Over the past three years, Lauren Jauregui has slowly grown as a solo artist, trying to express her deepest feelings through her songs and her art. After being a part of X Factor and the band Fifth Harmony, she decided to take control of her career and let her voice be heard. Now on the eve of the release of her first EP (which includes collaborations with Vic Mensa, Timbaland, and Oak Felder), Narcisse caught up with her to talk about her links with the LGBT community, her writing process and the EP itself, Prelude.
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It’s been a while since your X Factor experience. Have you had any regrets about it, or do you still enjoy thinking about it?
I have nothing but gratitude. It was the beginning of my journey and regret isn’t something that I dwell on very much, because I’ve learned that each and everything that I’ve experienced had a role in shaping me into the woman and artist I am today.
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What did Fifth Harmony bring to you? Was it the first time you played music on stage?
Yes it was my first time ever being on stage playing music I had professionally recorded. Being in Fifth was like being in college for the music industry, but with direct real life experiences instead of books and professors. I learned a lot and it brought me a lot of growth.
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Why did you want to embark on a solo career?
It was what I had always envisioned for myself, to share my own art and create stuff that I could share with others.
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What did you feel when you‘ve been voted Celebrity of the Year by the public at the BritishLGBT Awards? Do you feel close to the LGBT community?
I’m part of it so yeah, essentially we’re just everyone who isn’t straight and we have incredible taste! So I’m grateful for any award I’m awarded by our community.
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What was it like to be invited to the Montreux Jazz Festival by someone like Quincy Jones?
Connecting with Quincy and being asked to perform at a tribute for him in Montreux was hands-down one of the most magical experiences of my life. To be in the company of so many talented artists, and learn from a legend like Quincy was an unforgettable experience I will cherish forever.
-
It’s been a while since your X Factor experience. Have you had any regrets about it, or do you still enjoy thinking about it?
I have nothing but gratitude. It was the beginning of my journey and regret isn’t something that I dwell on very much, because I’ve learned that each and everything that I’ve experienced had a role in shaping me into the woman and artist I am today.
-
What did Fifth Harmony bring to you? Was it the first time you played music on stage?
Yes it was my first time ever being on stage playing music I had professionally recorded. Being in Fifth was like being in college for the music industry, but with direct real life experiences instead of books and professors. I learned a lot and it brought me a lot of growth.
-
Why did you want to embark on a solo career?
It was what I had always envisioned for myself, to share my own art and create stuff that I could share with others.
-
What did you feel when you‘ve been voted Celebrity of the Year by the public at the BritishLGBT Awards? Do you feel close to the LGBT community?
I’m part of it so yeah, essentially we’re just everyone who isn’t straight and we have incredible taste! So I’m grateful for any award I’m awarded by our community.
-
What was it like to be invited to the Montreux Jazz Festival by someone like Quincy Jones?
Connecting with Quincy and being asked to perform at a tribute for him in Montreux was hands-down one of the most magical experiences of my life. To be in the company of so many talented artists, and learn from a legend like Quincy was an unforgettable experience I will cherish forever.
-
You’ve always been involved in protests, and fighting for rights. Is it important for you as an artist ?
Yeah it is for me. I just believe that empathy, education and justice are values that I hold close to my heart so I try to bring awareness to issues and causes that help heal them. We’re living in a very tumultuous world. Peace, justice, presence, empathy, outrage, accountability... these are things that can help us heal as a collective.
-
What was the writing process of Prelude ?
It was beautiful. It was slow, present, it was an exploration of a truth I had buried and it was an opportunity to heal myself. I’m grateful it’s time to give it to the world because I believe I’ve grown beyond the woman who wrote Prelude. I’ve been writing these songs over the past 4 years and they still mean something to my story but I’m ready to release them.
-
It has quite a melancholic vibe in my opinion. Why ?
I don’t know, why do we feel melancholic? Life isn’t always happy for me, but I think what I like about this music is that it explores the strength in vulnerability, both lyrically and sonically.
-
What does the future hold for you?
I plan to drop more music, and go on a little tour to get a taste for the outside world and live music
again. I hope this music takes me around the world! I hope to create beautiful things with beautiful
people as long as I can.
-
You’ve always been involved in protests, and fighting for rights. Is it important for you as an artist ?
Yeah it is for me. I just believe that empathy, education and justice are values that I hold close to my heart so I try to bring awareness to issues and causes that help heal them. We’re living in a very tumultuous world. Peace, justice, presence, empathy, outrage, accountability... these are things that can help us heal as a collective.
-
What was the writing process of Prelude ?
It was beautiful. It was slow, present, it was an exploration of a truth I had buried and it was an opportunity to heal myself. I’m grateful it’s time to give it to the world because I believe I’ve grown beyond the woman who wrote Prelude. I’ve been writing these songs over the past 4 years and they still mean something to my story but I’m ready to release them.
-
It has quite a melancholic vibe in my opinion. Why ?
I don’t know, why do we feel melancholic? Life isn’t always happy for me, but I think what I like about this music is that it explores the strength in vulnerability, both lyrically and sonically.
-
What does the future hold for you?
I plan to drop more music, and go on a little tour to get a taste for the outside world and live music
again. I hope this music takes me around the world! I hope to create beautiful things with beautiful
people as long as I can.
CREDITS
Photographer - GREG SWALES
Creative Director - AZADEH ZORAGHI
Producer - ALEXEY GALETSKIY
Stylist - RAFAEL LINARES
Hair Stylist - DARINE SENGSEEVONG
Make-Up Artist - TAMI EL SOMBATI
Manicurist - MARISSA MARIE BELL
PR - UPRISING PRODUCTIONS
Production - AGPNYC
Narcisse Magazine - Issue 11
LAUREN JAUREGUI
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