"Maybe the sharpest communication of the spooky, all-consuming nature of feminine love" - LORDE ,She's written what I think is the perfect pop song" - MARLON WILLIAMS ,Captures the experiences of first love and lust with remarkable immediacy" - PITCHFORK ,Laura Jean is my favourite Aussie artist, and one of my favourite artists/people of all time" - JENNY HVAL Laura's last album was my favourite of 2015" - ALDOUS HARDING Die Lead-Single ,Teenager Again" mit Aldous Harding und Marlon Williams im Background ist das erste musikalische Lebenszeichen seit LAURA JEANs gefeierten Album ,Devotion" aus dem Jahr 2018. Der Nachfolger ,Amateurs" bewegt sich zwischen dem tiefgründigen Synthie-Pop von ,Devotion" und den folkigeren Klängen von Englerts früheren Arbeiten. LAURA JEAN arbeitete dafür mit dem Produzenten TIM BRUNIGES zusammen. Die wunderschönen Streicherarrangements stammen von ERKKI VELTHEIM. Das Album entstand zwischen den langen Lockdowns 2020 und 2021. ,Amateurs" ist ein Album über die kunstfeindliche und antiintellektuelle Kultur in Australien (was auch für andere Teile der Welt gilt). Es zeigt wie Englert ihre Rolle als Songwriterin hinterfragt und die Realität ihrer Entscheidungen, der Kunst Vorrang vor anderen Bereichen ihres Lebens zu geben, untersucht. Revered Sydney songwriter Laura Jean returns with new album Amateurs, her first record since the much-celebrated Devotion in 2018. Amateurs is a stunning, string-laden album, set at a mystical midway point between the deep synth-pop of Devotion and the folkier sounds of Laura's earlier work. The album features backing vocals from Aldous Harding and Marlon Williams on three songs (Teenager Again, Amateurs and Folk Festival). Laura worked with producer Tim Bruniges around Sydney's long 2020-2021 lockdowns. Erkki Veltheim (Gurrumul, Cat Power) arranged gorgeous strings for the album, which were recorded in Melbourne by Devotion producer John Lee. Amateurs is an album about anti-art and anti-intellectual culture in Australia (but applies equally to other parts of the world). It sees Laura questioning her role as a songwriter and examining the reality of her choices to prioritise art over other parts of her life. It is also a warmhearted, humorous and sonically breathtaking album. "Amateurs means to do something for love, not money, and somehow it's become a dirty word, shorthand for a failure," says Laura. "These songs arise from my acceptance that I will always be an `amateur'." 2018 album Devotion had superlative reviews from Pitchfork, Gorilla Vs Bear and elsewhere, and made it into end of year lists for Spin, Idolator, Apple Music and more. Laura also acquired some high-profile fans such as Lorde and actor Brie Larson. She did two UK/Europe tours in 2018-19 with Courtney Barnett and Aldous Harding. Laura has twice been shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize and has recorded with Jenny Hval as well as Aussie icons Paul Kelly, The Drones, and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.