Meet Laura And Jake Belmonte

We were lucky to catch up with Laura And Jake Belmonte recently and have shared our conversation below.

Laura and Jake , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Three chords and the truth. I bought a $30 acoustic Guitar. Sat in the back yard of my rental with my toddler son at that time, on a sunny day and wrote a story from my life. Strummed and plucked the Guitar more like fumbled along the notes until something clicked deep inside. I realized at that moment I had written my first song. It was then and there that my purpose made sense, a deep fire inside of me had been ignited to create and write music.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

This year… is it over? Ha ha. No we do not have anything new planned for the end of the year. We spent the beginning of the year practicing and preparing hard for our weekender tour. Where we played MD, VA and DC in three days back to back. Winds have changed a bit this year; as we just felt like focusing on self reflection and awareness after the tour. I do not feel this incredible urge to push push push-right now. Our souls need a moment. The dust can settle on our pedal boards and it’ll get cleaned off again. For five years we haven’t really stopped chasing the dream! Each week signed up at any open mic available at dive bars or coffeehouses. Playing at Basement band mash ups. Then being blessed with a Headlining show to turn around the next week and fall from that ladder to be the opener again. The ride is real in the music industry that is for sure and we’re just kinda enjoying it. We made it to where we are and it wasn’t without a fight. I’m proud of us for that. I don’t know if we should keep re-tracing our steps though. I am envisioning new bigger dreamscapes: Live “ Lost in Clovers at the Grand Ole Opry”! Wouldn’t that be wild?! Maybe one day.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three?! Hmm ok so our foundation and true sound is incredibly organic. When I was 12 my Nana told me an important family heritage secret, it’s no secret anymore because I choose to honor my ancestors. The secret my Nana told me was that I was a ‘Gypsy’ I am an American Romani and the story of my family is for another interview. But when Jake and I started to create music together. We were both blank slates. Cheerleading and self teaching each other, a lot of experimentation with notes. We discussed my heritage being a profound influence in our Art and decided that we would only play the Gypsy Scale in our music.
I’m going to say my Musical Saw is number two quality! I consider it as my special power! Ha ha! My favorite moments are when a courageous spectator approaches me after a show and asks for a demonstration! I often wonder have I contributed to the percentage of Musical Saw players in this world?!
Hmmm 3rd quality of Lost in Clovers…. Let me think. Ok third quality the listener is going to have an opinion of our music, and I think as an Artist that is the overall highest achievement!

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Ahhh we are on the other side of the fence as unsigned and independent Artists in the music industry. We have freedom to create and publish on our own terms. Getting booked is an incredible obstacle. Without having an agent I find it difficult to get through to a booker. Then there is a Vulture culture praying on independent Musicians. “Pay to play” is where venues are charging Artists to perform at ridiculous amounts, no guaranteed ticket sales and zero promotion from venue. There is a handful of predatory bookers that bend the power they have and exploit unsigned Artists. If I didn’t meet up with them or disagreed they withdraw the show that was scheduled or then ban us from “their stage”.
Im not giving up though! We just don’t perform at to those venues. I jokingly said to Jake once “those venues don’t own the sidewalks” and so we started to perform and busker for free on the street corner! Don’t give up or give in is where my mind is at. I have grown an incredible thick skin in this industry.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Jake Belmonte, Laura Belmonte

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