Lauren Young is a pianist and singersongwriter and bandleader of The Lauren Young Band, performing solo and with full band set-up. The Lauren Young Band comprises piano and vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, drums, bass, brass, synths and percussion. All songs are written by Lauren Young and tell the tales of a turbulent and manic life. Expect a unique tableau of eclectic avant-garde songs and to be taken through a vortex of emotion via melancholic jazz, blues-pop and spell-binding technical proficiency. Lauren also integrates virtuosic classical playing, elevating the performance beyond your usual experience.
Music offers me freedom of expression and allows me to wear my heart upon my sleeve.. It gives me pleasure with discipline and comfort with intensity. It's a distortion of time.
To be a travelling performer, speaking my music far and wide. To unite people through the idea that that exposing yourself with human depth, emotion and a story is a liberating and beautiful experience, and not weakening.
My own two hands. With a neighbour, to practise treating them with the respect that you, too, deserve and expect. Life is tough enough without being a burden to eachother.
As by Stevie Wonder. Rinsed this song off Songs In The Key Of Life and was overwhelmed by its lyricism and arrangement. Ray Charles 'What I'd Say' might be my most played song of childhood.
Tom Waits, Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Stevie Wonder, Frederic Chopin, T-Rex, Diamanda Galas, Alanis Morissette, Erykah Badu
Sometimes I get bogged down in writer's block, perfectionism, or fall victim to waiting around for a song to appear. To avoid this, I make myself vulnerable to love and experience, look for the poetry in what could otherwise be a dull existence.
We all relate to the anguish and heartache life can bring. My songs tell tales of love, neglect, sorrow and sacrifice. I hope the people who hear my music will relate to these themes and sing and feel with me.
Liberated and true to myself. I enjoy the vulnerability of undressing yourself on stage. I really love to perform.
It's sad to me to know how manipulated the modern musician can be to fit in with publicly desired criteria and perception of physical beauty, and with regards to standardised chart music. It's dehumanising. We are beautiful for our complications and ugliness, but this is often devalued in the music business.
I have yet to use it much, but am looking forward to this experience! I am definitely enjoying this interview...
Perhaps the lack of inclination the public have to click on a link and listen to new music. A new song doesn't have the instant gratification as a piece of art or a photograph and people just seemingly don't have the time. Also, marketing isn't my strong point and so perhaps I don't have the best promotion at present.
I go to plenty of underground gigs and spread news of local artists I know and enjoy on my social media.
I'm still trying to figure that out for myself. Any tips? A fashionable hairstyle? A little dog accessory?
Oooo I'm gonna come back to this one and add more (like the question of inspiring artists above)... Lisa Ekdahl isn't very well known, but is absolutely fantastic.