Meet Karen Laura Peters

We recently connected with Karen Laura Peters and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen Laura, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Even from a very early age, I was all about music. When I was a teenager I got really focused on cello and worked towards becoming a professional cellist. I went to music conservatory and wanted to play cello in a big symphony. Eventually, I developed pretty severe arm injuries and had to let go of that dream. I spent many years trying to figure out how to have music as a central part of my life without the cello. I was mad at the cello and felt a lot of loss.

I floundered, I searched, I learned and experimented with different ways of being a musician. I got involved in organizing music education for immigrant communities on the border of El Paso, TX and Juarez, Mexico. I partnered with the El Paso Symphony to create Tocando, a community music project that provides music education to youth. Tocando is still growing and thriving to this day!

I now live in the PNW and am playing cello again (thanks to strength training and yoga!) and the Co-Founder of Momentum, a music organization in Tacoma, WA that helps musicians feel inspired, connected, and empowered to build momentum on their music journey. I’m finding a sweet balance in following my personal music dreams like releasing and performing music with my passion for contributing to the larger music community.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a cellist and singer-songwriter, as well as a Co-Founder of Momentum, an organization that helps musicians feel inspired, connected and empowered to build momentum on their music journey.

I released my debut solo EP in 2022, Of the Embers, and a single, Duet, in 2024, both of which I wrote and co-produced. I perform often in the Tacoma/Seattle area with other singer-songwriters on cello and harmonies, as well as for my own music. I’m currently recording a new EP, which will be released this year! In February, I will be going on the Queen of Hearts Tour, featuring Carrie Jennings and Tara Chugh, as a cellist and vocalist.

At Momentum, we partner with music educators and industry professionals to offer monthly skill-building masterclasses and meetings to help musicians grow confidence and to improve access. Tara Chugh & I started Momentum out of a real need as musicians for more educational opportunities in music industry topics.
We offer classes like Vocal Production, Music Marketing, The Psychology of Believing in Yourself, Expand Your Songwriting Chord Palatte, and many more. We also offer monthly meetings for members to help with setting goals, accountability, and strengthening all the practical skills it takes to be a thriving independent musician.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Inner listening. I believe we all have unique purposes and gifts. What is right for one person, isn’t necessary the path that will feel the best for another person. As I went through my 20s and went through challenges and experiences, I developed the ability to listen to my specific needs and desires. I also learned to notice my gifts, which are the things that I can offer to others that also deeply nourish myself. I’m sure there are many ways to develop this but for me it was through yoga, meditation, journaling, spending time with myself and somatics.

Dedication, focus, and consistency. I used to teach music to kids and when I did I really saw how much a little practice each day makes a HUGE difference. Kids that practiced came in each week in a totally new place and the ones who didn’t came in each week exactly where they were the previous week. I have always had a strong ability to focus and be consistent with practicing. This is one of my strengths and in situations where I feel like everyone else is better than me, I rely on the fact that I’m going to practice my ass off and get to where I need to be.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I have always been a team player. I love collaborating. When I was studying classical music, I LOVED playing in a quartet. It made me super happy and fulfilled. I recently saw the Hipocrats (an Americana duo in Seattle, WA) perform. I happen to know that they perform about 5 nights a week at shows around the PNW, so they are playing together a LOT! I was deeply moved by seeing them perform because there was such synchronicity to their bodies, their voices, and their guitar playing. It felt in some ways like watching dance.

This is what I am looking for. I would love to be in a duo or trio where we write music and perform together often. I’m looking for the right people. It’d be great to play with a guitarist/vocalist so that I can play cello and sing. A drummer would be great too! Maybe some keys. Haha, now its a band!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Nick Blodgett
Tara Chugh
Patrick Gaurano
Devin Dahlke

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