(Photo Credit: Justin Cook)
We had an opportunity to interview singer/songwriter and actress Lauren Lakis for our Artist Spotlight series! Check out our interview to learn more about this indie rock up-and-comer!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I started singing in my first band in 2013, but didn’t start writing my own songs until 2016, following a mega painful breakup. I didn’t care if I was “good enough” to write an album or not, I just did it because I had so much grief to transmute. That was the most pure place to write from. And once that first album was complete, I continued writing more…luckily I’ve come to find other things to write about besides devastation and heartbreak!"
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"Usually I start strumming guitar chords and then I’ll hum whatever vocal melody wants to come through, and if I’m lucky, key words will come through as well, so I won’t have to think about the lyrics TOO much. But more often than not, it starts as syllable gibberish until it takes shape."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"I’ve always loved the 90s alt rock ladies like Courtney Love, Kat Bjelland, PJ Harvey, Shirley Manson, as well as Chan Marshall, Fiona Apple, Trent Reznor, Kevin Shields. Artists in mediums besides music inspire me as well; Nan Goldin, Antonin Artaud, and Gregg Araki for example. I’m currently reading "La Batarde" by Violette Leduc and I find myself underlining almost every single page."
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"I’m a diehard Fender tube amp gal, and my current favorite pedal is the Keeley Loomer. Reverse reverb is so satisfying to my ears."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"Dark and heavy, and a little sexy. I love when a venue gets my vocals right! I always have to tell them to turn me up so I can be heard over the wall of sound."
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"It’s never premeditated, and is a total personal stream of consciousness, for the most part."
7. Do you have any upcoming projects you would like fans to know about?
"I just finished recording my next album, which I probably won’t start releasing until 2023…but I have a couple of Cali dates in August (Aug 19 in SF and Aug 20 in LA) and will most likely have more Texas show dates throughout the end of the year."
"I’m also an actress, so if anyone is interested in seeing that work I have a few feature films coming out in the next year, including an A24 film “Showing Up” that just premiered at Cannes (directed by Kelly Reichardt and starring Michelle Williams)."