Lauren Drake just released a brand new single that clearly comes from the heart and shines with a warmth that wraps around you.
"Play Along" is built of some colorful and tastefully performed instrumentation that swim around you and wash you away with the sound right from the start.
This single builds and swells with experience and comes from a real place. An emotionally driven and powerful song that pulls at the heartstrings and boasts touches of cinematic backbone and Americana influence.
The track is beautiful and calls your attention with a passionate performance vocally and musically as well.
You can hear the love Drake holds for her craft and how much she actually puts into creating and writing her material.
It's easy to get caught up in "Play Along" and when you do, and it ends, you want to jump back in again.
It's because the song makes you feel something. It makes memories of your own flash through your head and it's quite an addictive thing.
WIth such a wonderful release we wanted to have a chat with Lauren Drake about her single and what may be coming next for her.
Here's what happened.
BuzzSlayers: Okay so let's start things off with "Play Along". This track has such a bright Americana tonality to it and feels pretty personal! Where did this track come from?
“Play Along” was written in the summer of 2019. I had gone through a series of really difficult events leading up to me writing the song, namely dealing with grief, mental illness, and a breakup. I came home from college and tried to sort of start to pick up the pieces. I was sitting on the couch in my living room one night in June, and I was determined to write some sort of autobiographical song about all that had happened. And then it just sort of poured out of me. I swear it was done within an hour.
BuzzSlayers: I'm certainly hearing some different styles mixed in on this one. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
This song was a cacophony of every piece of art that had gotten me through the end of 2018-2019. In terms of music, the main influences were from Billy Joel, Kacey Musgraves and Sleeping at Last. I was listening to “Slow Burn” and that’s what made me want to sit down and write “play along.” That sort of self-aware, dreamy, metaphorical way to explore your life was so inspiring. But I would say the one thing, next to probably therapy and medication, that got me through it all was “Vienna.” There are some lyrical nods to “Vienna” within “play along,” namely “I’ll play this game if it keeps me from getting old.” Sleeping at Last’s enneagram Atlas series also was a big influence. His “Atlas: 3” spoke to me in a very personal and spiritual way, so “play along” also had some lyrical nods to that song. In fact, the song’s conclusion comes to the same conclusion that “Atlas: 3” comes to; that love and worth are not earned or won, but are intrinsic to who we are.
BuzzSlayers: So how did all of this really start for you?
I’ve been singing since I could talk, and I wrote my first song at 11 years old. It was called “Go,” and I sang and played it at the sixth-grade talent show. I credit my drive to write songs and play the piano and guitar to Taylor Swift. I’ve been a die-hard swiftie since I was eight! But I’ve been performing and singing ever since I was really young, doing theater and singing the national anthem at sporting events around Seattle.
BuzzSlayers: Do you do any live performances?
I have a couple theater performances coming up, and I’m trying to get my foot in the door to start performing my original stuff live rather than just acting gigs and cover gigs (or, in the case of the holidays, caroling gigs).
BuzzSlayers: What kind of things inspire you to write?
I write to fill an emotional void. I write a song because I can’t find any other song that perfectly describes what I’m feeling. I think there’s a superpower in being able to eloquently articulate and understand feelings, and music is the best way to go about doing that. My hope is that the things I wrote don’t just fill a void for me, but for anyone else out there.
BuzzSlayers: Can we expect any music videos coming from you this year?
Yes! I have a lyric video coming out for “play along” sometime this week.
BuzzSlayers: What's next for you as an artist? Is there anything new in the works even now?
Yes, I have a few demos ready to go into production. I’ve written a lot of new material over the past couple of weeks that I’m ready to start working on.
BuzzSlayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
I’m an acting student at Pepperdine, so I’m actually usually in class, or in a production, doing improv, or doing homework (haha)!
BuzzSlayers: This track feels like a big undertaking. What kind of advice would you have for other up and coming bands out there?
I would say that I think the best creative work comes from a place of authenticity and humility. That’s when the best and realest connections are made; with listeners, with other musicians, with anyone.
BuzzSlayers: Okay so you wake up in the middle of the night starving. What's your go-to midnight snack? (a question of character here)
Does In-N-Out at 10pm count? No? Then maybe Peanut Butter M&M’s. Not Peanut, Peanut Butter. Those ones are the best.
BuzzSlayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
Thank you for your time and for giving it a listen. I hope it created a moment of peace and positivity for you. And stay tuned for more!