Lauren Pray
Intro and Bio: Lauren writes music because she learns the most about life and herself through it. Her journey’s and experiences are documented in the songs that she writes, like foot prints on new ground. Through her walks in this metaphorical landscape, she has gained the attention and support of Bakithi Kumalo, Paul Simon's bass player, and Haydn Bendall, Kate Bush's chief engineer and co-producer on 5 of her albums. Haydn Bendall has also collaborated with inspiring artists like Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tina Turner, Peter Gabriel and many more.
Lauren started writing music at age 12 on the piano, guitar and banjo and performed only a handful of times during her young teens but was taken over by the butterflies in her body when she would try to sing her songs. In 2015, she ventured to Europe where she lived for 2.5 years. When she returned back to America, her fear bubble popped and she started performing.
Fascination and Intention: Nothing has ever impacted me as much as music has and it is my favorite form to adventure in, create and explore new worlds with. When a song emerges, it feels like an opportunity to glance inside another world or potential reality that unfolds as the song is being written. The way you travel to this new world is not by moving from point A to point B, but by playing the song live or listening to a recording of the song. The canvas of music is silence which will receive any sound we give it, like a pool of water reacting to every pebble thrown into it. The potential for a new world seems to always be right here and right now. I love this malleability and the strange presence and accessibility of writing a song.
I feel music is a multidimensional language that can awaken feelings and perspectives that didn't exist before or may have been less noticeable or dormant until a song is written that creates it or wakes it up. Music can ignite different genes and memory strands of DNA in our bodies and has the potential to shape our evolution! I believe it already has and continues to do so.
The Future: I have over 30 songs un-recorded so I am currently focusing on collaborating with producers and getting my content recorded. Although I am always composing new content, I am about 3 albums behind! However, I am grateful that I'm now on the edge of exciting collaborations. Currently I am collaborating with a multi-instrumentalist on arranging and recording 2 of my songs titled "Flower" and "Taylor and Ben" with an eclectic 12-piece ensemble. We plan to record these songs early December 2023 or as soon as we can accumulate the funds. (gofundme link)
Very First Performance! Happy Dog Cafe in Cleveland, Ohio 2018 "Shades Of Blue And Pink"
LYRICS I heard a siren break up the silence the words that came through my mouth eyes i saw a mountain swallow me hallow me shades of blue and pink fall from the sky keep a smile fading in back in the cockpit where we hold the sun beams over me and my whole team found the fondest sites tempting me i wonder how high earth is from the farthest sky cause we will be walking under moons and in the star light shades of blue and pink fall from the sky eeya ta eeyo oom eeya ta eeyo oom eeya ta eeyo oom
WKLR Live Radio Show Performing my song "Taylor And Ben" April 2022
LYRICS We shot a light on Taylor’s face, Benjamin fell to his knees. “Time is all we have” he said and then sighed. I took his hands to my head. “You leave it to me I’ll make it softer to seem like it’s something more that we might like. I’ll pull it up higher, we’re awfully insightful, my knight.” My night. Believe me I can tell you why, the lights in our eyes and I see it so clear. Then Ben took his hands from my head, “we should go back to bed” and then he told me the time. Your smile had convinced me for the first time. I was underneath your spell. Til the sun came up you left your hands on my hands. You left our love in a memory. But we don’t know how long we’ll be alive for but I’ll fix my hair and I’ll be on time. Back in the yard we slammed the the door, you said it was safe outside in the yard. We buried him and carried him and pulled the alarm it was on time, it was our time.”
WKLR Live Radio Show Performing my song "Flower" April 2022
LYRICS Will we migrate alone when the sun comes out to warm our coldest days to heat our honest faces I'll be back again in May after all the season's change go one by one I know it to be haunting but who knew who knew Home to me is where I lay birds and bees come take my seeds some often try to suck my pedals dry But I was told to take it slow no I'm not alone the summers come and go and in between I grow I grow I fell off an eagle's head spinning down to it's death the coldest parts of his beak I felt on my shell now breaking a apart and up in the sky below in the dark I so often thought of it welcoming me I would grow in it's heat The warmth of the sun melted my face but my favorite part came after my body was buried away after holding on tight I shake off the dirt my colors are done I stand! I open wide to let in the light the first time I feel it oooohhhh! la la la la when we are born we are gods we are gods all day when we are born we are gods we are gods all day and when we get older we are gods we are gods all day and when we get older we are gods we are gods all day
Performance with Harpist, Eve Matin November 2022 in Alicante, Spain "Space and Lines"
LYRICS I have felt this space before and I know there's something to these lines "flip it around" she said "clouds become ground and soon! what you thought was just a line now can become a carousel of moving figures to shake your hand extra moments come from these forms patterns to match you soul!" I've never seen it this way I've never felt like this before now that I fee it this way let's go one more day!"
Immersions Program Artist Residency August 2022 in Sienna, Italy
This is where I wrote "Space and Lines" This was a 2 week long residency amongst primarily visual artist and I was the only musician. From it, came "Space and Lines" I was fascinated by the pattern in the cathedrial where Joan Of Arc could have well been present in at some point.
Rock Wood Music Hall July 1, 2023 in Brooklyn, NY
Performed solo a handful of my songs.
South Hampton Art Gallery Performance w/ Bakithi Kumalo June 2022 in South Hamptons, NY
Bakithi Kumalo is a South African bassist, composer, and vocalist. Kumalo is best known for his fretless bass playing on Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland,
World Cafe w/ Bakithi Kumalo May 2022 in Philedelphia, PA
Invited to perform by Bakithi as his special guest. Performed 2 songs solo and 2 songs with his band.
WKLR Radio Show and Interview October 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio
1 Hour long interview performing 3 songs in between Q&A. Performed "Flower" "Brains Are The Last Things To Notice" and Taylor And Ben"
Jubilego Festival Performing my song "Brains Are The Last Things To Notice"
LYRICS what they say is not what they mean 'stand up tall, sit up straight, if you try to contemplate you'll lose your money, you'll stay underground' even if they all agree, you still have time to be. if you stand up taller than they can seee too high for them to breath too low for them, too steep... see the things you want to see nevermind the colorless, the blind cause if this life is yours then make it yours who we are is under-rated eyes and nose, flesh and bones, skull and brain and chemicals it's all so random it's not in our control but how can i feel so alive when i dream i have no eyes if you died already you'd never know your soul continues to grow kingdoms of heaven thinking of you brains are the last things to notice
Jubilego Festival Performing my song "Michael"
LYRICS "In his son his father calls they are related they are related when he was born they raised him well he is now walking he is now talking often now he'll crawl around we are excited we are delighted when he was one he grew more hair he has blonde hair a pair of arms a nose and ears five hands and toes two eyes and hair I see his face and I like his face I hope he knows I would die for him when she was born they got a dog they have a golden retriever"
"The Seed" Recently completed composition
LYRICS Imagine what a seed is like, in your palm or paw. It knows your scent, it knows your worth, it knows where to grow and when to start. Now look behind me through the dark it's ready to grow...it's ready to start. Breathe in, break out, bright eyes, warm hands, the first touch...The moment you reach out it takes your hand. Come, have a look. Feel between worlds crafted out of moments of clarity. Hard edges transformed. Sweet kisses on your face to keep your senses full!
"The Wind That Blew" demo 2020 Self-produced. Performed and recorded all instruments in my home studio
LYRICS stone in my hand stars in my eyes i can see the halo of my universe chills down my spine and i feel a breeze it almost knocked me off my feet and the wind that blew blew away time and space and it felt like i was me again but if i throw this stone with the wish of you inside would it feel like you and me again now i'm covered in the way you smell i'm dazzled and compelled i'm looking through the holes where you can look back at me from i'm standing on the edge where we have always believed from and the wind that blew blew away time and space and it felt like i was me again but if i throw this stone with the wish of you inside would it feel like you and me again somewhere between our eyes we go wild in disguise i'll be standing on the edge to receive the signs and the wind that blew blew away time and space and it felt like i was me again but if i throw this stone with the wish of you inside would it feel like you and me again then i see stars inside your eyes and your halo brightens 'round your face we have the love to go around the world again home.
"Shades Of Blue And Pink" w/ Bakithi Kumalo Paul Simon's bass player Self-produced demo recording
LYRICS stone in my hand stars in my eyes i can see the halo of my universe chills down my spine and i feel a breeze it almost knocked me off my feet and the wind that blew blew away time and space and it felt like i was me again but if i throw this stone with the wish of you inside would it feel like you and me again now i'm covered in the way you smell i'm dazzled and compelled i'm looking through the holes where you can look back at me from i'm standing on the edge where we have always believed from and the wind that blew blew away time and space and it felt like i was me again but if i throw this stone with the wish of you inside would it feel like you and me again somewhere between our eyes we go wild in disguise i'll be standing on the edge to receive the signs and the wind that blew blew away time and space and it felt like i was me again but if i throw this stone with the wish of you inside would it feel like you and me again then i see stars inside your eyes and your halo brightens 'round your face we have the love to go around the world again home.
Órbita Sonorta Studio Session November 2022 in Alicante, Spain
Collaboration with a harpist, Eve Matin. Together, we recorded 2 songs of mine titled "Space and Lines" and "Human Line Of Gravity"
Can be found on Spotify as well as Itunes and Amazon.
LYRICS I have felt this space before and I know there's something to these lines "flip it around" she said "clouds become ground and soon! what you thought was just a line now can become a carousel of moving figures to shake your hand extra moments come from these forms patterns to match you soul!" I've never seen it this way I've never felt like this before now that I fee it this way let's go one more day!"
LYRICS "I'm warm inside and from my nails just like my hair it grows from the soft skin I'm in and when I'm upside down I feel the pull of the ground like I'm being sucked towards Planet Earth Planet Earth! and it shows me the human line of gravity"
"Simon" 2021-2022 in NYC co-produced with Eli Heath. (Can be found on Spotify, Itunes and Amazon.)
LYRICS moons alive to call out their son his shirt’s on tight for rest of the night she will cry for all that she’s done it stays inside for rest of the night simon oh simon how far are you your mother awaits you her poor blind eye though the moon is out early it’s getting cold so simon oh simon come home i've looked all over for you the truth is my mood changed my mind but you've had your eyes set out there the only thing you'll ever need will she get the chance to know what she means it’s all in her blind eye and somewhere out there now he’ll open his right eye he’ll find all in time it’s all in your mind even if your blind i've looked all over for you the truth is my mood changed my mind but you've had your eyes set out there the only thing you'll ever need
"Her Wool Sweater" Recording 2021-2022 Self produced and recorded. (Can be found on Spotify, Itunes and Amazon.)
LYRICS Her voice had the texture of an old wool sweater. The smell was strong vitality held it's head in grace We often forget how still we can be We have to like our own hands three sweaters lie still their wool is tough our lives are rough Forgive us we are young Forgive us we are young Forgive us we are young Forgive us we are young We are young We are young Her son had the curls of an old wool sweater Will he cry for his mother's stain He often forgets how still he can be We have to like our own hands three sweaters lie still their wool is tough our lives are rough Forgive us we are young Forgive us we are young Forgive us we are young Forgive us we are young We are young We are young
"Eternity" Voice Memo A song I am currently composing.
LYRICS My heart is beating faster than my mind and I'm dizzy enough to come around and take your hand. If we fall in love, it wont be the last time. Our love is again and again. I see the movement of your eyes catching on and watching the moon come around. My eyes are wide, my head is on straight and I've got an ocean-wide horizon. Dip me in the water as cold as ice can be and watch the moon orbiting my body. If the sun were to fall would it fall on my dreams? If I died here tonight what would be left of me? When I sit in my chair and I cut my hair, what part of me is eternity?
"Fantasy Can Feel Real" Demo Performed and recorded everything in my home studio
LYRICS We'll start out the day Maybe with a smile And when I see your still asleep in a dream I won't wake you I'll join you in your dreamy land A timeless place for you to plan The look in your eyes is like a sunrise Warming our faces A breeze is on its way Climbing through the mountains And when it sees our love it will lift us up into its birth place And hold us softly fly us to mars And kiss our mouths we'll shine through the stars Just you and me now Your something to discover How you melt me like I'm butter Swaying like bells that ring from side to side we'll ride this wave together Doubts and fears will fade in our sway Now Fantasy can feel real to us Seeds of magic grow in our love Keeping us warm Making us swoon Until our dreams come alive Now I feel the power of two And I'm ten times stronger with you My heart grows to the size of the moon Earthly smiles light up our way In this silence nothing to say In the heat of something new It pops like pop corn Grows like wild corn Wakes like tulips Kiss me with your full lips You've got me with you good looks I've read all the books But boy this is a brand new sensation So warm we're flying high Cause this love will never die