These three songs landed in my consciousness between 2011 and 2013. Back then, I didn't have the skills yet to record and arrange them exactly as I heared them in my head. So like a special bottle of reserva wine, I put them on the shelf for a couple of years to let them ripen and develop. I think now is right time to open the bottle and serve them to you. Buen provecho!

Words & music by Laura Stavinoha 
All instruments by Laura Stavinoha
Mixed by Joep Leebeek
Artwork by Cabeza de Caset 
Mastered by Marc Broer

Merge

Hunk of Heaven: get ready for some rare, legendary Hawaiian funk! In 1979, producer Kirk Thompson put together Lemuria from some of the best musicians in the area and came up with a stylistic blend of funky, Latin grooves. Roy Ayers would have been jealous as hell if he knew this record existed back in the day. 

I've added a firm, four to the floor beat to the original track and built the edit around the uplifting, funky chorus. I hope you like it! 

(and many thanks to Stan Djers for introducing this gorgeous record to me ;-)

FREE DOWNLOAD

Lemuria - Hunk of Heaven (Laura Stavinoha edit)

So what is this mash-up edit thing? Diana Ross' no. 1 hit from 1976 was turned into a pretty cool reggae remix by King Storm. I wanted to use the best of both tracks, so I cut and pasted them into one brand new tune. With a hint of disco, a zest of reggae and a profound four to the floor. 

Please note: the King Storm remix is a rare item, I could only get hold of a digitalised vinyl version. So apologies for any small, occurring glitches. 

Diana Ross & King Storm - Love Hangover  (Laura Stavinoha special mash-up edit)

Although there are quite some remixes and edits of this tune out there already, I wanted to make a contribution as well, just using the double tempo parts. But instead of creating a housy sound, I focussed on the funky vibes from the break. Hope you like it! 

I Hear Music In The Streets (Laura Stavinoha edit)

My live recording of 'This World', a superb Zero 7 song which is very dear to me. The vocal harmonies you hear are also live, triggered by TC-Helicon VoiceLive2. 



Zero 7 - This World (live cover song)

I have performed this song many, many times while working as The Floating Diva. Since I don't perform classical music anymore, I wondered if I still had it in me: do I still have the vocal range and agility to sing Nina Hagen's masterpiece?  

Many thanks to Daniel Winkelman from Studio Winkelman, for recording and mixing!

Naturträne (Nina Hagen cover)

If you want to see how I use the looping pedal, watch the video: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nDMNP1iYxc

'Dawn' is the first piece of music from a film by Meredith Monk: 'Book of Days'. It is originally written for vocal ensemble. But with some adjustments I am able to perform the music on my own, with the Boss RC-300 for looping. I use TC-Helicon VoiceLlive 2 for reverb and vocal doubling.

Dawn - Meredith Monk (cover with live looping vocals)

I had to stumble upon cover versions by Brooklyn Express and D'Angelo before realising that Eddie Kendricks was the first one to perfom this funk classic. 

In the original version the actual song kicks in straight away, which is not always fun if you're spinnning for the dancefloor.  So my edit comes with a 5 minute build-up. And in the beginning I used a guitar sample from the Brooklyn Express version. Enjoy!

Eddie Kendricks - Girl You Need A Change Of Mind (Laura Stavinoha edit)

Also check out the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU77vYm5Kbs

We people are notorious for being highly opiniated about everything. At least that's the case where I live, in The Netherlands. But this doesn't necessarily mean we're well-informed. And no matter if we are right or wrong, it seems highly important that we hold on to our opinions. Changing your mind is almost considered a weakness. In this song I challenge you to try to change your mind. 

Vocals, bass guitar and live looping by Laura Stavinoha
Composed by Laura Stavinoha 



Give It A Try (And Change Your Mind) [Live]

Also check out the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMuFN1ffsOo

I'm introducing my version of this classic tune from the year 2000: Don't Mess With My Man by Lucy Pearl. It's vocals only, live looped with my pedal Boss RC-300. For the vocal effects, EQ and compression I use TC-Helicon VoiceLive 2. 

Vocals and live looping by Laura Stavinoha
Words and music by Raphael Saadiq, Dawn Robinson and Ali Shaheed Jones-Muhammad.

The use of this cover has been licensed through Harry Fox agency. 

Don't Mess With My Man (Live looped Lucy Pearl cover)

Brilliant oddball funk tune from Brazil, by singer/guitarist/composer Pete Dunaway. His real name is Otavio Augusto Fernandes Cardoso, and he doesn't seem to be very well known outside of Brazil. So I can't tell you much about the guy and his music. But his song 'Supermarket' really stands out I think, and I found it worthwhile to make an edit and introduce his music to a broader audience. Many thanks to Stan Djers for the advise on this one :-)   

This is a link to the original tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMMXqHQwGLM


Pete Dunaway - Supermercado (Laura Stavinoha edit)

Are you ever ready to record a cover of your biggest musical inspirations? I guess not, but here I am anyway. This is a song about connecting on a deeper, spiritual level. So I chose for an intimate interpretation and simple arrangement. Thank you Minnie Riperton and Leon Ware, your timeless music is straight from the heart.

This video is a live recording. The vocal harmonies you hear are made with TC-Helicon VoiceLive2, a foot controlled device.

While recording the track, I've also made a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGo4BTaPG-w

Minnie Riperton - Inside My Love (live cover song)

To me, this song stands out as the best track from Massive Attack's album '100th Window'. Sinéad O'Connors lyrics are so pure and wise, I wantend them to be at centre and shine in this acoustic rendition. I hope you like it!

"Say what your soul sings to you." It's about knowing that your are not just your thoughts, feelings and ego strategies, but so much more than that. Go and look behind them to see who you really are. 

This is a live recording. The vocal harmonies you hear are made with TC-Helicon VoiceLive2, a foot controlled device.

Massive Attack - What Your Soul Sings (live cover song)

It was my intention to make an edit of this tune, but it turned into something completely different. I sampled a couple bars from D Train's The Shadow Of Your Smile, wrote some lyrics, turned them into a melody and recorded new vocals. I also added sounds from my Roland Juno 106 synthesizer. 

Not really sure how to call this type of music though...is it a remix with new vocals? A new song based on sampling? Drop me a line if you know!  Enjoy, I hope you like it.

Every Day (Laura Stavinoha vs. D Train bootleg remix)

4hero: widely respected among music lovers and makers, but for some reason their music hardly ever gets performed by other artists. Why is that?

I wanted to give it a go with this cover of 'Look Inside'. A song about finding your own light, when the world around you appears to become dark and gloomy. It's originally quite an upbeat drum&bass track, but I gave my version a different, somewhat laid back interpretation. 
 
I've recorded this track live in one take, with my looping pedal Boss RC-300. Other stuff on my gear list:
- TC-Helicon VoiceLive 2
- Ibanez jazz bass 
- Roland FP4 piano
- Roland Juno 106 Synthesizer
- Apple Mainstage

Recorded at Studio CD23. Mastered by Marc Broer. Photography by Amerens Hedwich. Design by DTP74.

Buy on Bandcamp

Look Inside (4hero cover)

Soulful dance music most loved by me from 2016. This mix goes all the way from funky hip hop to energetic uplifting disco to deep vocal house, to a melancholy and peaceful end. All tracks were released or re-released in 2016.

Tracklist:
Giorgio Oehlers - Sunshine & Margaritas
Mark Rae - Hold On (Rae & Christian re-edit)
A Tribe Called Quest - The Space Program
Jay Airiness - Hello
KnG Edits - Give You Up
The Isley Brothers - The Pride (TWOGOOD remix)
Michael The Lion - Any Time
Oliver Nelson - Ain't A Thing (ft. Kaleem Taylor)
A Band Called Flash - Phantom
Kojam - Situations
Lars Bartkuhn - Tokyo Burning
Ron Trent & Chez Damier - The Choice
Temika Moore - Every Word (Honeycomb T.V. Mix)
Hyenah - Soak it (ft. Nonku) [Andre Lodemann Remix]
David Anthony - I Don't Know (ft. Beverlie Brown) [Manoo Remix]
Moderat - Running
Weval - Square People (Original Mix)
Meredith Monk Ensemble - Spider Web Anthem

2016 soulful dance music mixtape

A collection of soulful (mostly) downtempo tunes, to get in the mood for summer...which is almost here at the northern hemisphere.  Enjoy, forgive my not-always-so-flawless mixing and let me know what you think!

Tracklist:
Fragile State - Panacea (Jimpster remix)
Rotary Connection - Respect
Sade - Cherish The Day
Carina Andersson - Without You
Robert Glasper Experiment - Persevere (feat. Snoop Dogg, Lupe Fiasco & Luke James)
Kratos Himself - See What Eyes See (Sam A La Bamalot remix)
Wordless People - Positivity
Nathan Haines - Wonderful thing
Build An Ark - Sunflowers In My Garden
Shawn Lee - Happiness (Ashley Beedle's West Coast mix)
Roy Ayers - Holiday(Spinna Vocal remix)
Ray & Christian - A Distant Invitation
Milton Nascimento - Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser 
Loose Ends - Feel The Vibe
Disco Tech - On My Mind
6th Borough Project - Just A Memory
Carly Simon - Tranquillo (Melt My Heart)
Marvin Gaye - After The Dance (instrumental)
Da Lata - Pra Manha
Chateau Flight - Prism
Metro Area - Caught Up
Snoop Dogg - Sexual Eruption (instrumental)
Julien Mier - Being You (feat. Hamertje Tik & Bram van der Hoeven
Corduroy - Paddy & Keir
Omar - Ghana Emotion
Leon Ware - You Are The Way You Are

Laid Back Summer Grooves Mixtape

Live looping original. Used gear: 
Boss RC-300 loop station, TC-Helicon VoiceLive 2 (vocal effects) and Ibanez jazz bass

Recorded at Studio CD23. Mastered by Marc Broer. Photography by Amerens Hedwich. Design by DTP74.

Lyrics:
Faith is all that you have when your world gives reflections of the dark
Empty, vast space reduces your heart to the unknown
Don't grow too attached to the stories that you create about yourself in your mind
Embrace all empty space and transform it into peace

Empty Space

My laid back version of an all time classic on the dancefloor, made famous by the S.O.S. Band and many others. Written by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. I also included a quotation from  'Serious' by Donna Allan.

This is a live recording. The harmonies you hear are made with TC-Helicon VoiceLive2, a foot controlled device.

The S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good To Me (live cover song)

Shine your light bright, straigh from this life.

Live looping original. Used gear: 
Boss RC-300 loop station, TC-Helicon VoiceLive 2 (vocal effects) and Ibanez jazz bass

Recorded at Studio CD23. Mastered by Marc Broer. Photography by Amerens Hedwich. Design by DTP74.

Shine

Live looping original. Used gear:
Boss RC-300 loop station, TC-Helicon VoiceLive 2 (vocal effects) 

Recorded at Studio CD23. Mastered by Marc Broer. Photography by Amerens Hedwich. Design by DTP74.

Lyrics:
There's just too much, much too much
It's way more than I can handle
There's no option but surrender
It's this feeling of soul connection
I want to run to keep my comfort, but it's inevitable

This sense of instant fondness, when I looked into your eyes
Tuned in and connected, like some wireless device
Are you teacher or an ally, a companion or a friend
The kind of congeniality, I fail to comprehend

I see you, you see me
Kindred spirits looking for synergy
Ignition for creativity
I feel you, you feel me
Let's resonate on this frequency
Explore deeply

Soul Connection

A dance floor classic by Ashford & Simpson

Ashford & Simpson - Street Corner (Laura Stavinoha edit)

I'm excited to announce the release of my latest EP 'Merge' on January 10th! This is the title track. 

Words & music by Laura Stavinoha 
All instruments by Laura Stavinoha, except for: 
Bass, Eliud Ernandes 
Beats, MIDI_Pipe 
Mixed by Joep Leebeek
Artwork by Cabeza de Caset 
Mastered by Marc Broer 

Lyrics: 
Let me draw a map of your mind 
Cause we’re so lost inside 
Don’t want to be rude or unkind 
But I’ve got to search for something you hide 
Take my hand, and lead me inside 
You don’t need to be scared 
Things won’t collide 

Cause I see you, I feel you I hear you, but I cannot connect to 
The real you, who is so true I stand by you, and I want to merge with you 

Let me draw a map of your mind 
Cause I wanna know where I stand 
Navigation must be switched off 
And all traffic signs are banned 
Show me the way, help me understand 
Your mind is like a maze, a journey with no end 

Cause I see you, I feel you I hear you, but I cannot connect to 
The real you, who is so true I stand by you, and I want to merge with you

Merge (feat. MIDI_Pipe & Eliud Ernandes)

Merge (feat. MIDI_Pipe and Eliud Ernandes)

Let me draw a map of your mind
Cause we’re so lost inside
Don’t want to be rude or unkind
But I’ve got to search for something you hide
Take my hand, and lead me inside
You don’t need to be scared
Things won’t collide

Cause I see you, I feel you
I hear you, but I cannot connect to
The real you, who is so true
I stand by you, and I want to merge with you

Let me draw a map of your mind
Cause I wanna know where I stand
Navigation must be switched off
And all traffic signs are banned
Show me the way, help me understand
Your mind is like a maze, a journey with no end

Cause I see you, I feel you
I hear you, but I cannot connect to
The real you, who is so true
I stand by you, and I want to merge with you

Words & music by Laura Stavinoha
All instruments by Laura Stavinoha
Remixed by j melon
Artwork by Cabeza de Caset
Mastered by Marc Broer

Merge (j Melon Remix)

Let me draw a map of your mind
Cause we’re so lost inside
Don’t want to be rude or unkind
But I’ve got to search for something you hide
Take my hand, and lead me inside
You don’t need to be scared
Things won’t collide

Cause I see you, I feel you I hear you, but I cannot connect to
The real you, who is so true I stand by you, and I want to merge with you

Let me draw a map of your mind
Cause I wanna know where I stand
Navigation must be switched off
And all traffic signs are banned
Show me the way, help me understand
Your mind is like a maze, a journey with no end

Cause I see you, I feel you I hear you, but I cannot connect to
The real you, who is so true I stand by you, and I want to merge with you

Words & music by Laura Stavinoha
Vocals & Rhodes by Laura Stavinoha
Remixed by Belaouche
Artwork by Cabeza de Caset
Mastered by Marc Broer

Merge (Belabouche Remix)

You may think that I’m insane
Curiosity is my game
When the portals open up
And let me flow on top
I never ever thought
I never thought I could feel

And if my heart then skips a beat
Revelation is complete
Let go of time and out of space
Two dimensions we tend to overrate
That’s what humans do

Take me to the other side
Let me take control
Take me to the other side
I want to know how it feels with you

Locations in my mind
To which before my eyes were blind
Insanity and clarity live together in perfect harmony
In perfect harmony

Machine elves in my soul
Transforming any goal
Please show me the universe
To which we eventually
Submerge eventually
Submerge as one

Take me to the other side
Let me lose control
Take me to the other side
I want to know how it feels with you

Words & music by Laura Stavinoha
All instruments by Laura Stavinoha
Mixed by Joep Leebeek
Artwork by Cabeza de Caset
Mastered by Marc Broer

The Other Side

Fast fashion
Food wasted
Flight bargains
And more highways
It’s never enough
But keep longing
For sure, we will reap what we sow

We won’t see, most things we have we don’t need
Take good care of what your eyes cannot see
The air we breathe

Fuels burning
Oceans dying
Ice melting
And storms breaching
Too big too comprehend
So keep laughing
For sure, we will reap what we sow

We won’t see, most things we have we don’t need
Take good care of what your eyes cannot see
The air we breatheWords & music by Laura Stavinoha

All instruments by Laura Stavinoha
Mixed by Joep Leebeek
Artwork by Cabeza de Caset
Mastered by Marc Broer

The Air We Breathe

Laura Stavinoha: vocals & Rhodes
Oliver Franke: bass
Boris Manintveld: drums
Stijn Schmeddes: violin

Lyrics, composition and arrangement by Laura Stavinoha

Recorded by Martijn van Waveren at RebelMusic
Mixed by Marc Broer at StudioWorx and
Mastered by Darius van Helfteren at Amsterdam Mastering 

Where do I go

Laura Stavinoha: vocals & piano
Oliver Franke: bass
Boris Manintveld: drums
Sven Weyens: cello

Lyrics and composition by Laura Stavinoha
Arranged by Laura Stavinoha, Oliver Franke & Boris Manintveld

Recorded by Martijn van Waveren at RebelMusic
Mixed by Marc Broer at StudioWorx
Mastered by Darius van Helfteren at Amsterdam Mastering 

Rise and fall

Re-edit of the 80's disco hit Can't Get Away by Carol Williams. I started the song with  the funky bassline, maximized the beat and gave it a 'contemporary' boost at the end. Enjoy.

Carol Williams - Can't Get Away From Your Love (Laura Stavinoha edit)

The Atlantic Assembly:
Laura Stavinoha, vocals & keys
Oscar Galoz, guitar
Eliud Ernandes, bass
Boris Manintveld, drums
Liz Ruvalcaba, backing vocals
Violoncheloops, cello
Midi Pipe, flute

Lyrics & music by Laura Stavinoha
Produced by Laura Stavinoha & Stan Djers
Mixed by Stan Djers
Artwork by Stan Djers, based on www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/hand

The idea for The Atlantic Assembly was born during corona-lockdown when musicians saw all their gigs, rehearsals and lessons getting cancelled. Communication was possible exclusively online, and as a result my friends at the other side of the Atlantic suddenly felt just as nearby as my friends in Amsterdam. 

Being isolated in our own homes, me and my musician friends from Mexico searched for alternative ways to keep on making music and to stay inspired. So I invited them to play along on one of my songs, while every one recorded their part in their home studio. 

Although we are facing a massive economic crisis now because of COVID-19, I think we should be careful not to let this overshadow the even more serious and destructive crises that are ahead of us: Climate change and the loss of biodiversity. I wrote Wholeheartedly with that thought in mind. 

Lyrics:
Hey, welcome to this world, You’ve been here before
You won’t remember a thing, That’s how we play this game once more
They have made you a plan, But what reigns is your free will
So it’s up to you to decide what you do with your time here before it’s 

Too late 
To find      
Salvation 
and peace of mind

Open up your eyes to see that we are wandering, lost track of where we
Should be heading if we want to wake up totally, wholeheartedly
Open up your eyes to see that we are wandering, lost track of where we
Should be heading if we want to wake up totally, wholeheartedly

Hey, look upon this world, And ask yourself once more
Is it worthwhile to preserve, For future creatures to explore
Or even for yourself, If you want to visit back
Wouldn’t it be a shame to find out that this place had shut down cause it was

Too late 
To find      
Salvation 
and peace of mind

Open up your eyes to see that we are wandering, lost track of where we
Should be heading if we want to wake up totally, wholeheartedly
Open up your eyes to see that we are wandering, lost track of where we
Should be heading if we want to wake up totally, wholeheartedly

Wholeheartedly

Wholeheartedly (feat. The Atlantic Assembly)

Jean Carne is not on everyone's radar. But she's an incredible singer, as you'll hear. And one of the last vocalists to work with Duke Ellington, right before his death. 

In my edit of "Was that all it was" I got rid of the somewhat outdated chorus, in favour of the hypnotising grooves of the verses. Let me know what you think!   

Jean Carne - Was That All It Was (Laura Stavinoha edit)

performance, composition, arrangement, production, live looping | piano, voice, bass guitar, theremin 

Most edits are available on Bandcamp: http://laurastavinoha.bandcamp.com/

Laura Stavinoha

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks