Laurnea started her career in New York on Broadway straight out of high school, followed up with one of the starring roles in the National and International touring company of “Ain't Misbehavin”. Prior to her debut in 1997 and solo recording project on a major label, Laurnea was a member of three groups in the 1990s. Bobby McFerrin’s acapella group VOICESTRA, the British Group Loose Ends, and later a member of the Grammy Winning group ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT in the mid 1990's.

She produced and wrote several songs on each project. Joining the R&B industry in1997 with the release of her debut album ''Betta Listen", the album featured production by Omar, Raphael Saadiq, and Jon Jon Robinson. After 4 years of working with Sony, Laurnea left in 2002 to form her own label, Era Sound 1 Records.

On her own label, Laurnea released several albums. In 2000, the album “Laurnea II” was released in Japan, South East Asia and Australia. The album featured well-known producers, Jon B, Craig Love and Dwayne Wiggins. Following this release, Laurnea released “New Territory” in 2002. This album, too, was released exclusively overseas.  In 2004, Laurnea released "I Remember " in Japan with production by India Arie and Billy Odum. In 2005, Laurnea returned to the United States with the album “The Collection” which was actually a compilation of four songs from each of her past four cds.

Laurnea worked with India Arie on her first 4 CDs and wrote for film and television, including American Idol. She also collaborated with Rachelle Farrell, co-writing five songs in 2015. She recorded background vocals with Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson, Shanice Wilson, Ledesi and N'Dambi on a Rachelle Farrell project.

Laurnea has now completed her 6th CD, titled “UNIVERSAL LOVE”, released overseas in Japan in 2016. This CD was followed up by a 10 city Japanese tour. In addition to releasing these CDs, Laurnea  is known for her acting in Spike Lee's School Daze, Bill Duke's Hoodlum,  Rei Star Pictures SING with Patti LaBelle , Cuba Gooding and many more. Laurnea recently achieved a 3 song placement for a BET film "Perfectly Single" by Van Elder. Other recordings for film and TV including commercials for Microsoft 8, and an acting role on “Judge Ross” as Dana Fuller. Laurnea's musical and writing repertoire has expanded to several other genres. Laurnea has recorded in Italy in the jazz vein with  a band LIVE TROPICAL FISH , recently releasing 3 charting house songs with well known house music producers Wayne Williams & Terry Hunter (Chosen Few) and Stan Zeff (Tambor Records).

In 2017 Laurnea started a very successful business in healthy foods, S.O.O.N (something out of nothing) serving exclusive clients private weekly meals.

www.soonsomethingoutifnothing.life

Return to  

Caribe Ubuntu