut tour.
This week the New Plymouth woman kicked off the jaunt which will see her quartet, which includes acclaimed UK Jazz pianist Mark Donlon, present a programme of jazz, spanning genres, languages and cultures to audiences across New Zealand and Australia.
‘‘It was my first time learning how to take a band on the road to promote it and book gigs,’’ she said. ‘‘You have to grow a bit of a thick skin because, as you’d expect, nothing goes to plan.’’
The 23-year-old said an Australian performer had suffered a hand injury which left the ensemble struggling to find a replacement for one of its gigs across the ditch.
Furthermore, a date change of a festival they were booked to perform at had disrupted the groups travel plans.
‘‘It’s all part of it, and you just have to take the good with the bad and work through every obstacle as it hits you.’’
Aside from the hiccups, Nottingham was buzzing to hit the road with her fellow musicians and begin the tour she had been dreaming of for many years.
‘‘I’m totally excited and glad to be making a start as a professional musician.’’
The former Sacred Heart Girls’ College student graduated from the New Zealand School of Music in 2014 and more recently she spent a year living and working in Berlin where she learnt to ‘‘stand on her own two feet.’’
That break, which saw her work many hospitality jobs, gave her the hunger to return home and pursue a career in music.
"It's all part of it, and you just have to take the good with the bad and work through every obstacle as it hits you" Lauren Nottingham
‘‘Sometimes it takes a break for you to realise that you’re not doing what you’re meant to be doing in life.’’ Nottingham’s journey with music began while at high school where she joined an acapella group, named The Tenors.
With many national competitions under her belt she successfully auditioned for the New Zealand Youth Choir which took her around Europe.
She is currently the lead singer of NZ Math Rock/Jazz Fusion band MultiPlayer, which released their debut album Once The Show Begins in 2016.
During the North Island leg of the young artist’s current tour, the group will play the 4th Wall Theatre in New Plymouth.
A performance Nottingham is looking forward to the most.
‘‘That’s absolutely going to be one of the highlights of my tour just to come home.’’
The Lauren Nottingham/Mark Donlon Project 2017 Australasian Tour will come to New Plymouth on Sunday, December 3.