By Jordan Mallory
“I’m not in the business of being scared anymore. I’m in the business of being fearless.” These are wise words from Lauren Sanderson herself—a quote we can all live by. Believing in her own words and not needing to “be understood” to be herself, Lauren continues to create music that speaks across genders and generations, allowing us to follow suit.
Lauren is no stranger to creating change and impact. From a young age, she’s used her voice for good. At only nineteen, she stood on a stage in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and addressed several parents in the room about accepting and loving their children for who they are in her powerful TEDx talk, “For God’s Sake, Just Love Them.” No small feat for anyone, Lauren did so with poise, respect, and confidence.
What was that experience like preparing the speech and getting in front of all those people at 19?
“Honestly, I find that I don’t realize how major things I do are until way later … I had just come out of the closet. I cut all my hair off. I had on a flannel and cargo shorts on stage. Everyone was probably thinking, who is this?”
Regardless, Lauren’s passion and love for her community immediately shined through. She said, “I feel so strongly … I believe in my community so much. And I believe in just loving people for who they are so much that I feel like I kind of went into that, not even realizing how many people might be in the audience.”
Acknowledging that there are many ways to show love, her talk continues to help many young people in the LGBTQIA+ community find strength in themselves and urges many parents to “become the change they want to see in their relationships.” Wise beyond her years, her words still ring true for all of us in our day-to-day lives, calling us to never fear failure. If you ask Lauren, she doesn’t believe in failure. “Failing is a mentality. The reality is that every single thing, good and bad, leads you to where you’re supposed to go.”
Lauren left the Midwest, and her dream led her to Los Angeles. Since then, she’s reached several career milestones, including performing at festivals across the globe, reaching over one hundred million streams on Spotify, writing for and collaborating with incredible artists like Joji and G FLIP, and even going on her own worldwide headlining tour.
What do you think has been the highlight of your career so far?
“I would say touring with FINNEAS was a really cool accomplishment for me. It is a testament to self-belief.”
It was because of that self-belief that Lauren decided to reach out to FINNEAS in the first place. What started as a congratulatory message about his upcoming tour became the opportunity of a lifetime. Without self-doubt or expectations, she chose not to let fear hold her back. It was proof that your thoughts do become your reality … at least, that’s what Lauren thinks. Since then, Lauren has continued to create amazing music that has generated fans spanning multiple continents and demographics. Even Billie Eilish is a fan, according to FINNEAS!
Lauren released her debut album, Midwest Kids Can Make It Big, in 2020 and is now ringing in 2024 with a brand-new single that she considers one of the first songs she’s made since “waking up.” After her debut tour was canceled in March 2020, she went into “fight or flight” for almost four years. Now, she’s ready to create music that she loves, saying, “I’m too special of a person, and I’ve come too far to make music that I only kind of like.” She’s kicking it off with “THEY WON’T LIKE THIS,” out now.
One thing about Lauren is that she always brings a unique mix of vulnerability and energy to the table. Able to seamlessly blend authenticity and fire into her music, she’s been open about the journey that got her to this release, using her music and social media to connect with her fans on a real level.
What was the process like creating “THEY WON’T LIKE THIS”?
“I went into the studio, and I was like, I wanna make a good song today. I want the verses to be good, and I want the chorus to be cool and catchy. I want it to challenge the listener but also be like a hug … but also a slap in the face. (I want it to be) a reminder at the end of the day that nobody has to like what you’re doing for you to keep doing it. You don’t have to be understood. You don’t have to be liked. You don’t have to be any of that for you to still be yourself, and the right people will eventually come to you.”
This song was also a challenge to herself to do something that she felt other people wouldn’t like. Exploring more rap elements, “THEY WON’T LIKE THIS” delivers exactly what she wanted. With a smooth flow and up-tempo (but thought-provoking) lyrics, Lauren has delivered something her fans are sure to love.
Paired with a video that introduces us to the newly awoken Lauren, she says, “I wanted the video to feel like I’m aligned. I’m good. I’m hyped. I’m centered. I’m attracting greatness. I wanted it to feel fun, but also, like, I’m not fucking around.”
She may not take herself too seriously—none of us should—but she is serious about her goals and her dreams. Inspired at a young age by artists like P!NK, who challenged feminine norms, and Justin Bieber, who proved you could make music anywhere … even your bedroom in Indiana—Lauren has continued to work to make her dreams come true. She also continues to inspire her fans and our community to be the stars that they are every day.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Sanderson
