Laura Cox
Rock Guitar VirtuosoBiography
Born on November 24, 1990, Laura Cox is an Anglo-French guitarist, singer, and songwriter who has established herself as one of the most exciting talents in contemporary rock music. Growing up with an English father who introduced her to classic rock at an early age, Laura developed a passion for guitar-driven music despite its relative unpopularity in her native France. Her musical journey began at the age of 14 when she received her first guitar, a Squier Showcase, in 2005. This early encounter with the instrument marked the beginning of what would become a remarkable career.
Laura’s rise to prominence took an unconventional path through the digital landscape. In 2008, she began uploading videos to YouTube, showcasing her remarkable guitar skills through covers of classic rock songs legendary artists such as AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Guns N’ Roses. Her technical proficiency, authentic feel for rock music, and engaging personality quickly attracted a substantial following, making her one of the pioneering female guitarists to achieve significant success through social media. Over the years, her channel has amassed millions of views, establishing her as a respected figure in the online music community long before her debut as a recording artist.
Building on her online success, Laura transitioned from cover artist to original performer, forming the Laura Cox Band and releasing her debut album “Hard Blues Shot” in 2017. The album showcased her ability to channel her diverse influences into a cohesive sound that she describes as “Southern Hard Blues” – a distinctive blend of classic rock, blues, and country elements. Her sophomore effort, “Burning Bright” (2019), further refined this signature style, earning critical acclaim and expanding her audience beyond the digital realm. Her most recent release, “Head Above Water” (2023), represents her most personal and accomplished work to date, demonstrating significant artistic growth and cementing her reputation as a formidable presence in the rock scene.
Beyond her recording career, Laura has established herself as a compelling live performer, appearing at renowned European festivals including Hellfest and Pol’and’Rock. She has also been recognized major guitar manufacturers, with Bacchus Guitars creating a signature model in her honor. Throughout her evolution from bedroom guitarist to internationally acclaimed musician, Laura has remained true to her rock and blues roots while developing her unique voice both as an instrumentalist and songwriter. Her journey represents a contemporary success story of how talent, dedication, and strategic use of digital platforms can launch a meaningful career in music, particularly in a genre that has traditionally been male-dominated.
Musical Journey
Laura Cox’s musical journey began in 2005 when she received her first guitar at age 14. Initially teaching herself to play, she quickly developed a passion for rock music that would shape her future career. In 2008, she took her first step into the public eye uploading guitar covers to YouTube, a platform that was still in its relatively early days. Her skillful renditions of classic rock songs bands like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and Lynyrd Skynyrd demonstrated not only technical proficiency but also a genuine connection to the spirit of rock music, helping her videos gain significant traction among guitar enthusiasts worldwide.
By the mid-2010s, Laura had amassed a substantial online following and decided to channel her talents into original music. Forming the Laura Cox Band, she released her debut album “Hard Blues Shot” in 2017, which showcased her diverse influences while establishing her distinctive “Southern Hard Blues” style. This was followed her sophomore effort “Burning Bright” in 2019, which further refined her sound and expanded her audience. Throughout this period, she transitioned from being known primarily as a YouTube guitarist to becoming a respected recording and touring artist, performing at major European festivals including Hellfest and Pol’and’Rock. Her most recent milestone came with the 2023 release of “Head Above Water,” her most personal and accomplished album to date, which saw her taking greater creative control and pushing her songwriting into more mature territory. This evolution from online cover artist to established rock musician with a signature sound represents one of the more successful examples of translating internet recognition into a sustainable music career.
Key milestones in her career
- 2005: Received her first guitar, a Squier Showcase, at age 14
- 2008: Began uploading guitar cover videos to YouTube
- 2008-2016: Built a significant following online, amassing millions of views across her videos
- 2017: Released debut album “Hard Blues Shot” with the Laura Cox Band
- 2019: Released sophomore album “Burning Bright”
- 2019-2022: Performed at major European rock festivals including Hellfest and Pol’and’Rock
- 2022: Collaborated with Bacchus Guitars to create her signature model
- 2023: Released third album “Head Above Water”
- Present: Continues touring and performing internationally, expanding her presence in the rock music scene
Discography
- Head Above Water (2023) Laura’s third and most personal album to date, showcasing her maturity as a songwriter and evolving artistic vision.
- Burning Bright (2019) Sophomore album that refined her “Southern Hard Blues” sound and expanded her audience beyond her YouTube following.
- Hard Blues Shot (2017) Debut album with the Laura Cox Band, introducing her original music and distinctive blend of rock, blues, and country influences.
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Singles
- “So Long” (2023) Lead single from “Head Above Water”
- “Before It Falls” (2019) Single from “Burning Bright”
- “Hard Blues Shot” (2017) Title track from her debut album
Watch Laura Cox
Musical Abilities
Laura Cox possesses an impressive range of musical abilities that have established her as a formidable presence in contemporary rock music. Her technical skills and natural expressiveness combine to create performances that honor rock traditions while offering her unique artistic perspective.
- Guitar mastery – Exceptional technical skill and command of rock guitar techniques, from blistering solos to nuanced blues phrasing
- Distinctive vocals – Strong, emotive voice that effectively conveys both power and vulnerability across her diverse material
- Songwriting talent – Creates compositions that blend classic rock foundations with contemporary sensibilities and personal storytelling
- Genre versatility – Seamlessly integrates elements of classic rock, blues, country, and hard rock into her “Southern Hard Blues” style
- Performance presence – Delivers energetic, engaging live shows that translate her recorded material into compelling concert experiences
What truly sets Laura Cox apart is her authentic connection to rock music’s essential spirit combined with her ability to bring fresh perspective to a traditional genre. Her guitar playing, heavily influenced icons like Slash and Angus Young, demonstrates mastery of classic techniques while maintaining a distinctive voice as an instrumentalist. Rather than merely imitating her heroes, she has absorbed their innovations and developed her own approach characterized melodic sensibility, tasteful phrasing, and powerful tone. As a vocalist, she has grown significantly throughout her career, with her more recent work showcasing increased range and expressiveness. Her evolution as a songwriter has been equally impressive, progressing from straightforward rock compositions on her debut to more nuanced and personal material on her latest albums. These combined abilities allow her to create music that feels both comfortably familiar to classic rock fans and refreshingly contemporary in its execution.
Artistic Style
Laura Cox has developed a distinctive artistic style that she describes as “Southern Hard Blues”:
- Guitar approach characterized melodic, blues-influenced solos and powerful riffing inspired classic rock legends
- Vocal style featuring authentic rock delivery with growing emotional range across her discography
- Compositions that blend classic rock structures with southern rock and country influences
- Lyrics exploring personal experiences, relationships, and self-discovery with increasing depth
- Production aesthetic that honors analog warmth while embracing modern clarity
- Performance presence that channels rock’s traditional energy with contemporary sensibility
“Laura Cox’s musical style is characterized her masterful guitar playing and powerful vocals, with influences clearly drawn from classic rock and hard rock traditions, particularly bands like AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. She defines her distinctive sound as ‘Southern Hard Blues,’ a fusion of rock foundations with blues expressiveness and country-influenced elements. Her compositions showcase both technical virtuosity and emotional depth, while her performances demonstrate an authentic connection to rock’s essential spirit that resonates with audiences across generations.” — Description of her artistic approach
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