Conversations with Lorensa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorensa.

Hi Lorensa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I was eight years old, my father past away at the age of 32. My father was a hair stylist in Israel. He had a small business in our neighborhood. He was a workaholic, he always dreamt big and wanted his family to have a good life. Everybody always told me that we share the same smile and ambitions. Me as a child, my only outlet at that time was singing and dancing. I remember when I heard that my father passed away during my time of grief, that would be the first thing I run to. I see this girl in my head right now and I wanna hug her, and I am proud of her. These times has lead me to who I am today.

Since that day, whenever something bad happened to me, I used to close myself inside my room all day and write songs. I just wanted to sing. I wrote songs during classes, then right after school, I would practice in front of my mirror. Whenever my mom would come back from work. I told her that I learned a new song and it’s time for a show now… When my mom’s friends would visit, it was a perfect time for me to perform. Now that I think about it, I was a real character when it came down to the things I love the most.

At the age of 12, I decided to go to a vocal coach, I just wanted to be better as a singer. I knew exactly what I needed. So I took lessons for six years. Every time I went to a class, it was the highlight of my day. All these times, I also performed at big stages in my city until the age of 18. Where I had to join the army; it’s a mandatory in Israel.

By the age of 21 (2016), I made the decision to moved to the US. I wanted take the challenge to turn my dreams into reality. I always knew it’s going to happen one day. I would always mentions to all my friends and family that one day I am going to make music in America. I always wanted to be in NYC, something about that city always looked so magical to me. It reminds me of Tel-Aviv. As a teenager, I used to take an hour buss to Tel -Aviv from Rishon Le Zion just to walk around and feel this bust city.

I started to learn English when I arrived to Miami (first stop), it took me forever. My English wasn’t smooth and I was super insecure about it. I didn’t pronounce words properly and my grammar was horrible. I really wanted to start my music career and go to studios, but I didn’t know how, and I was afraid that people wouldn’t take me serious because I am a foreigner with a thick accent who does not speak English.

I remember I uploaded a song on SoundCloud I worked on while I was in Israel. Some guy heard it and reach out to me, told me that a new DJ from New Jersey is looking for a singer. He flew me to the studio from Miami and I ended up being on his second record called ‘ Dance StaY High’. His name is DJ Gattuso. The song generated 4 million streams. It was on one of the biggest Spotify editorial playlists of Dance Music on Spotify: ‘Dance Rising’ playlist, and I started to get a lot of requests to be appeared on EDM songs. So I decided to move to NYC and started working on some new materials. After a few months in NYC, I collaborated on a song with DJ DANK. DANK worked with some of the biggest artists we all know and I thought he can understand me the most. We ended up making the song ‘One Life’ that I wrote from my bedroom in Brooklyn. We released this song when I moved to LA. I felt like it was the right time for me. Exactly when pandemic started to hit the world.

‘One Life’ was my first single. The EDM world loved this song. Blogs wrote about it, it is still playing on some radio stations around the world and was on ‘Dance rising’ playlist as well. This song has been remixed by some great DJs such as: Reggio, Low Blow, MordKey.

While the pandemic is on the rise, I got an offer to be an intern at Killer Instinct Studios, a recording studio in Los Angeles where you can find artists such as PartyNextDoor, NLE Choppa, Nas, Danileigh, Desiigner and much more working there. It was such a great opportunity for me to start my music journey in LA. I met many great people and started to collaborate with the engineers and producers who worked at this studio. I released my first EP in 2021 called ‘Layers’. I wanted to work on music I loved and grew up listening to. ‘Layers’ is a pop and R&B-infused record.

I started performing in LA for the first time this year (2022), it was one of my goals. First show was a success. I performed my own music and it was amazing experience to because people knew all the lyrics to my songs and it felt magical. Second show, I decided to go on and take things further and host a venue under my own label called: ‘Bring Back The Genius’. I featured five artists and we had over 200 people. As of now, I’m currently working on my first album. I am excited for it and can’t wait to share it.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As an immigrant, I found myself a lot of the times struggling with communicating with people who grew up in this country. I needed to learn their native language as fast as possible. I had difficulties getting a job, and even when it came down the small things like communicating with new co-workers or acquaintances. When it comes to my music, I needed to work on pronunciation, controlling my accent while singing, and writing songs in English.

Growing up, my family wasn’t always financially savvy, so when I came out here, I had to learn it all by myself. I have faced and still facing hard times when it comes to earning while also learning how to maintain and live day to day. I would constantly live check to check, and when it came down to bills, I would either end up having nothing or very little for myself. Just having enough for the basic necessities for survival was a stretch for me. Especially today in this economy.

Other than that, it has been difficult for me to sustain friendships with people. I would constantly be on the go, moving to state to state, city to city, in search of better opportunities for myself to advance in life and my career. I couldn’t really have a social life because I always worried and stressed about work and music all the time. The only thing in the back of my mind would always be, “What’s the next Move ?”

I am grateful for every challenge I have faced in my life, it has made me who I am today and it constantly pushes me to be better in everything that I do.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a creative, I specialize in many talents. I am known for my music; my vocals, my vocal production, I also write all of my songs, and I play a strong role as the executive producer on most of the majority of my projects. I take pride in the way I carry myself as a creative, I know how I want things to sound and look like. I am a visionary, I can see and hear how I like to paint my canvas right before it turns into art. What sets me apart from others is my resilience and my charisma when it comes down to my passion.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Just be yourself, and always be open for criticism. That’s the only way you can get better in anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Lorensa
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorensababy/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jslorensa
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4Dq75Z-RLAUFdm04h10Whg