ARBUTA is Laura Gallants new alias as a musician and producer. This name represents the deep connection Laura has to the plant world, and the ether where music comes from. Keep your ears out for new releases coming this year 2026.

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Golden Threads, Laura's first album from her solo music

collection was birthed from a time when all of Laura's band projects fell apart, and the world went into quarantine. For her, this was a few years of deep heart break, fear, feelings of being completely lost and alone. Some of her former bandmates and her brother banded together to help Laura bring these songs together. With a lot of love and patience, this group temporarily took on the name Octopus Mountain. As things opened up they played a few live shows on the main stage for Halifax Jazz festival, and Halifax's loved space The Basement. For wrapping up the album, mixing and mastering engineer Dario Lozano-Thornton helped polish things off, while also providing video work with their partner Annaka for single Recalibrate.

 

"Recalibrate" is a breakup song pleading to salvage some of the pieces, while recognizing the need for growth outside of the relationship. Lauras first two singles 'Wallflower' and 'Like the Moon' were time markers of her process, hinting at themes of self acceptance and soothing the inner child. 

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Prior to this project Laura spent 3 years writing and touring the east coast with her first bands Superfluid and Lazeez. They created some unforgettable experiences, playing main stages for Folly Festival, Evolve Festival, and Halifax Jazz Festival. She had opportunities such as; transcribing the music of her band Superfluid for a full orchestral arrangement of their original music that was played with Halifax Music Co-ops 'Inventions' series. This band also got to open for Taureg music legend Mdou Moctar. It took a catalytic experience to step away and reevaluate what she wanted in the world of performing and writing, followed by a pandemic to lock her in for exploring and refining her writing and recording styles.

Music was ingrained in her and something that always provided inspiration and safety. Nourished by the world of tape decks playing The Fugees, Spice Girls and Led Zeppelin, these greats among others, steered her towards her own sound, found through a life of songwriting and growing up with a house full of musicians and music lovers.

Catch Laura playing solo with her guitar, or with her full band of some of Halifax's most refined musicians; Charles Urich, Ryan White and Phil Gallant. Expect to be pulled in by raw lyrics, epic guitar riffs, groovy bass lines, and entranced by a soulful progressive take on jazz, R&B and rock.
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