Some artists find their voice over time. Others discover it before they’re even old enough to understand just how far it might take them.
For Western Pennsylvania musician Laura Rullo, that journey began at an early age, with a love for music that grew from childhood piano lessons into guitar playing, live performances, and songwriting. By age nine, she had already stepped onto the stage for her first open mic, setting the foundation for a musical journey that continues to evolve.
Today, Laura is making her mark on the local music scene, from performing across Western Pennsylvania to making history as the youngest artist to perform at Greensburg SummerSounds. With her eclectic sound, heartfelt original songs, and highly anticipated debut album in the works, she is building a musical identity that is uniquely her own.
But behind the performances and accomplishments is a young artist navigating the same questions many of us face: finding confidence, learning from mistakes, and discovering the courage to share our voices with the world.
In this edition of The Many Colors of Natalie, we sit down with Laura to talk about her musical beginnings, the inspiration behind her song “Invisible,” the local artists helping bring her debut album to life, and what it means to pursue a dream while still discovering who you are.
Because sometimes, the most powerful stories aren’t just about the music we hear. They’re about the person behind it
Q: You started making music at such a young age. What first made you fall in love with music?
A: I’ve always loved music. It connects people in so many wonderful, personal ways which words can’t really describe. Both of my parents were involved with music in high school and it has always been a part of their lives to a degree. My dad played (and still plays occasionally) drums, and my mom played violin and viola in high school. Though they had never seriously pushed the idea of becoming a musician on me, it still managed to ignite a musical spark inside me from a young age. When I was right around 3 or 4 years old, I asked my parents if I could play the piano. I had always loved to sing and piano seemed like a wonderful place to start. So, one morning, I woke up to a keyboard waiting for me. I remember being very excited, and I still remember my first piano lesson. It was hard, but it was also fun. I had a great teacher who knew what she was doing and my parents were there to guide me. Once I started to learn some (simple) songs, I had some of my first piano recitals, which gave me a real taste of performing in front of an audience. Shortly after, somewhere around age 8, I decided to sing, and then eventually pick up the guitar. As luck would have it, right around the time I started to learn guitar, the small church we were attending at the time, needed a guitar player. I had been singing in church and at school for about a year and I definitely didn’t feel ready for any kind of a lead role, even in front of a small audience. But, week by week, I grew more comfortable and realized how much I loved performing, and every moment since then I’ve loved it just as much, even when it’s challenging.
I played my first open mic when I was 9. All I knew at that point was a couple of church songs. So, that’s what the people at the winery got that day. I only played one song, but I was hooked.
Q: How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time?
A: People often ask me how I would describe myself as a musical artist. The best word I’ve been able to come up with is eclectic. I try hard not to limit myself to only one genre or style. People often compare me to Taylor Swift or some other country or pop artist who started out young. While artists like that do inspire what I do, there are so many more unique sounds and ways to express yourself through music. When I play cover songs, I usually cover songs from the 1950s all the way up to brand new releases. I also try my best to step outside the box and experiment with new ideas and arrangements. There is always something to learn and integrate into what you do. When I am writing new songs, variety is key. It is so important for me to make each song different and speak to people in a new way.
Q: Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
A: I have many, many musical influences as there are so many abundantly talented musicians around the world. Some of my biggest influences are Pat Benatar, Fleetwood Mac, Journey, Elvis, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Whitney Houston, Johnny Cash, Lainey Wilson, the Eagles, and Sheryl Crow, just to name a few. While I’m inspired by all the people who have made it big in the music industry, I am also heavily influenced by all the local independent talent that constantly surrounds me. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for other musicians encouraging me and pushing me to my full potential. I am forever grateful for every piece of advice and the kindness I have received.
Q: You perform SO many shows around Western PA! What do you love most about performing live?
A: It took me a long time before I was truly comfortable performing live and to be perfectly honest, I still get nervous from time to time. I started playing live solo gigs at age twelve and I’ve learned quite a bit since then. When I first started, I was mostly singing and playing at local open mic nights. I was always the youngest one there and the least experienced. Once I got a handle on open mic night, I started playing 1-2 hour shows. That quickly morphed into 3-4 hour shows and I gained confidence in what I was doing. Pretty soon, I figured out that I needed to be different. And, what better way to stand out than to write my own songs! My favorite part of playing live is definitely getting to sing songs that I have written. What’s even more special than that is when people come to see me and know the words to my songs. As a writer, there is no greater honor than to hear your audience, no matter how small, sing your original song back to you. It brings a tear to my eye every time (happy tears of course). I play live all the time now and it brings me so much joy! My dad usually runs my sound and helps set up and tear down my equipment. At first, we had no idea how to run a gig, but we’re figuring it out as we go and I think we make a pretty good team.
Q: What has performing taught you about yourself?
A: Music has taught me many things about myself, and I still have much to learn. The best way to learn anything for me is usually trial and error. Experimentation is a good way for me to practice a skill and hone that skill until I get it right. I have learned to never undercut myself and stand up for what I think is right, no matter what I may be doing. With that being said, it is also important to keep myself grounded and never get too ahead of myself. Focusing on where I currently am, helps calm some of the unnecessary pressure I often put on myself while setting reasonable goals for the future. I often tell myself that I have to be the best. But, there will always be someone who does what I do, and does it better than me. The best thing I can do is just be the best me and be better than the person I was yesterday.
Q: You made history as the youngest artist to perform at Greensburg SummerSounds. What was that experience like?
A: The annual Greensburg Summer Sounds concert series showcases so much talent. I always love going when my schedule allows even if I’m not the one behind the mic. Normally when I play for an audience, it is on a smaller scale and I usually sing at restaurants or markets with fewer than a hundred people. For Summer Sounds, I got to perform for a larger audience and I loved it. I had so many amazing people show up to support me and the headliner, Dylan Triplett, was phenomenal! And, the next day, I found myself on the cover of the Tribune Review, which was super cool!
Q: Tell me about “Invisible.” What inspired the song, and what does it mean to you?
A: I write a lot of songs about a lot of different things. I write happy songs, sad songs, angry songs, and even songs about feeling like no one will hear what you have to say. At one point or another, everyone has felt invisible in some way. It’s frustrating to feel like you’re talking to the wall when you’re trying to get a point across. I chose that song to be my first single and I have had a good amount of success with it. It always warms my heart when someone tells me they listened to it and liked it, or added it to their playlist, or request for me to play it live.
Q: You’re working on your debut album! What can you tease about it?
A: I am so excited to release my debut album and I have learned so much from putting it together. About a year ago, I started working with my producer, Daniel Blake and he’s the best! He plays so many instruments and he is incredible at each one. He puts in the work, the time, and doesn’t take shortcuts. Every song starts out as a raw idea that gets added to. We experiment and normally, we get a pretty good end result. The thing I’m most thrilled about for my upcoming album is some of the awesome local musicians who have a spotlight on certain songs. I had a number of people come into the studio to sing at the end of a song called Move On. I am also featuring Kelsey James from Shiva Skydriver on harmonica for a song called Sapphire Blaze. Zach Sierocki from MSJR has a drum part on Things Change, and Ray Bruckman played the fiddle on The Lemming Song & violin on Something Beautiful.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you when you’re not on stage?
A: Honestly, I don’t do many things other than music. I do school at home to allow time for practice, lessons, and performing and it’s a good fit for me. I take four different music lessons, so there isn’t much time for anything else. I also love my chickens. I have four rambunctious, adorable little birds who are full of personality. Their names are Cinnamon, Mocha, Snickers, and Oreo and they usually keep me company during the day.
Q: If you could give your younger self—the little girl who first picked up a guitar—one piece of advice, what would you say?
A: My biggest struggle with myself has always been confidence, especially as a 15 year old girl. I always worry I’m not talented enough, not pretty enough, not strong enough, etc. When I was younger and first getting involved in music, I was always worried about making a mistake and if I did, I usually didn’t take it well. While I still worry more often than I should, I’ve learned from my mistakes and used them to better myself and shape the person I am now. If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be that it’s all going to work out and that everything is ok. If you make a mistake, 9 times out of 10 nothing explodes or gets ruined. I wouldn’t give myself any more details than that though. I believe the most important part of my journey has been the learning experience and you don’t get that from having all the answers handed to you.
Q: What are you most excited about right now?
A: Right now, at this moment, I’m most excited for my album release and what that means for my career in the near future. I can’t wait to learn new lessons, meet new people, and make new mistakes. I want nothing more than to share my music and story with the world and I’m so incredibly thankful and blessed for being able to do that.
Q: What do you hope people feel when they hear your music or see you perform?
A: When people hear my music or see me perform, I want them to walk away satisfied. Music is emotion and if I can touch people on an emotional level or relate to people, then I have reached my goal. I love to see people having fun and singing or dancing when I play.
The best place to find out more information about me is my website, LauraRulloMusic.com. It will lead you to my other social media platforms, also under Laura Rullo Music. It also shows my updated schedule and where you can find me next. My original music can also be found on all online streaming platforms.
My schedule is always on my website:
LauraRulloMusic.com and every few weeks, I post the next few to my socials.
Here are my links:
* https://facebook.com/LauraRulloMusic
* https://instagram.com/LauraRulloMusic
* https://youtube.com/@LauraRulloMusic
* https://open.spotify.com/artist/2DtAc0hSweFVdi2672QAq5?si=k8AbVqPWTGGHTdIxZOSafQ
* https://music.apple.com/us/artist/laura-rullo/1843515406
* https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC7ky6Wo3pR1wVJgH1kv-mmg?si=IoPhZOPe94cknbvZ
* https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0FT9SHML1?ref=dm_sh_8950-7370-7175-590a-4b53a
