Lara Oshon is passionate about the power of live music: “Music is a universal force,” said the local singer and performer. “It’s a language that unifies us.”

I Will Sing: Live at Sangha, her latest album, was recorded in Sangha Yoga Studio – part of the Healing Arts Centre on Prince Ave. “The word Sangha means ‘community’ in Sanskrit,” she said, “and these songs are meant to create connection - to our own hearts and to each other. In a live show, there’s a heightened sense of relationship between singer and audience. It’s intimate, authentic, unforgettable. That’s what my music is about.”

I Will Sing is Lara’s fourth album and the second time she has produced a live album since moving to Athens three years ago from Los Angeles. Her previous live album, Born to Shine, was recorded a few blocks away at Studio 1093. Like the earlier album, the songs in I Will Sing surround the listener in soothing warmth. They open, empower, and inspire. Healing Arts Centre Founder, Meghan Burke, said, “Lara’s music is yoga for the ears.”

With the release of her new album on Wednesday, November 7, Lara is launching a new groove. Paring down the ensemble to a duo with drummer Louis Romanos, the new arrangements are intentionally spare, yet lush and intense. Known for her evocative, soulful performances, Lara has added drumbeats to enhance the raw strength and primal power of her sound.

Lara said she’s excited to continue experimenting in new directions. “My life always surprises me. It’s an amazing adventure.” Originally from Atlanta where she trained in classical piano, Lara has been a painter, an interpreter, a web designer, and a social worker. She didn’t expect to dedicate her life to performance. “After moving to Los Angeles for graduate school, the creative force just took me over. I sing because my soul demands it.”