Larissa Eddie is one of Brighton’s very finest exports; a singer and songwriter taking the music industry by storm, working with A-list artists and performing at venues as iconic as the O2 and The Royal Albert Hall. Unsigned but unfaltering, Larissa is a strong role model to any aspiring pop princesses and rock stars, teaching us that with hard work, determination and above all dedication to your craft, the sky is the limit. Absolute Magazine managed to find time in her busy schedule to catch up with this Brighton belle and discover just exactly what her secret to success is.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I am a pop artist. I live for making music which has energy and makes the audience feel something. I write from the heart and I love performing live with my band.
As a little girl did you always dream of being a pop artist?
Absolutely!! Being a pop artist is all I ever wanted to be. I was always the first to volunteer to get up and sing at school or a family gathering – I just loved it. Music was a massive part of my childhood and I was surrounded by all different types of it. We even went on a family holiday to Nashville when I was young and after seeing a live concert out there full of the biggest stars at the time, I knew that it was what I wanted to do when I grew up.
You studied at the highly-acclaimed Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM). What course did you take and why did you choose BIMM?
I started BIMM straight after finishing school and it was the best decision I ever made. My Mum had initially heard about it after seeing Ronan Keating from Boyzone on TV talking on a chat show about a new rock school that was open in Brighton. It was perfect timing as I was already in a band, loved my rock music and I knew that I wanted to sing professionally, but until BIMM came along I had struggled finding a course that would have really allowed me to develop as an artist. BIMM had only been open a couple of years when I first joined. With less than a few hundred students on the one premises (aptly named ‘Rock Place’ ), it made my time there even more special as there was a real buzz and excitement about it. I studied there for three years, taking courses in Vocals and Song-writing. I made friends for life and gained some great contacts. It really kick stared my career in music!
As a Brighton belle, you must have played your fair share of the city’s many live music haunts. Which venue is your favourite to play and why?
The live music scene in Brighton has always been amazing – it’s a really special place for fresh talent and live music. It’s definitely where I learnt my craft as a performer. There probably aren’t many venues in Brighton that I haven’t played as when I first started out I used to gig weekly on the Brighton scene at all different venues around the city including open mic nights. One of my favourites has to be The Concorde2 and more recently on tour I got to come back and play to a packed out home crowd at the Brighton Centre which was a dream come true.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
I always looked up to Christina Aguilera as a singer and a performer in my teens. Her album ‘Stripped’ really shaped me as an artist and a songwriter. I loved how she was so open and honest in her songs and her voice was something that I aspired to.
You have recently toured with the legendary Lionel Richie and Pete Tong and the charming Peter Andre and Matt Cardle and Tito Jackson, How did these tours 
come about and what were the highlights?
It’s literally been the most incredible year. I’m still pinching myself to think that I’ve been lucky enough to tour and duet with these artists. It just goes to show that even though unsigned, if you work hard and persist you can still achieve your dreams.
I was on a 24 date tour this time last year supporting Peter Andre. It was amazing and gave me my first real taste of life on the road. It came about just two weeks after meeting my manager and from then on it’s been full steam ahead. A few months after finishing with Peter and after performing at The Royal Albert Hall and dueting with him on the final date of the tour, I decided to cover and upload one of my favourite songs from last year which was ‘Jealous’ by Labrinth. It’s a song I instantly connected to and I knew I had to record it. The response to it online was amazing and a few weeks after it being played to a few of the right people, it was noticed by Lionel’s team who got in touch and invited me to come and support him on his UK and Ireland ‘All the hits all night long’ Arena tour. Of course I jumped up and down screaming and said ‘yes’ and the rest is history.
Highlights include playing the O2 twice, which was the biggest dream come true EVER!! Seeing up to 20,000 people all singing along to my own songs was incredible and meeting Mr Richie himself in person was such a special moment of the tour for me. He was so lovely and gave me some great words of wisdom for the future. Another of the highlights of going on tour is that I’m joined on stage with my amazing band which consists of my brother Rawnsley Eddie on drums and our good friend Joe Colburn on guitar. It’s great to share such wonderful experiences with family and close friends and it makes all the hard work worth it.
