Singer's hope — to bless lives

Music has come full circle for Lauri Carrigan.

As a teenager going through hard times, including the breakup of her family, "I'd always fall back on inspirational music to help. It was such a great thing for me."

Now, as a singer/songwriter, Carrigan's greatest hope is that her music might help someone else. "I hope in some way it is blessing other lives."

When she gives performances, especially for youth groups, "my favorite thing is seeing how they are affected by the music." She feels thankful for the opportunities and abilities she has, as well as for what music has done for her. "I want to give others hope."

Carrigan has enjoyed singing as long as she can remember — singing in church and school choirs all through high school in Texas, where she had moved at age 14 when her parents divorced. She also "took lots of music at dance" while a student at Brigham Young University.

At BYU, she met her husband, Jim, and for a time music took a back seat, as she became a stay-at-home mom for four children. "But when the kids got to the age that my time was freed up a bit (her youngest is now 6), I realized I wanted to keep singing."

Carrigan released her first CD in October 2004, a collection called "Safety of His Arms," which was nominated for a number of Pearl Awards. In 2005, she received a Best of State award for Best Individual Vocalist. Her sophomore CD, "A Mother's Heart," was released this spring.

It's nice to get such accolades, she says. "There are so many talented people involved in music here, it's such a great honor to be recognized." But she says touching lives through music is more important; to be able to be part of that is very rewarding.

She also feels the market is far from saturated. "I love all the artists who are out there, but there's tons of room for more. I wished as a teenager that I had more options. Now there are so many."

Carrigan actually started her own record label, which she calls Tulip Tunes Records. "I entertained a few offers from companies, but with my family situation I decided I wanted to do it on my own terms."

Tulips, she says, are her favorite flower. "They represent hope, new beginnings of spring. That's what I hope I can bring to others."

She draws on the experiences of life for inspiration for her songs. The title cut of her new CD, for example, is about the bond that instantly forms between a mother and her newborn child.