Dessy Di Lauro
Introducing Dessy Di Lauro of Cirque Du Soleil, the talented artist who is sure to make waves soon. Currently on tour, she is the act you won't want to miss. With her deep passion for music, she has already come so far, and we can't wait to see where the future takes her.
The Star Scoop:
Tell us about yourself and what's going on with you right now.
Dessy Di Lauro:
I'm recently married. I just married my music partner, Ricky, who works on all the music with me. He writes with me and arranges and produces our music, which is a blend of soul, latin and jazz. We have an EP out right now, it's called a Study of a Woman's Soul, and we're basically working at the Cirque Du Soleil, performing our own gigs here and there in the local bars and clubs. I just came to a point where it was a great opportunity to travel throughout North America and perform, and get our music out to more people from different states. We're basically touching on every single state and performing everywhere. It's a great opportunity.
The Star Scoop:
What is your musical process? How do you come up with ideas?
Di Lauro:
Basically, it's all based on my personal experiences, and what I've been through. I try to base a lot of my material with the people I meet. It's personal experiences, other people that are close to me, [ther] experiences. The way I get myself psyched to write is kind of listening to music that inspires me, reading books that inspire me. That's basically it.
The Star Scoop:
What have some of those influences been, in who you read or listen to?
Di Lauro:
Oh, wow. I was brought up with different music: the brazillian, the salsa, the soul, the jazz, the funk, the gospel. Artists like Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin. It's a big mesh of all of that in one.
The Star Scoop:
What is performing in front of a live audience like for you?
Di Lauro:
It's getting easier. It's a lot harder for me to do it in front of a smaller, more intimate audience than a bigger one. Bigger ones, there are so many people out there. We're getting used to that. It's a lot easier than playing smaller venues for me.
The Star Scoop:
If people haven't heard you before, how would you pitch your EP?
Di Lauro:
It's a personal journey into my soul, all my experiences and brazillian flavored soul.
The Star Scoop:
How has your life growing up shaped your career?
Di Lauro:
Becuase my origins are part Brazillian, Cuban, Italian, all of that, I'm trying to incorporate. I'm kind of meshing all of that into one. Definitely it's a major part in my sound, and my music. We try to have a salsa soul kind of thing or a samba soul kind of thing. We try to mix it up, adding those influences.
The Star Scoop:
Who have been the most influential people along your journey?
Di Lauro:
My biggest supporter, my husband, definitely. He believes in me so much, and is always pushing me to higher levels, helping me. Definitely my husband and my family, and my best friend.
The Star Scoop:
How will people find out about you? How will you get your name out there?
Di Lauro:
We're trying to do, when we go from city to city is book radio, local radio stations, newspapers, just have them find out about the project and have them list the project, bring CDs to the radio station, push them to play it. Whenever we can, we try to play in different venues in different cities so we can get the word out.
The Star Scoop:
Is there any advice you have for someone who is just getting started as an artist?
Di Lauro:
My big advice is keep your integrity. Keep your intengrity and watch in what you sign. Those contacts, just be careful and not just sign anything. Find an entertainment lawyer. Be true to yourself, and to your art, in what you really love to do, as far as musically.
The Star Scoop:
What one song would you suggest people listen to, to get an idea about who you are?
Di Lauro:
I definitely recommend "My Inspiration." It's my favorite, and that's the one that's closest to me.
Visit Dessy online at www.dessydilauro.com. and www.myspace.com/dessydilauro.