Pete Lawrie

Influenced by the eclectic likes of Roots Manuva, Paul Simon, and Al Green, gravelly voiced singer/songwriter Pete Lawrie has described his sound as "Southern blues country rock skiffle hip tronica." Born in Liverpool but raised in Wales, Lawrie grew up in a family of professional oboists, with his mother and father part of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, while his grandfather appeared on the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever." Abandoning his trumpet and piano-playing abilities for a pair of record decks at the age of 15, he later discovered he could fuse the two together and began writing his own hip-hop-country-soul material. After studying for a film studies degree at university, he held down a number of dead-end jobs before forming the Lawries with drummer Elliot Wall and bassist Mike Shankleman, two musicians he continues to perform with, who — despite championing from Radio 1's Rob da Bank — failed to secure a record deal. However, as a solo artist, Lawrie signed with Faithless' Rollo Armstrong's Island subsidiary, Field Recordings, in 2008 and released several highly acclaimed EPs, How Could I Complain?, In the End, and All That We Keep. After supporting Paolo Nutini, appearing at the Glastonbury and Isle of Wight festivals, and teaming up with Tennessee soul vocalist Lauren Pritchard to form a hip-hop covers side project, River Kids, he received his first national exposure in 2011 when his single "Fell into the River" was playlisted on Radio 2. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi