Larra Skye is an artist who shifts between jazz, folk, and pop music. A strong songwriter with a sweet, soulful voice, she regularly performs music from her 2006 HMV bestselling album and her upcoming pop release.
In December 2005, Larra released her debut album The World Disappears at the Montreal Bistro in Toronto to a sold-out crowd. Since then, her original compositions have received airplay from jazz & campus stations worldwide, including the CBC. In February 2006, The World Disappears debuted in the top spot at Toronto's CIUT 89.5 FM. In June 2006, HMV took The World Disappears nationwide, and Larra became the #1 bestselling independent jazz artist. She has toured on both coasts of Canada three times since the release of the album.
Growing up, Larra learned to play guitar from the books at her parents' bookstore. Music was in the family; Sony Music distributed sister Rosanne Baker Thornley's 1993 album, Courage. By 13, Larra was singing in a professional children's choir and performing regularly at a local coffeehouse.
In 2002, Larra studied journalism at Ryerson University. A Canada Day backyard jam that summer led to a collaboration with songwriter Gerard P. Finn (Damhnait Doyle, EMI). Their songwriting and recording partnership flourished prompting Larra to take leave from her studies and move to Hamilton to work with Gerard.
They returned to Toronto in 2005 to complete The World Disappears, whose other co-writers include Eric Boucher, Adrean Farrugia, and Mladen Solaja. Recorded at Reaction Studios in 2005, it features some of the most respected and sought-after jazz musicians in Canada, including: pianists Farrugia and Boucher, drummer Kevin Brow, bassist Jim Vivian, trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, saxophonist Bob Brough, and guitarists Geoff Young and Matt Stevens.
