Meet Lauren Auder
A Celine darling and undeniable cool kid, Lauren released their first body of work, Who Carry's You, in 2018. After working on enhancing their stage presence and widening their limits of vulnerability, Auder has come back with a new EP, two caves in, that is more complex and poetic—as they tell us, poignantly communicating "things that are hard to express."
Having grown up in a Southwestern French town built around the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Cecilia, the singer found community online, crafting their sound with the help of a vibrant underground community of rappers. Up until the release of two caves in, Lauren has shared the box of "alternative pop" with similar artists like King Krule and Lorde. But with this new music, they hope to fulfill their immense musical ambitions and transcend any sort of musical caricature that is placed upon them. With a stunning debut single and artful accompanying video, it seems as if Lauren's got a pretty good shot at doing so.
Read our conversation with Lauren below.
Left— Dress by GOGO GRAHAM, tights by FALKE, Jewelry by ANNA PIERCE JEWELRY
Tell me a bit about your background. How did you get your start in music?
I started making music like many people around my age do—figuring it out as I go along on a slow laptop in my bedroom at age 15 or so.
What were you into as a kid?
I was obsessed with YA fantasy and romance for a quick second. Probably when I was around 10, I’d read a lot of Twilight. I fittingly loved emo music at that time too. I think moving on from there, I went through multiple phases. I remember just after that one exclusively listening to Prince for a year straight.
That is fitting. Why did you choose "June 14th" as the first single?
It felt the most symbolic of change between this record and the last. I wanted to show the world the readiness I felt to perform, to make music that felt dynamic and to be shared. I think that "June 14th" captures that well.
Left— Flannel top and shorts by FRASER KENNETH
Right— Jacket and dress by ALEXANDER WANG, top by PUPPETS AND PUPPETS
What's been the biggest change for you since the last record? How does this body of work compare?
I think the biggest change is simply in writing a record that I conceptualized to be played to and for people, whereas the last was definitely a much more insular experience.
How do people first describe you when they meet you?
[Laughs] This is a difficult one. I think either quiet or very outspoken. I tend to veer between the two.
What do you think is your biggest strength? Sonically, lyrically, etc...
I think for now it’s my music's ambition... I think it tries to communicate things that are hard to express, and I think there is worth in even trying that. I’d like to think one day it’ll be my lyrics. i’m working on it.
Who or what influenced your sound the most? It's very distinct.
I say it again and again, but I think Scott Walker really just completely opened my mind to so many possibilities. I don’t know if it’s truly sonic, but at least it fed the sounds I have built my sound on.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
The fact that I'm not as self-serious as my music is.
two caves in is out now. Listen here.