Biography

Laura Sestri (21-01-1986) sang in (classical) choirs, songfestivals (Vara), musicals (in several theaters in Holland), at jazz-jamsessions and in coverbands in bars and on festivals when she was younger.
Her debute - cd in collaboration with Richard Lindenberg was published in 2004. (for critics scroll below) Other studio-projects were with Gwami (zouk, soul), Guy Renardeau, (pop, rock), Castor&Pollux, (trance, dance), Avicadeau (worldmusic, pop), Dj Dulac & Dubois (techno, trance), Rub-x project (lounge), Bas Veeren (trance), Jay Serano (deep house), Alvin Lewis (freak pop), Salam & Sarbast (Arabic music) and Andy Ninvalle - 2dapoint (vocals for dance production called: “So you think you can dance?”).
She also records at home with a FireOne Tascam / Samson phantom-powered microphone and sends her own vocals and samples.
Currently she works on the production of the songs for Artificial Happiness.
As the vocalist of this group ( www.myspace.com.artihappy ) she performed with them durings openings of exhibitions, clubnights, underground parties, businessdiners and especially many times on festivals like Dance Valley, Indian Summer festival, Mysteryland (twice Mainstage), Valtifest, Tomorrowland (Belgium) and many more.
She is also part of the Chaishop. ( www.chaishop.nl )
They organise exciting jams with musicians that never played together before. On the Stubnitz in Amsterdam she played with Praful through the Chaishop. In 2007 she joined the symphonic rockband Symsellah and she now also assists vocal - workshops and improvisations of Art in Rhythm. ( www.artinrhythm.com ) like during a Wehkamp event with 500 participants or in The Stopera during the congress of ‘Soroptimist International’. She performs in Club Dauphine ( www.club-dauphine.nl) with their band.
During the International Fashion week she literally walked off the catwalk towards the band to sing during the fashionshow of MLY (Emily Hermans). In August had her try out in 'de Branding' (Noordwijk) with Dj Jay Serano and at 'Rosso' (Rotterdam).

Education:

She followed courses for 9 years, mainly classical from the following teachers:
Bas van Sonsbeek, Jorge Verkroost (at the Dutch Theaterschool for Children in Purmerend) and private lessons from Tiny Warnaar.
Since May 2010 she’s honoured to be taught by the legendary Tom de Graaf :)

Critics about Magua :

metalfan.com :
"Especially if you enjoy nice female vocals. Miss Laura Sestri has fine pop-rock vocals that swing between gothy on one hand, to powerfull rock vocals that somewhat remind of Amy Lee of Evanescence. Especially when the piano-driven track "No-one Like Me" swirls through your speakers, Laura sounds like an angel."

Metalrage.com :
"Add that up that the singer Laura is bound to get a carreer of the ground, based on her displayed talent (there are female vocalists in the Dutch rock scene that she may replace today if it was up to me), and Magua is a success."

Nationaal pop instituut:
"Luide gitaren en de engelenzang van Laura Sestri zorgen voor de menselijke trekjes."

podiuminfo.nl / festivalinfo.nl:
"Sterker nog, de band ontwikkelt een hele nieuwe stroming die lijkt op een kruising tussen Mortiis en the Gathering."

Inspiration:

Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering, Agua de Annique), Maria Mena, Kate Bush, Evanescence, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Stina Nordenstam, Coco Rosie, Portishead, Air, Massive Attack, Everything But the Girl, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Amanda Marshall, the Cranberries, Sara Tavares, Eva Cassidy, Dido, Tori Amos, Sade.

Other musical interests:

(rock, african, rai, oriental, salsa, latin, dance, lounge, deep house, pop, triphop) A Perfect Circle, Artful Dodger, Bob Marley, Cheb Mami, Coldplay, Cypress Hill, de_phazz, dEUS, Faithless, Franse Chansons, Groove armada, Jeff Buckley, Kings of Convenience, Lauryn Hill, Lifehouse, Roxette, Sidestepper, The Prodigy, Tool, Verdena, Avi Adir, Nitin Sawhney, Kaki King, Gotye, Armin van Buuren, David Gray, David Fonseca, David Demaria, the Avalanches, Silverchair, Keane, Goldfrapp. More specific songs on: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CDF9A5E4A4146AB8 .