Feature: Laura Musgrave Decodes “Play Again”
Credit: Grace Elkin Photography
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Play Again" and the story it tells?
Absolutely! It’s about the aftermath of those really difficult moments in life. Starting to find your strength again after feeling like your world has stopped. It's that turning point when you realize your fight is coming back. You're determined to face whatever challenges life has in store, even if you're still figuring out how to pick yourself back up. It's about having that trust in yourself that you'll find a way to work it out.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for this song?
I’d written and recorded an early draft of “Play Again,” but the lyrics weren’t right, and it felt like something was missing. I shared it with fellow UK songwriter Emma Gale, and we started rewriting the song. A bit like stripping down a house and rebuilding it. It took us a while to work through writing and refining different parts of the song. I’m glad we spent the time on doing that though, because I love the final result!
Is there a particular message or theme you hope listeners take away from "Play Again?"
I’d love it if “Play Again” gave people an anthem to sing along to, a reminder of their own strength. Whether it’s a bit of encouragement or a sign of how far they’ve come, hopefully it’s a song they can come back to again and again. If nothing else, I hope they enjoy playing it loud!
What has been the most memorable experience or achievement in your music career so far?
A recent one was being named on the GRAMMYs® ballot for ‘Best Rock Performance’ and ‘Best Rock Song’. It was a ‘pinch me’ moment, seeing names like Paramore and Against The Current in the same category. I’d say a second memorable moment was winning my first music award in 2023 - ‘International Female Single of the Year (Gold Award) at the ISSA Awards in Atlanta, USA. Partly because it was my first award, but also because I was so happy to be a finalist, and winning was a fantastic bonus!
Do you have any memorable on-stage moments or performances that stand out to you?
There’s been a few… An early one that really stuck with me was a particularly great experience of playing a local show with my then-band. The setlist was mostly my songs with a few covers thrown in, and the crowd was so enthusiastic the whole time. I remember looking out and realising all of them were singing along and jumping around. It was the first time I’d seen such an energetic audience from the stage. Hard to forget that. It was a very cool moment.
