Originally from Pennsylvania, but now making her home in Massachusetts, Laura Orshaw grew up in a musical family and began playing fiddle as a youngster.  She released her first solo project Songs of Lost Yesterdays in 2015.Orshaw has performed with many bluegrass bands including Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, Della Mae, Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, Jenni Lyn, Darol Anger, Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, and since 2020 The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys.

Solitary Diamond is Orshaw’s debut solo album on the Dark Shadow Recording label, and she has assembled an all-star cast of bluegrass musicians to bring an enchanting repertoire of unique songs to life. Playing fiddle and singing soulful lead on each of the twelve tracks, she includes many guest vocalists (Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Jana Mougin, Garnet Imes Bowman, Lindsay Lou, Stephen Mougin, Ronnie Bowman, Jenee Fleenor, Alecia Nugent, Alan Bartram) who complement her expressive lyrics in choruses.       

Sturdy story songs like Robby Fulks’ “I’ll Trade You Money for Wine,” Roberta Gordon’s “I Can’t Settle Down,” Jim Ringer’s “The Band of Jesse James,” Jerry Chestnut’s “After You,” and Mark Simos’ “Speak Your Heart” have plenty of bluegrass drive along with evocative lyrics. A melancholy “Veins of Coal” is the haunting story of a miner killed in an accident. “I Can’t Settle Down” has plenty of lively triple fiddle spirit, courtesy of Orshaw along with Brittany Haas and Jenee Fleenor. In a country duet with Trey Hensley, “On Her Own” tells of a confident woman out to prove that she can make it on her own. Written by Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz, a 3/4-time “High Mountain Rising” speaks of a midwife and healer who is a pillar in her mountain community. Orshaw co-penned “Lonely Is My Name” with Po’ Ramblin’ Boy bandmate Joshua Rinkel as a classic country cheating song.

While the sentiment of “Hank” is that the vocalist just wants to sing Hank Williams songs, Laura Orshaw is firmly entrenched in bluegrass and the high, lonesome feelings of that genre. With smart, tuneful songs on this auspicious solo debut, Solitary Diamond may simply be a reference to a solo project that really shines and sparkles. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)