By Nicholas Jason Lopez
The loss of a young family member, isolation and domestic love are just some of the topics that Lauren Phillips will dive into when her first full-length album ‘Handsome Woman’ drops in March 2022, but in the meantime, she’ll drop a new single every month, something she’s sure will keep listeners enticed.
It has been a relatively eventful journey in two short years for the Los Angeles singer-songwriter, who emerged onto the Laurel Canyon music scene with the release of her 2020 debut EP ‘I Could Love You Every Day’ and has had to deal with the obstacle of a global pandemic.
Nevertheless, she has gotten to work with the likes of Grammy-nominated producer Brian West (Sia, Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5), Elliott Beenk (Chad Smith, Lissie, Josh Dean), Grammy winner Emily Lazar (Beck, Coldplay), Bonnie Baker (Rachel Platten, Rascal Flatts) and Tim Hutton (Sugar Ray).
The Music Bugle had the chance to speak with her about her new music and more.
Music Bugle – What was the moment that made you want to become a musician?
Lauren Phillips – For a long time, I dreamed of being a songwriter. I didn’t really envision myself as the artist, but a few years ago I started to notice that when I sang my songs to friends and family, the music seemed to resonate more. It kind of got me excited, I started to like the nerves and it lighted a fire… it’s still burning and getting stronger.
Music Bugle – What was your goal for your single “Losing Myself”?
Lauren Phillips – This song is a little more upbeat than most of my other work. I wanted to play with a more electronic sound.
Music Bugle – What are your favorite types of songs to sing?
Lauren Phillips – I like singing about people. It sounds cheesy, but I really do. From a quirky old couple getting lunch in Vegas, to a kid warning me about stingrays in the water or writing about the love of my life. You’ll hear a lot in my next album.
Music Bugle – Which of your songs were the hardest to write?
Lauren Phillips – I have a song coming out in November about a family member that passed away way too young. In life, you go through some hard things, but you have to sing about them, because you have to sing and write about the truth.
Music Bugle – Does social media help or hurt musicians?
Lauren Phillips – I talk about this a lot! (Laughs) For me, social media hurts my creativity, but on the flip side, it helps me promote my work, so I guess you could say it does a little of both.
Music Bugle – How would you describe Los Angeles to someone who has never been there before?
Lauren Phillips – It’s wonderful if you can appreciate the inconsistency! I love Los Angeles. My partner and I always say – LA is the home base, but you have to travel to appreciate what you have!
Music Bugle – What was it like putting together your debut EP ‘I Could Love You Every Day’?
Lauren Phillips – It was awesome. so much fun, so many memories, so many drinks and so many laughs. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off my career as an artist. I worked with so many amazing people – Brian West, Elliott Beenk, Bonnie Baker, Ben Darwish, Kevin Smith and Chin Injeti…I really appreciate all the people that worked on the project and how much dedication everyone put into it.
Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise?
Lauren Phillips – Ethel Smith. She was this badass composer in the early 1900s. I’m in awe of women like her that fought so hard to have a career in music. She was a lesbian who had a fling with Virginia Woolfe – making her extra cool.
Music Bugle – Where do you go when you need a break?
Lauren Phillips – My partner and I like to go camping. Ideally, book a weekend trip with two nights camping and one night at a 4-star hotel that allows dogs – we have a pup, Joey. Pro trip.
Music Bugle – What has been your hardest challenge to overcome?
Lauren Phillips – When I was 23, I moved to Los Angeles with no friends and no money….10 years later, I have some friends and enough money to be happy.
