Following the release of her debut full-length *Ferocious* with Cavity Search Records (*Elliott Smith, Helio Sequence*) in 2018, Lakis delivered audiences her slowcore heavy, baritone-driven follow-up EP, *Sad Girl Breakfast*. Both records were produced by Billy Burke (*REL, Luna Lovebad*) with additional engineering by Grammy-winning mixer Chris Kasych (*Adele, Deftones, Phantogram, HAIM*). Her latest LP, *Daughter Language*, was released in 2021 with Green Witch Recordings. Lakis and her full band have toured the West Coast extensively. Coming up for Lakis is a feature film and more touring. We caught up with Lauren to discuss what inspires her and her roots in music:
Previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?
I started playing guitar when I was 15 but was painfully awkward and self conscious…there was no way I was going to put myself out there enough to start a band then. I randomly began singing in a band in 2013/2014 in LA….they were called Hobart W Fink. We recorded an album, toured, and played tons of local shows, so it was like band boot camp for me. I learned a lot from being in that band that I applied to my own solo career. Fast forward to experiencing a “dark night of the soul” in 2016, and I finally released enough of my ego to get out of my way and start writing by myself. In 2018 I released my first album under my own name.
First concert that you ever went to?
My first ever concert was Britney Spears, as well as the HFStival in DC. I think my first time crowd-surfing was to Good Charlotte, and my first terrifying pit experience was during Linkin Park, both at the HFStival. I started going to local shows in Baltimore around the time I was 15. Mostly I’d hit up the Ottobar. My favorite show there was definitely From Autumn to Ashes.
What's your writing process like?
I start with chords and usually a vocal melody will present itself as I’m playing….sometimes actual words want to peek through, but usually in the initial stage I’m mumbling a lot of gibberish until the lyrics come to fruition. I always start with guitar and vocals, and flesh it out with drums, bass, and synth later on.
What other artists or songs inspire your music?
Hole and NIN will forever be in my top 3 (haven’t decided who gets that third spot yet).….Jesu and Have a Nice Life are my favorite heavy/doom artists. “Eat Yr Heart” by HTRK is maybe the sexiest song I’ve ever heard, followed closely by almost everything Tamaryn makes. I love 90s songwriting, so I had to include Sarah McLachlan and Fiona Apple. Land of Talk was a band I listened to obsessively during that dark night of the soul/around the time I was first writing music…and The Clash is in there because, well, it’s The Clash :)
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be its own thing?
I don’t think it has to be identical; my music live certainly isn’t exactly identical to the recordings. Maybe once you reach a point where you have a hit on the radio, then I suppose the live version needs to be identical, but if you’re still an indie artist I think you have the freedom to play around and see what works. It’s all about connecting to the audience. Sometimes a stripped down version of the songs is conducive to that, but sometimes the audience wants something heavy, a wall of sound. My goal is to be connected to everyone in the room - my bandmates and the audience.
What has the touring experience been like, best shows? Worst shows?
The most challenging part of touring for me has been juggling the schedules of my players - I’ve learned that I need to have backups at all times, simply because everyone is so busy and not everyone can leave town for days or weeks on end. I’ve been in situations where I needed a last minute fill in, and maybe we only got to practice once or twice before the show, and I had to just trust that it would work out. That can be pretty nerve-wracking, but somehow it’s always worked out! Aside from that, traveling is my most favorite thing….I love exploring new places and meeting new people. We just played 2 sets at the New Colossus Festival in NYC and it was incredible; the energy of the city was palpable and the audiences were so warm and supportive.
What's up next for Lauren Lakis?
I’ve got a couple more singles to release before the full album “A Fiesta and a Hell” drops in the fall, and probably a bigger tour around that time as well. In April and May I’ve got a flurry of shows in LA - April 10 @ The Moroccan Lounge, April 19 @ Harvard and Stone, and May 8 @ The Oracle in DTLA.
I’m also an actress, and a film I’m in, “Showing Up”, is coming to theaters April 7. It stars Michelle Williams and was directed by Kelly Reichardt. I’ve got a cool scene with Andre 3000, which was probably the biggest highlight of my career. It will be showing at AMC theaters nationwide.
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