I spent most of 2013 recording Dérive, my first full length album, which I self-released on vinyl in January 2014.

Dérive” is the act of drifting, a concept created by Situationist Guy Debord. To drift, one sets off on an unplanned route, letting their surroundings subconsciously direct the journey, "with the ultimate goal of encountering an entirely new and authentic experience".

I happen to apply this practice to my songwriting, letting either instrument or idea guide me, so it seemed natural to name my upcoming album Dérive. Making the album was a gradual process that began in 2010 when I moved to Washington, DC to focus on creative endeavors and to be an active part in the growing music community.

Each song I compose is a dérive in its own way. They are mature and cohesive, yet full of unexpected arrangements and shifting movement. There’s a vast amount of direction and space when it comes to playing the guitar, and exploration always leads to discovery. Sometimes I'll even dive into alternate tunings just to rearrange my familiarity with the fretboard. As for lyrical content, I enjoy crafting my own stories as well as expanding upon others, some of which include Pluto losing planethood, the Greek myth of Persephone, and Otto Lilienthal’s attempts at heavier-than-air-flight.

“Dérive - her 2014 independently-released LP - is a progressively composed suite that often veers into baroque and avant territory without loosing its natural edge." - Peter Lillis, Frontier Psychiatrist

“There is plenty to savor here off in McLaughlin’s corner of the world, which she peoples with odd, vivid images and gorgeously recorded gestures." - Jayson Greene, Wondering Sound

“Each brushstroke, whether it’s an intricate picking section or a few bars of a capella vocals, fleshes out the environment while the lyrics guide you along." - District Beat