LB Collective

"LB is Laura Benjamin and the Collective is a cool cooperative combo of skilled musicians. Together, they propel her finely crafted songs into stylized singer/songwriter fare, lightly tinged with likable, streamlined pop, soul and Americana influences." (Creative Loafing, November 2007)

"Atlanta's LB Collective is a polished mainstream pop band with a slight modern country element in the mix." (Stomp and Stammer, 2008

Propelled by groove, energy, and a theatrical performance style, Laura Benjamin and her dynamic band are the next big thing on the Atlanta pop-rock music scene. With eclectic use of Latin beats, jazz chord progressions, and even country-style three-part harmony, the music is innovative and multi-dimensional. Influences include the Corrs, the Dixie Chicks, Rufus Wainwright, R.E.M., and Sarah McLachlan, with a nod to the jazz greats like the Gershwins, Duke Ellington and Irving Berlin. The band released their debut album, let it go, in July 2007, featuring pop-americana originals.

Says premier vocal producer Jan Smith of Atlanta-based Jan Smith Studios: "Love Laura Benjamin’s debut CD - mostly because she has the nerve to be unique and write material with content and melody that’s memorable. Fitting somewhere between a tamed version of Tori Amos and Laura Nyro revisited, Laura Benjamin’s music is lyrically sound, vocally unique, and above the cut of mainstream nonsense. Be sure to check out my fave-rave - ‘What Would He Think’. It’ll make you think - LOVE that!!

LB places emotional honesty at the heart of her songwriting; several of her songs are reflections of love and loss. Still other songs capture more whimsical concerns - standing on one’s own, putting down roots in unexpected places, even musing over the fate of no-longer-planet Pluto. Her lyrical style is both quirky and accessible, while her knack for catchy melodic hooks gives the songs a universal appeal. Certain lyrics have been known to make listeners tear up, but fundamentally, this album is about perseverance and optimism, with a healthy dose of self-deprecation

LB began her full-time music career shortly after graduating from Yale University in 1999. From 2001 - 2004, she and several of her current bandmates performed widely around the southeast as members of the swing band The Zoots, with Benjamin as a lead vocalist and keyboard player. Since then, she has also performed extensively as a solo artist, been a featured member of a musical satire troupe, and been involved in several other bands.