Lara Eidi is a multi-disciplinary artist, songwriter and jazz musician based in London and currently Athens.  She trained and performed as a singer and pianist from a young age in her hometown of Athens, but had her initial love of books led her to  study English Literature at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. It was there, being introduced to Celtic folk music,  that she realised music was her true calling, she returned to Greece, formed her band, and starting touring with her own music across Europe and the Middle East, with material from her EP’s  “ Little People “ and “ Tell it like it is” that were met with rave reviews. In 2013 she moved to London and obtained her MMus in Jazz Voice at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since then, she’s performed and collaborated with a host of established musicians across the jazz and folk industries. Sandy Brown Jazz described her as “..one of those singers who connects with the audience as soon as she starts to sing. A true gift”. Truly a world citizen, ( Athens born to Lebanese- Canadian parents)  rather than draw on influences distinctly from her multicultural background, she draws on her life experience to create music which seeks to elevate, heal and connect with audiences and listeners alike.  

She’s performed to highlight a few stages in the UK and abroad, at London Folk Festival, Hampstead Jazz Club, Union Chapel, Milton Court, Fete De La Musique (Beirut), Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She was recently featured as a rising star on BBC Radio London, to which she announced her current project to date: a full-length album (Spring 2021) .She has also collaborated  with artistic directors and community led- projects (Creative Barbican, Common and Kind, Grand Union Orchestra) as well as lend her voice for charitable causes , most recently alongside Nish Kumar and Mona Abisharman for Goodwill Caravan’s mission in Greece.  .  Also a composer for short films, she has collaborated with Filmmaker and CNN Journalist Tamara Qiblawi on her film documenting Lebanon during the civil war “Shelters” ( 2017). She was commissioned by the Syros International Film Festival for the original score to “ Home Tapes” ( Natasha Gianaraki– Greece- 2020), whereby the title track “ Everything’s Fine” was selected as the festival track to echo the “ isolation creation” theme across Greece.  

During lockdown, Lara continued to release new music. “ Here and Now” was written in response to George Floyd and created with a host of established gospel and voice artists in the UK and Europe ( Stephen Laurence Trust). “ Anon” was released with her jazz and folk trio ( Dave Manington, Naadia Sheriff) , initially composed by Naadia Sheriff ( Yazz Ahmed) for International Woman’s Day and Featured by  Women In Jazz .Recently, she collaborated with Brazilian Percussionist Alba Cabral on her award winning lockdown series “ Da Janela” ( From my Window) in a song for Beirut, titled “ Waves of Love ( Focus Brazil 2020).  

She is also a passionate teacher, workshop leader when her schedule permits both in London and Athens. She’s worked as a musical director with M. Solomon’s “ Common and Kind” , created and led the jazz and world music modules for City Academy , and leads song writing workshops from her home to yours, via Zoom! 

Website : www.laraeidimusic.com