Known for her vibrant “glitter pop” sound and playful, theatrical aesthetic, Lo Lauren is THE British pop girl you NEED to know!
With her music blending catchy melodies with vivid storytelling, Lo draws inspiration from artists including Katy Perry, Lorde, and Frank Ocean, to create an emotive, yet cinematic musical style of her own.
Away from the recording studio the Kent-born singer / songwriter is known for her DIY creativity—crafting her own hair clips and incorporating vintage finds into her music videos, including her mum’s wedding dress! In recent months she has announced details of her new club ‘GLO’ – a monthly event where she will meet fans up and down the country for one-of-a-kind, intimate performances and crafting clubs.
Lo Lauren – Wonderlust
To celebrate the release of her debut EP ‘Wonderlust’ this month, we caught up with Lo Lauren to talk new music, creative challenges, musical inspirations and what fans can expect to see from her next…
Congratulations on the release of your new EP ‘Wonderlust’ – how are you feeling now that it’s finally out there for people to hear?
Thank you! I’m feeling proud – I really love these songs, the videos and the little world we’ve created. It’s exciting because it feels like a milestone to release my first project and I think it’s important to celebrate all the wins, so I’m defo feeling like I’m on a high right now.
Talk to us about the title…
‘Wonder’ was the song that started this project, so I wanted a nod to that, but something that helped to create an atmosphere – for me wonderlust is this constant whirlwind of imagination. The intrigue into what could’ve been or still could be, the desire to break out of this ordinary state of mind and live out your fantasies.
Did you have a set vision for the kind of music you wanted to make? And were there any particular topics / issues you wanted to cover?
I’ve always felt most alive listening to massive pop songs. It’s what gets me going, a big fat singalong punchy pop song. So that was the only agenda really, alongside making sure that it all felt in the realm of ‘glitter pop’ – sparkly, fun, feel good (for the most part). Conceptually I wanted to cover a variety of themes that I felt like I’d experienced in the last couple years, and it turned out that every song focuses on desire – different kinds – but all longing for something, which is pretty reflective of where I’m at right now in my life.
You’ve dabbled with a number of different musical genres now, how much fun did you have in the studio experimenting with all of those different styles and sounds?
We had loads of fun, combined with many long, tiring nights making this EP. I discovered I love a Juno synth, which is from the 80s, and try and chuck it in every song (laughs). I try not to focus on the ‘genre’ as such too much and focus on writing the best song we can. I think naturally I always write with super pop sensibilities which ties all the songs together, but I think the umbrella of pop is obviously quite wide, so it gives us scope to keep each song interesting and in it’s own world.
How did you go about choosing which tracks to include, and was it difficult to decide upon the track-list?
We just went with the 5 songs which we felt were the best to be honest – there’s a couple songs that could’ve been on this EP which I will miss, but they weren’t quite right, so maybe they will have their moment later down the line. I really believe good songs stand the test of time – ‘Wonder’ and ‘Rose & Jack’ are already four years old for example…
What were some of the biggest creative challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
Videos! God the videos… trying to make visuals and bring your ambitious ideas to life with no budget is unbelievably hard! I’m really lucky that so many people and friends were willing to get involved and make them happen. For me they’re a really important part of the music, so it was a case of just getting creative and seeing what you can make within your means.
Would It Be So Bad (Official Video)
How would you say you’ve grown and evolved as an artist throughout the process of making this EP?
I think you learn so much from releasing music – once it’s out, you gain a whole new perspective. So I’ve learnt to care a lot less about the little things, and I’ve gained a new confidence in who I am that I’m ready to take into my next era… fun!
You’ve often spoken of your affection for noughties pop – what is it about that particular time in music that inspires you the most?
Mainly, it’s memorable. I feel like so much music is over-written at the moment, I am a melody-first listener and I think the music of that era was gold in terms of hooks, and feel good energy. It also had a theatrical element that I aspire to recreate, it’s so cool to see artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan bring back big pop in a similar way.
How do you go about incorporating elements from that era into your own work?
I try to take inspiration from the simplicity and the drama, and always say to myself: “can I imagine this being played in a stadium?” The answer always has to be yes.
Which of your fellow peers would you say influence you the most?
Oooh if you mean songwriters then all the people I work with on my records inspire me and part of the reason I love collaborating is because I love to be challenged or listen to different opinions! If you mean artists, right now I’d say Chappell Roan is the most inspirational – no one necessarily influences what I write or create, but I watch her interviews, listen to her songs and really resonate with her journey starting out so DIY. I love the theatrics she has brought back with her big pop music and aspire to create a world like hers!
Did you always l know the type of artist you wanted to be?
I always wanted to create massive singalong pop music, however it definitely took me a period of ‘trying to be cool’ to realise that fully and own my identity. I feel really confident in who I am now, but it’s forever developing as I learn new things and there’s still so much I want to share and get involved in.
What’s next for Lo Lauren?
I’m currently writing new music and have some songs ready to go for my next project, which I’m dying to share. So new music!!! Some shows and the launch of my first GLO event which will be crafts based community hangs and a chance for me to connect with the people that are supporting my music.
Download / stream ‘Wonderlust’ here
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