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Posted By MARIA CANTON, SUN TIMES STAFF- Friday, February 27, 2009


Lauren Best had every intention of going to university to study theatre and the performing arts when she finished high school last spring. But a little thing called a music career got in her way.
"I started recording an album, put theatre school on hold and jumped wholeheartedly into music," Best said Thursday morning from her dad's house in downtown Owen Sound.

"I'd always considered music as a career option, but I kind of shied away from it, and then one day, it chose me and I said yes."

Best is in town to perform two shows this weekend with the Renegade Company, her band that now consists of Tyler Wagler on bass, Eric Woolston on vibraphone and percussion and Graham Campbell on guitar and organ.

Best, who has an indie-piano-pop sound with jazz, blues and soul influences, is in the throes of recording her debut album in Toronto, where she's been living for the last eight months.

The 18-year-old singer/songwriter/ pianist is involved in and is overseeing the entire process. She can now add producer to her resume.

"It's a huge leap to record an album. You learn so much about producing. Some days I'll be recording and working with session musicians, other days I'm working with arrangers and we always have a lot of meetings on the go," said Best, who studies piano and takes vocal classes privately.

Her business partner and dad, Kevin Best, says when they discovered the depth of his daughter's songwriting abilities, he knew music could be a viable career for her.

"She's an incredible songwriter and when I heard her songs, I told her if she wanted to pursue music to go for it," said Kevin.

Owen Sound's former poet laureate, Liz Zetlin, named Best poet of the month last June and she has also won dozens of singing and performing accolades in her young career. Locally, she's worked in partnerships with the Georgian Bay Folk Society and the Knox Acoustic Cafe as a host, performing artist and producer as part of the Young and Hungry Discoveries series, something her dad says is important for up-and-comers in the area.

"It's incredibly important to nurture young talent the way these programs do. They were hugely important for Lauren, not only did they give her an opportunity as a performer and for people to hear her, but as a producer," said Kevin.

With only the vocals left to record, Best is aiming to have her 12-track, yet-to-be titled album out this summer. She will perform Saturday night at a private house concert and Sunday night at the Rocky Raccoon Cafe.

"I decided to come home and play some music, it's lovely to play for people you know," said Best.