Local singer Lara Price is constantly redefining herself as an artist. “I’m always trying to grow and evolve,” she says. “I feel like I still haven’t really found my voice yet. I’m still looking for it.” In her search to find her elusive voice, Price has joined a variety of music projects. In addition to her own blues and unplugged endeavors, Price has teamed up with Militia of Love and the Santa Cruz Sirens Burlesque, and performs with Girls Got the Blues and the Velvet Plum Band. She’ll share the stage with the latter on Friday at Michael’s On Main.
Having a variety of creative outlets has helped Price develop as a performer. “The reason I have all these different projects is because I like doing different things,” she says. “It challenges me to learn new things. For a long time—and it still happens now—people pegged me as a blues singer, and that’s inaccurate. I consider myself a singer who just loves to sing.” On the title track of her most recent solo release, 2011’s Everything, Price shows off her pipes when she belts out each line with raw, spine-tingling power. And there’s more where that came from—Price is currently working on her next album, which she hopes to finish by the end of the year. Whether she is performing original material, or covering everyone from Bruno Mars to Marvin Gaye—as she and the Velvet Plum Band have been known to do in their sets—it’s clear that music is everything to Price. “It’s saved my life in a lot of ways,” she says matter-of-factly. “It’s so powerful to me, and it’s helped me get through any challenges I’ve dealt with in my life. When you’re up there delivering this sound with all these other players, connecting with them on that level—there’s something really freeing about that. And when you’re giving it to the people and they’re giving their energy back … there’s nothing like it.”
INFO: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. Michael’s On Main, 2591 South Main St., Soquel. No cover (tips appreciated). 479-9777. Visit laraprice.com.
