She Is Overwhelming – But Who Is She?

The pandemic has put a pause on many things and left many people with no option but to stay home. However, this was not the case for musician and former Disney star Laura Marano. “I was about to announce a tour in March 2020,” she recalls. The tour, of course, did not happen, and is now on her to-do list, and she is keeping herself busy by amassing songs. “What I found for myself in 2020 was that I got to concentrate on creating and putting all of my energy into my music. And ironically, the most live performances I’ve ever done, besides in 2016,” she laughs. “I’m constantly performing at my house and on social media.” As artists started to perform virtually on social-media platforms in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak last year, Marano mentions the importance of these performances. “People are yearning for music and yearning for any other sort of outlet to escape in, or just really feel more connected to people,” she says, adding that live venues will probably be packed with enthusiastic fans once artists are back on the road in a post-COVID world.

Marano has also created music videos in the comfort of her home. “I did one music video, the ‘Honest With You’ remix, with a friend of mine. It just so happened that I was doing the video with my duet partner alextbh, as well. He was able to film his part in Malaysia, and we ended up making a really cool video,” she shares. Last June, she released an at-home performance music video for “Can’t Hold On Forever,” which served as a fundraiser for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-profit committed to protecting the civil liberties of all people in the United States.

In addition to music (and the deluxe version of last year’s EP, YOU), Marano starred opposite Robert De Niro in last year’s family-comedy movie, The War with Grandpa, and will soon be seen in the Netflix movie, The Royal Treatment, with Mena Massoud. But most importantly, she always finds the time to give back to those in need. Having worked with organizations like Equality Now, Thirst Project, and Childhelp, she has championed philanthropic initiatives for years. “It just truly gives me so much happiness, and I think it grounds me. I think it truly makes me a better human and a more aware human,” she says. “I already love performing so much and combining that passion of mine with giving back, which is another passion of mine. It just really fills me with all the good feelings and energy. What I’m doing feels really purposeful.”

She then discusses what keeps her motivated almost two decades into her career. “What I always want to put out there is a huge, immense bucket of gratitude for all of my fans,” Marano says. “Truly, I would not be here without them, and they make me so happy and bring so much light and happiness into my life. There are some days that are hard – especially for music and doing things independently. You don’t feel super-inspired sometimes with the amount of work you have to do. And seeing their reactions, their comments, and all their positivity makes it worth it, which makes it mean so much to me. I want to tell them thank you and give them so much love, and hopefully hug them in person one day when it’s safe.”

Writer: Savannah Dial

Photographer & Videographer: Haldane Morris

Stylist: Christina Pacelli (for TheOnly.Agency)

Stylist Assistant: Marissa Perez

Hair: Matilde Campos (using Hidden Crown, Virtue Labs, Surface Hair & RUSK)

Makeup: Dillon Peña (for TheOnly.Agency - using Jones Road Beauty)

Editor: Eiko Watanabe

Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)