Parenting Panel with Laura Baron

Today, we are thrilled to sit down with Laura Baron, a powerhouse in indie folk and jazz whose music has captivated audiences with her powerful storytelling and genre-blending magic.

Laura’s career spans years of award-winning work, including her latest album, “Beauty in the Broken”, which has already drawn widespread acclaim for its delicate exploration of resilience, vulnerability, and the hidden beauty in life’s challenging moments.

Her music blends the warmth of folk, the soul of jazz, and the vibrancy of world sounds, drawing listeners into a soul satisfying experience. With an award-winning voice Laura transforms every performance into a journey - one that’s as thought-provoking as it is undeniably alive. With several Wammies and four Mid-Atlantic Song Contest Gold Awards, Laura Baron is not just a singer-songwriter - she’s a storyteller who dares to inspire, uplift, and reach into the heart of her audience.

Beyond her achievements as a musician, Laura is also a dedicated mother, a role that has influenced her music and shaped her artistic path.

As a parent, Laura has navigated the balancing act between creative expression and family life, finding ways to bring her passion for music into her parenting journey.

How many children do you have? And what are their names and ages?

Gabe is 26 and a grad student.

Ruchi is 19 and a college freshman.

Did you have fears or concerns about how becoming a parent would interfere with your artistic endeavors?

By the time I had my son, well into my thirties, I was thrilled to welcome him into my world. I think I was a bit in denial about how parenting would impact my ability to take on new musical challenges - it turns out, having a young child took all my energy!

I did continue teaching music, with my son even attending my classes (oy!), but it wasn’t until he was in elementary school that I started recording and performing little by little. My fan base didn’t grow as much as it could have since I decided not to tour extensively, but I became known locally.

Have those fears come true, or no?

In some ways, yes. My decision not to tour has impacted my career, and I’ve had to come to terms with that. Building a following usually requires extensive travel and performing, so I’ve had to set my priorities and find my own balance.

In what ways has parenthood helped your creativity, if any?

Before I became a parent, and during those early years, I taught music to young children. I learned that the best way to reach them was to be fully present, sharing songs in a way that invites them into the moment. In that moment, they begin to feel music awaken in their minds, bodies, and hearts.

They sway, sing, tap a drum, or move their bodies - suddenly, they’re swept up into their own dance, their own unique expression. That’s how music comes alive for an audience, too.

As a parent and a musician, I’ve learned that the magic is always in the moment.

What has parenthood taught you about yourself, your music, or your creative process?

Through parenthood, I’ve learned that everything has a season.

Sometimes things take time to grow and come into their own; other times, they emerge quickly. Just as my kids grew with their own challenges and wins, my songwriting developed and matured.

I learned that, just as I can’t force a plant (or a kid!) to grow, I can’t force a song to emerge or reach its potential. It needs time, nourishment, support from other creatives, and faith in the flow of it all.

What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before you became a parent? Any advice for others?

Parenting demands so much from you, and it’s easy to give endlessly. I wish someone had reminded me to take time just for myself. The love and deep connection I felt with my kids was so vast that it felt like enough.

But looking back, I see how vital it is to have moments that replenish me - moments where I can receive rather than always give. There were times I felt burnt out, and when I’m worn out, it’s harder to fully enjoy my art and craft, which is such a deep part of who I am outside of parenting.

Whether it’s a massage, a jam session, tea with a friend, or simply carving out space in my day, these moments need to be separate from parenting. Taking time to recharge means coming back with a full cup, ready to give more - maybe even with a new song idea - to our families and to the world.

That’s my advice for parents at every stage of the journey!

Have you ever written a song for or about your kids? If so please share a description and a link.

I composed the title track of my album called “Heart of the Great Unknown” for my daughter Ruchi, whom I adopted in 2011 from an orphanage in New Delhi, India. The song captures the mystery and wonder of falling in love with a child I’d never met, a child halfway across the world, who would become part of my family.

I’m grateful that the album went on to win a Wammie (Washington Area Music Award) for Best Contemporary Folk Album and Artist - an amazing honor and a deeply meaningful recognition of my families adoption journey.

Listen here:

Heart Of The Great Unknown (Song For Ruchi)

Packing up my suitcase. Stuff some courage in my duffle bag.

Flying over ten thousand miles to meet the daughter I never had.

Will her skin be cream or cocoa? Will her eyes be brown or green?

Tell me can I love someone I've never touched and I've never seen?

And carry her home. Carry her home.

Across the heart of the great unknown with me.

I wasn't there the hour of her birth with the crowds and the cattle rustling by. Didn't hear her small voice ring out 'neath the red Himalayan sky.

‘Cross the oceans and the lifetimes and the rows of little beds will she recognize my face or the arms that long to lift her to another life in another place?

And carry her home. Carry her home

Across the heart of the great unknown with me

Om shanti Om shanti Om

Copyright 2013 Laura Baron

Laura’s brand new album “Beauty In The Broken” is now available on all major music platforms, including Spotify and SoundCloud.

The music video “Heal Out Loud” is not just a song - it’s a movement! Created in support of #stopstigmatogether, Laura’s voice resonates as a rallying cry against the stigma around mental health and substance use disorders.

Connect with Laura Baron:

Website / Instagram / Facebook / Spotify / YouTube Music