Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Brown.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I honestly think I’m the artist I am today because conventional adulthood frightened me. 9-5 in a cubicle, facing the daily grind over and over. AGH! I dearly wanted to maintain that childlike wonder of pulling from the never ending worlds that dwelled within me.
I guess you could say I found my voice around three years old, and have been chirping around ever since. I would sing anything, anywhere, any time. I was THAT child…and honestly my dad loved every second of it. I’m glad he encouraged it. I fell in love with all things voice/song related. I started studying opera while pursuing musical theater. Yet as I was entering adulthood, I found myself feeling stagnant with my current set of skills and just overall artistic outlook. So a friend of mine invited me to a show at a local theater in the Virginia.
This was art like I hadn’t experienced – completely physical storytelling. An entire 90 minutes of brilliant non verbal storytelling set to an impeccable score, on a perfectly lit stage. I was hooked. I spent five years studying all things physical theater – pantomime, dance, stage combat, stunts. (I even learned how to sword fight, so I’m ready for a zombie apocalypse.) I also spent a fair amount of time behind the scenes, building sets, learning carpentry – learning all the parts of the stage I could. Despite my love for this form of theater, I felt stagnant again. I finally felt like a well-rounded performer, but I wanted to cultivate my own project.
So I set my sights to California to pursue my first true love – music. Now I’m here, I dropped a single in October 2019 and I’m getting ready to drop another one early 2020. Life is pretty exciting.
Has it been a smooth road?
Just getting to California was crazy. Three days of nonstop driving from Maryland just to barely make it in time to sign the lease on my first apartment. My first week I had no heat, no hot water, no electricity. I moved here with what I could fit into my car, so I slept in a sleeping bag on the floor in a garage top apartment in Long Beach all while fighting the worst cold.
I spent all of my savings moving here and on the deposit, so I had to HUSTLE to find a job. I tried desperately to get signed to a modeling agency as soon as I got out here but was faced with the same answer every time, “We love your look and it’s super in right now but we have too many girls who look like you.” So I went about the freelance direction. I remember working 9 hours on set just to make a meager $100 but thrilled because I was able to network, meet incredible people, and push myself further. I did countless shoots for free just to network.
When modeling wasn’t doing enough, I reached out into the commercial and acting realm. Anything just to make ends meet. Like any and every artist will tell you, net 30 is the bane of our existence. There have been countless nights weeping over the fact that the money I earned hasn’t shown up yet and bills couldn’t be paid.
But I think the greatest struggle is the continued self-assurance in yourself, your work, and your passion. How do you remain grateful in the process and not the product? In a way, the greatest challenge is faith.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m Cadet KO, the knockout, singer/songwriter. I make R&B electronica and my debut single One Time is out on all major streaming platforms now.
On the flip side – I’m also commercial actor and model because who doesn’t love playing dress up?
I’m currently working on my EP set to release in 2020 and I cannot wait to share!
I think the best ice breaker is usually laughter. So wherever I go, I’m usually a complete clown. I want everyone to be comfortable whenever we work together.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Overall, I see a greater acceptance of people of different backgrounds and blending of genres – which is what I like to see.
I would like to see more artists owing their masters, being artistically free, and independent.
I also feel like punk rock and emo music is about to have a resurgence (and my inner 8th grader is READY).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fanlink.to/onetimek
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoiscadetko/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whoiscadetko/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/whoiscadetko
Image Credit:
Nicolett Electra
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