Dubbed "The Hookmeister” by one San Francisco Bay Area recording engineer, violinist/violist Laurel Thomsen’s knack for framing the tone of a track or album and creating infectious melodies has saved more than one client’s song from the chopping block. Classically trained with the ability to convey complex emotion through her instrument, yet also possessing an exceptional ear and the ability to read chord charts, improvise, arrange, and "fiddle" in a range of genres, Laurel presents an attractive package for songwriters and bands looking to add string parts to an album or song. Having recorded lead and backing violin, viola, cello, as well as both lead and harmony vocals, on dozens of albums since the early 2000s, she is frequently sought for her ability to add depth, color, and emotion to all types of music.
Canada’s premier music magazine,
Penguin’s Eggs, recognized Laurel as “a terrific violinist and accompanist” with a “judicious” approach and “fascinating undertones and range.”
Cashbox Magazine noted her "deft, elegant violin."
Born and raised in Monterey, California, and now based in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Laurel is available for in-studio recording sessions around the California Central Coast (Monterey, Santa Cruz, etc.) and San Francisco Bay Area, and elsewhere via remote session from her home studio or a recording studio of a client's choice.
With a rich and expressive tone and an interpretive style that can both rock a solo or add backup texture or groove, she has performed on Pop, Folk, Rock, Blues, Country, Bluegrass, Celtic, Latin, Gypsy, Jazz, Ragtime, and Cabaret style tracks. Samples from some of the albums she has recorded on can be found
here.