Laura Mills has been writing songs since she was young, sharing her music across Wyoming, Oregon, and now the Black Hills. Her style blends folk, indie, blues, and pop, drawing inspiration from artists like Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Sara Jarosz, and Deb Talan. Known for her earnest lyrics and alluring melodies, Laura’s songs explore both the beauty and pain of life, always with authenticity and the hope of connecting people through shared human experience. She recently released her single Tempe with support from the South Dakota Transcendent Musicians Grant, and she continues to perform at venues and independent events throughout Rapid City while working toward more releases in the coming year.

Hometown: Rapid City, SD
Primary Instrument: 2012 Gibson L-200
Influences: Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Sara Jarosz, Deb Talan
Signature Songs: It Could Be Now, Tempe
First Performance: A house show in Laramie, WY
Biggest Musical Achievement: Receiving the South Dakota Transcendent Musicians Grant in 2024 to record Tempe
Dream Collaboration: Carole King
Favorite Lyric: “Darling please, won’t you be my fortune teller / Say that you can see the future / Say the future that you see is you with me.”
Fun Fact: If she’s not hiking, Laura is probably doting on her black tabby cat named Lunchmeat.