Where are they now? Maricopa’s own finds success in Nashville

When her musical career took her on a journey to Nashville, Tennessee, country singer/songwriter Laura Walsh said goodbye to her home and fans in Maricopa.

Walsh made the move to Music City, U.S.A in 2018 after a debut album in 2015 and multiple national tours. Her life in Tennessee has been better than she could have ever imagined, she said.

“The first two months I took off just to enjoy moving my whole life across the country and get familiarized with the area and soak in the whole experience,” she said. “It’s such an incredible community. There are so many people that support each other. I’ve been able to make some friends with people that I get to play with on a regular basis.”

From performing at the Country Music Hall of Fame, releasing a new single, “Tease,” in March and playing regularly at the Tin Roof Bar downtown, Walsh finds Nashville a safe space for all artists and musicians, no matter their genre or skill level. Continuing to grow as an artist, she believes the best way to build a reputation and a name is to create a sense of camaraderie with peers in the industry.

“I’ve latched on to a lot of community-driven people who just want to see one another succeed,” Walsh said. “Being by myself out here and leaving what’s comfortable has helped me, as an artist, identify who I am. I think when you’re around what’s familiar and what feels like a safety net, it’s hard to grow. Leaving that, really pushes you to be your most honest and authentic self.”

While COVID-19 hit the live music scene in Nashville hard and fast, things are slowly opening back up. She remembers when the industry thought things would get back to normal in June, only to remain locked down.

“I don’t really know how to feel. Especially with the election, it has been a tough year for unity,” Walsh said. “The cool thing is seeing how people have responded wanting to help. Those coming out to visit have been so generous with tipping and supporting live music and those who are hurting.”

When asked if she plans to play in Maricopa again one day, she was open to the idea when things settle down and the country recovers from the pandemic. “I feel like Arizona was a great stomping grounds, especially Maricopa. Whenever I can, however I can, I would love to do it.”

Laura Walsh

Age: 29

Occupation: Make music with my voice, and write songs from my heart

Residence: East Nasty (East Nashville)

Education: A student of life! Also, a bachelor’s in communication from ASU

Family: Two sisters, two parents and many friends I consider family

Favorite Maricopa memory: “I was supposed to open up for the band Lifehouse when Maricopa won the radio contest to get a concert by them [in 2015]. The whole town promoted me as the opener but then right before the concert, someone from their team said they didn’t want an opening act, so I was naturally devastated to have promoted this and then have to retract. But Copper Sky staff, the angels that they are, said I could do an “after party” and built me my own stage and decorated it so beautifully. When the Lifehouse show was over, the whole crowd rushed my little stage and stayed for my whole set and made me cry tears of joy on stage — tearing up thinking about it now — and there was this ginormous line of people wanting to meet me.”

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This story appears in the December issue of InMaricopa magazine.