Thank you so much to Laura at Belles and Gals for this review of our latest album, Never Slowin’ Down.
You can read the review here: http://bellesandgals.com/2017/03/08/album-review-orfilas-never-slowin-down-laura-k/
Lou xx
ORFILA: “Folowing on from our announcement that we’ll be playing Country 2 Country we are excited to announce that the UK’s leading independent country music magazine has included a feature on us in their latest issue! Maverick is available from WHSmiths and is OUT NOW!”
Thank you to all at Maverick for this!
Lou x
More ORFILA news! We have been selected to return to THE country music festival of the year; Country to Country. We will be back at the o2 in London on Sunday 12th March 2017!
We will be joining a line up that includes Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker as well as the best country acts that the UK has to offer…and we couldn’t be more excited! Stage times will be released soon! #c2c2017
If you’re going to C2C this year, be sure to come and say hi! We would love to meet you!
Lou xx
ORFILA have been selected to play at another one of the UK’s biggest Country Music Fetsivals! Buckle and Boots is taking place in Manchester over the weekend of 23rd-25th June 2017!
Keep an eye on ORFILA’s official Facebook for details about our set times etc as they’re announced: www.facebook.com/OrfilaOfficial
Lou xx
A little while ago I was asked to answer some questions from Canterbury Christchurch University about my time there and what I’m up to now. I graduated back in 2015 with my degree in Performing Arts: Vocal Studies. Here is the interview…..
From our Vocal Studies pathway in Performing Arts…
2015 graduate Louise Orfila brings us our next success story; she kindly agreed to an interview regarding her time at Canterbury Christ Church University within the School of Music and Performing Arts.
Louise studied with us on the Canterbury Campus for a BA (Hons) degree in Performing Arts, majoring in Vocal Studies. Upon graduating it was her intention to achieve a life and job that revolved around music and performance, particularly with regards to vocal coaching and teaching more generally. We are pleased to hear that this is something that she has already realised and it is growing all the time. Upon moving to Surrey, Louise is in demand and very busy! She has set up a theatre school, which currently has two branches and is expanding, has her own vocal coaching business teaching in several schools, runs a vocal group and performs regularly in a band that has been writing, recording and gigging together since her time at Christ Church. Ever humble when considering her own achievements, Louise puts her success partly down to the inspiration and knowledge she gained at University from tutors and fellow students, but we at the School of Music and Performing Arts know is purely down to her hard work, talent and determination.
Here is what Louise had to say about her University experience…
Louise, tell us about your current role/s – what does it/do they entail?
I have been lucky enough to create a very musical life for myself! I am a self-employed vocal coach, creator and director of my own music and performing arts academy (LCA Stage Academy), music director and singer-songwriter/performer in a UK Country Trio with my brother and sister; ORFILA.
My vocal coaching business consists of delivering one to one tuition in several schools around Surrey and teaching privately at student’s houses. This is a diverse role as I am teaching beginners (some as young as 6!) and advanced students too. In one session, I can be teaching basics and laying down the foundations of vocal technique and in the next, I’ll be helping someone prepare for their drama school auditions! I love it.
Since the age of around 16, I always imagined I would go to university and when I completed my degree I would open a music and performing arts academy… and I did! I launched LCA Stage Academy in August 2015, which currently has two schools running; one in Ashford, Kent, and one in Oxted, Surrey. Both schools have now been running musical theatre classes, workshops and masterclasses for ages 3-18 for a year and a half now. As well as running LCA, I also currently teach singing at both schools.
I am music director of a vocal group called Westerham Local Vocals. I took on the role as their music director in January 2016. I run the weekly sessions, teach the pieces, teach vocal techniques and organise masterclasses and performances.
Being part of ORFILA has been an amazing journey so far. We’ve been writing, recording and performing together for almost 5 years. In that time we have written and released two albums, reached the top 10 in the UK Country Music iTunes chart and supported artists including The Script, The Stereophonics, KT Tunstall, James Arthur, Travis, Nathan Sykes, Alexandra Burke and many more. We’ve recently performed at the Gibraltar Music Festival and we were selected by Yamaha Music Group to perform at Country to Country 2016 at The O2 arena. We are now supported Yamaha Artists.
What excites you most about your work?
Everything. Every day is just full of music, singing, creativity and fun and I am so grateful that I am able to call what I do my ‘work’. I love that it is so diverse. I teach performers as young as 3 all the way up to those in their 70s. I then get to write music, record and perform with my siblings. I love the creativity that comes with my work. With both being in a band and teaching. I love teaching, coaching and encouraging people to pursue their dreams and achieve things that they have always dreamt of doing. I feel so lucky to be able to see so many of my students coming to me with a goal and then being able to be the one help them achieve it.
Tell us about your journey from graduate to achieving the position you aspired toward. Was it always smooth sailing or did you have to work your way up? I did a lot of ground-work to have everything set up by the time I finished my degree in the April of 2015. I was already teaching singing whilst I was at university and I was planning ahead whilst I was studying so that when I completed my degree, everything was set up and ready to go. I dream big and work super hard to achieve the things I want to achieve. I am a very determined person and when an idea sparks or I set myself a goal – that’s it, I’m off! Since the age of around 16, I always knew I wanted to teach singing and musical theatre, and perform and create music. I dreamt of one day setting up my own vocal coaching business and a theatre school too, which is what I have done since leaving university. It is hard work and keeps me very busy but my goodness it is totally worth it.
What advice would you give students trying to get into your profession?
Dream big and work hard! This industry is fascinating, challenging and so fast paced. Being totally self-employed, I know that your role is what you make it. If you work hard and believe in what you are doing, you will get to where you want to be. I have always believed that you can achieve great things if you work hard. Always be willing to learn new things and meet new people. Be a sponge at uni! Lecturers are fantastic at CCCU and were always willing to help me when I had questions, needed advice or guidance. Be sure to build relationships with them. They will always be there to help and encourage you, even when you’ve graduated.
In what ways did studying at CCCU prepare you for your current role?
It taught me to always be one-step ahead of yourself and be totally prepared. Challenges constantly arise in this industry so knowing your stuff, believing in what you’re doing and being organised are all crucial.
Do you have a favourite memory of your time at CCCU and/or did you gain anything additionally positive from your time with us that you did not expect to?
I had a great time studying at CCCU. It was hard work and came with its challenges but it all helped me get to where I am today. I am extremely passionate about what I do and I had lecturers around me who were the same about their jobs, which was inspiring to me. I am very grateful to have a life that completely revolves around music and performing arts and I love every second of it. Completing my degree was the stepping-stone to making my dream jobs a reality and I would like to thank CCCU for giving me that opportunity.
Huge thank you to CCCU for this!
Lou xx
Just having a moment to reflect on my musical highlights of 2016…
– Seeing what was once a dream of running my own music and performing arts school, continue to be a reality and grow to becoming all I could have dreamt of and more has been indescribably awesome! The LCA Stage Academy journey continues on strong and it’s incredibly exciting. I get butterflies just thinking about it. I’ve got so many exciting plans and things in the pipeline for 2017. I feel so lucky to work with such an amazing team of dedicated teachers around me and such wonderful, talented performers. To see them all developing their skills, gaining confidence, making friends for life and just going from strength to strength every week is so special to me. With a lot of hard work and determination, dreams do come true.
– I am also so incredibly proud of all my vocal students (singing and speech). I get to work with so many talented and lovely people on a weekly basis to help them on their journeys to achieve their own goals and dreams. 2017 is an exciting year for many of my students and I am very much looking forward to being part of their next steps.
– This was my first year as Westerham Local Vocals musical director and it was fantastic. There’s something very special and unique about my WLV songbirds and I feel very lucky to be a part of it all. Agian, I have lots planned for 2017 and I can’t wait to see it all unfold.
– ORFILA had some amazing opportunities throughout 2016. I’m so unbelievably grateful for every single one of them. Playing at C2C Country to Country was always a huge dream of mine, something on my bucket list in fact, and we played the Big Entrance Stage at the o2 arena in London alongside country artists I’ve admired for years; Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Chris Stapleton and Kacey Musgraves to name a few.
– We also played at Gibraltar Music Festival for a second time and opened the main stage at Victoria Stadium for the Stereophonics. We were on the bill alongside some incredible artists including Travis, Heather Small, Nathan Sykes, NE-YO, Zara Larsson and KT Tunstall. We also released our second album which featured amazing musicians who brought our songs to life.
– We also took a trip to Nashville, the home of country music, to play some gigs and we explored like total tourists. Nasville is somewhere I’ve dreamt of visiting for many many years and I’m so grateful that it became a reality in 2016. Something I’ll always hold close to my heart.
So, 2016 was an incredible year, and these are just some of the highlights. I feel extremely lucky to have had such amazing experiences and to have had all these opportunities which are now precious memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you to everybody who shows continous support and belief in all the above. You will never know how truly grateful I am.
I wish you all a successful, joyful and musical 2017. Dream big, work hard and remember that anything is possible. Always stay humble and kind and start each day with a grateful heart.
Here we go!!! Let’s see what 2017 has in store!
Lou xx
It has been a dream of mine for years to one day visit Nashville. From around the age of 13, when I first started writing and recording music and gigging, I have always talked about how amazing it would be to go there. To totally take in the country-music-goodness, the history, the city, the scenery… I cannot BELIEVE we are actually going… ORFILA ARE HEADING TO NASHVILLE!!!!!
Will be taking plenty of pics and videos (as I always do!). I am beyond excited and grateful for this opportunity.
Louise xx
ALBUM OUT NOW!
Check out our new album trailer:
Louise xx
So excited to say that we have made it into this month’s edition of Maverick UK. The UK’s leading country music magazine!! Thanks guys!
This is promoting our new album NEVER SLOWIN’ DOWN! Our track “Floor It’ is also one of twelve featured tracks on their website and subscribers can download it for free!
Louise xx
SO excited to announce that ORFILA will be playing at the Gibraltar Music Festival alongside The Stereophonics, Ne-Yo, The Fratellis, Travis, KT Tunstall, Bryan Ferry, Jess Glynne, Europe, Toploader, Paul Young and many more awesome acts! Playing at GMF 2014 is one of our most treasured memories and we CAN’T WAIT to rock the Rock again!
Gib is like a second home to me and I cannot wait to be back!!
Louise xx