With the release of The At The Altar album, Lauren Michael takes some of the best parts of several genres and builds a sound all her own. Laced with addictive melodies, a rock undertone, and an array of natural and digital instrumentation, the record boasts the aesthetic of alt-pop anthems.
The first single "In The Rafters" is a cinematic and infectious song built with pop tones that let the song shine.
"When I was a kid attending church with my family, I used to stare up at the ceiling and imagine Jesus swinging around the beams and light fixtures. That’s what my six-year-old mind thought the preacher meant when he said that Jesus was with us there, in that church. That church raised me and tore me down all at once, but when I was a child, my innocence was still untouchable. I wanted to dive back into that mindset with this single.
The theme is loss of innocence, particularly in a setting where you think nothing of that sort could ever happen. Slowly watching your safe space turn into a place you dread to step foot in is a kind of heartbreak in its own, worse than any man or woman has ever hurt me individually." explains Michael of her single.
Although the track speaks volumes for the album, to get a full understanding of where Lauren Michael is really coming from, the full album is a must hear.
"I’ve strayed from synths and rely more on actual instruments to achieve the sound for this record. I taught myself guitar to record my song “Mint”, and I used my ukulele to record “Blue Bubbles”. When I’m not using physical instruments, I’m using more simulations of those same instruments than synths for these songs. Still, the synth-pop feel is very prevalent in a handful of songs. This record is also far more melancholy than my past EP. It’s not just a collection of breakup songs, but also me finally closing the doors on failed relationships to clear space for new, more meaningful ones." says the songwriter of creating the album.
The musical journey of Lauren Michael began when she started playing violin in her school's orchestra at the age of 11. When she was 14, the artist received a ukulele as a gift and began performing covers of her favorite songs on it.
It wasn;t long before she began writing her own original songs by the time she was 17, Michael was already recording demos on Soundcloud.
After a few years of honing her crafts, the songwriter decided to release an EP called Daybreak In Exile when she was 20.
Michael is now attending college and earning her associate degree in audio production engineering and during this all, she has been spending time recording the new release.
The At The Altar album is a testimony to where he is at with his music right now.
At The Altar is available on all digital streaming outlets now and the artist is always working on new material for upcoming releases.
To learn more of Lauren Michael please visit: Lauren Michael Soundcloud