Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Sanderson.
Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Sooo, hi. I’m 23 and I make music, have a thrift shop called “WOAH”, and am abnormally obsessed with life and the universe. Originally, being from Indiana, I started making music to express all the shit I felt being trapped in this “box”, and slowly but surely, started building a following documenting this journey of having these crazy dreams. I remember my teachers and people at my school always thought I was super weird and these dreams I had were all just a fantasy world, but I really believed in that shit. But I went for it. A year ago, I took the humungous leap to LA and am now focused on world takeover. Trust the universe. Take that leap. Believe in yourself. All that shit. Hi.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s funny because when I really think about it, it has been so wild taking the leap, moving here, going against what literally everybody told me to find this place… but I think I just trust the universe so hard that everything that’s happened and continues to happen feels like it’s all perfectly meant to be. The good, the bad, the ugly. One of the main struggles has truly just been looking past the pressure of other people’s expectations and learning that the only person who really knows what I need to be doing is ME. And it sounds cliche, but I think that’s where most people, including myself, sometimes get caught up, is when they start letting other people have too much say in what they do or how they do it. I kinda just shut the world out, stopped asking for advice or opinions or approval, and am in complete “self” tunnel vision. It’s the only thing that keeps me sane these days honestly.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I think if you’d ask one of my supporters, “Who is Lauren Sanderson?”, they would say a kid from the midwest with huge dreams and will do absolutely anything she sets her mind to while cheering the rest of the world on in the process. Sure, I’m a musician, and I do graphic design and all that creative shit. But I think the real reason people follow me or gravitate towards my lyrics is because of the realness and rawness in what I’m saying. There is no filter or apology. It’s just like – Life’s short. Why waste it doing what other people want you to do? And I think all kids, especially the kids from the midwest, feel that shit.
Since moving to LA, I’ve noticed the biggest difference between me and other artists here is that I don’t really care to ever change any part of myself to get “big.” I see a lot of artists just trying to make a “hit” or do what their label tells them will work. I don’t give a single shit about this “formula”. I just wanna write what’s real to me and whatever happens, happens. I think that’s why it’ll blow up though.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Barriers are kind of bullshit and I think true leaders will always look past them, but if I had to name the biggest one I see, it would be that the average person in the music industry will typically take men more seriously than women. I see it in the studio all the time – The likeliness of me walking into a studio and seeing a female engineer or producer is extremely rare. I also think women feel this irritating urge to “man up” when we really want something to get done or be taken seriously. However, those barriers are only as real as you make them. I just choose to move confidently, stand tall, and if I can feel someone around me being a part of this barrier, I move on to someone who’s not an asshole. đŸ™‚
Contact Info:
- Website:Â laurensandersonshop.com
- Instagram:Â laurensanderson
- Twitter:Â laurensanderson
Image Credit:
First image (with signed boob): Stone Wertz, Images 2-5 taken by fans, 5th image (B&W concert): Colby Jackson
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