Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Christy.
Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
11 years old started out studying ballet at Bush Davies School of the Arts in UK. One of best friends father was famous songwriter Tony Hatch (Downtown Petula Cark) Because I could play the piano I decided to change careers and pin my heart on being a songwriter.
At 19, I was signed by Allan Jacobs to EMI publishing, at 22 I was signed by John Carter (the man behind Tina Turners come back record) to Atlantic Records. The company let go Carter almost as soon as I was signed and he alerted his great friend Tom Vickers at Mercury Records that I was stuck on Atlantic ,Tom flew me to New York to sing for the head of the label Ed Eckstein, they signed me to Mercury and I was bought out to Los Angeles to make my first album at 23 and have been here ever since.
As a solo artist, I made two records.
I received a Golden Globe nomination for my song “the color of the night “from the motion picture the color of night with Bruce Willis.
I received an American music award nomination for best new artist in 1995. I believe highlight of that night was getting to present Whitney Houston with her award for her song “ I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard” movie .
By 1999, I was ready to have children,and touring and trying to pursue being a star was not going to work with that ,so I went behind the scenes and started the matrix with my ex-husband Graham Edwards and Scott Spock ,and the three of us had wonderful success for ten years! Together we produced Avril Lavigne’s debut album, And we had three number one hits in a row off that record, complicated , sk8er boi and I’m with you.
I’ve been doing this for four decades now. I have worked with everyone from Britney ,Shakira ,Bebe Rexha, Rihanna, Dua Lipa David Bowie to the rock band Korn.
The last couple of years, I started my own record label and signed an amazing artist called Jenn Bostic who’s single Jealous of the angels it’s currently climbing at Christian radio.
I also formed a development company with my dear friend Heidi Rojas and together, we signed Australian artist Tassia Zappia whose single “You Don’t Want Me” has almost 400k streams and latest signing Puerto Rican artist Rosse.
Not planning on retiring any time soon
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not always smooth ! Just getting a record deal is very hard and then you’re just at the beginning!
I had quite a bit of success with my first album and then my second album really didn’t do as well as I’d hoped and I really considered becoming a paramedic.
I started to fill out the forms to apply and my mother literally talked me out of it and said stick to music, it’s what you know you’re so good at it.
I really thought that I was going to be the person out front singing my songs.
But to my surprise, I have loved being behind the scenes mainly because my first love is being a mother and all the touring would not have worked for me so it was serendipitous to start the matrix and go behind the curtain, but I definitely had to give up that dream of being out front.
Also, some struggles when records that you really think are amazing don’t happen due to timing or whatever.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think my real skill is taking something and making it better, organizing, producing, writing and arranging songs Executive producing records.
I think what sets me apart is that I was an artist back in the 90’s so I really understand what an artist is going through and I can do the Vulcan mind meld and come up with the true essence of who they really are and what they want to do.
I try to be a dream enabler and I love it when we have that moment and the artist says “yes this is me!!!”
One song can change an artist’s life and several times, I have written that song with collaborators that was the key to open the door for artists to have a big career in music.
Avril Lavigne complicated
Jason Mraz The Remedy
Hillary Duff So Yesterday
Tassia Zappia You Don’t Want Me
Bebe Rexha Me Myself and I with G Eazy
I’m most proud of the three hits I had with my dear friend Avril Lavigne ,Complicated ,Sk8er Boi and I’m with you.
I’m so excited and proud to be working with my 2 daughters on their own music project coming soon !
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Yes yes All Glory to God !!! My faith in Jesus since 2009 has been the true blessing in my life.
Thank you to Allen Jacobs who signed me to EMI publishing at 19 John Carter for signing me to Atlantic without even meeting me in person, and for helping me transfer to Mercury Records. .Tom Vickers my ANR for believing in me.Ed Eckstein head of Mercury Records.
Donna Caseine my publisher and dear friend/partner in crime who is head of creative at Reservoir Media.
Golnar Khosrowshahi CEO of Reservoir.Charlie and Susannah Midnight my dear friends and mentors.
Graham Edwards my ex-husband (together we wrote a bunch of hits and created 2 awesome human beings)
Kerry Wood the best radio promotion women in the biz.
My parents for letting me take a crazy career choice and make it happen
Shy Carter for changing my life in 2009
My husband Lawrence Lejohn for loving me and pushing me to always keep following my dreams.
My daughters for being my best friends and best AnR ears.
My amazing team of collaborators Jon Levine, Benj Heard, Joe Crow.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thelaurenchristy
