Emerging South London artist Lauren Dejey has just released her brand new single 'Blackout'.
Finding influence from artists such as Labrinth, ROSALÍA and Jon Bellion, Lauren Dejey spent 2020 writing to develop her sound. We had the chance to speak with her on the new release and more as part of our Introducing series...
Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you!
"Hey I’m Lauren Dejey, I’m 23, I write songs, play video games and work in a little shop. My favourite Youtuber is Bailey Sarian and I’ve watched Harry Potter like 15 times through. For a few years I’ve been teaching myself how to produce, that’s my new love."
Where are you from and what’s your favourite thing about it? Do you feel as though your surroundings have inspired your sound in any way?
"I'm from Camberwell which is in South East London. I’ve always been lucky enough to have creativity all around me. Although I don’t know if I’m inspired by anything specifically, overall I wouldn’t be the same person if I lived somewhere else. I love all the diverse indie food places and shops, you can find so many unique places that you’d never know were there if you didn’t live here. South has changed a lot recently because of gentrification but there’s still so many gems. They’re just less of a secret now."
When did you start making music?
"Around age 10, I used to do a lot of sport but dropped them all for music lessons. I just loved the freedom of it, there’s no correct form or right way to be creative, and you don’t have someone shouting at you to point your toes. In my guitar lessons I’d have to sing other people's songs but because I didn’t know the original versions I’d sing them with a different melody, and literally one day I was like “ah why don’t I try writing my own thingy”. Then I went to music Uni at age 17 because I basically skipped out on A levels and did a 1 year Diploma in Vocals and here we are!"
Who are your biggest inspirations?
"Currently, Labrinth, Jon Bellion, Bring Me The Horizon, Melanie Martinez, BANKS & Grimes. You’ll hear that more in the songs I’m currently producing."
Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?
"Labrinth, absolute genius! (I’m actually listening to him right now!)"
You’ve just released your new single ‘Blackout’! How has the reaction been so far?
"OVERWHELMING. I still can’t fathom people are actually listening to music I’ve made. Don’t know if it’ll ever sink in, maybe if I play a gig or something? But I’m so grateful, it makes all the stress I put myself through totally worth while."
Tell us a little bit about it!
"It’s about getting so drunk you blackout, what it looks and feels like and how it affects me. I get so anxious when I can’t remember what I did, I overthink, go within myself, and I wanted to sonically capture that. Angus Parkin and Peter Khoo helped bring my thoughts to reality, check em out!"
Do you have a favourite lyric or part of the track and why?
"I love the ending, all the melodies crossing over and the dreaminess of it. The lyric “this is a waste of wisdom” is my absolute favourite! It’s literally about when someone’s giving me the best advice while I’m drunk, and I know there and then I won’t remember any of it in the morning, so it’s just a waste. That really heightens my anxiety, so I’ve actually started taking notes of what people say!!"
What’s coming next for you?
"I have an EP coming out later this year that I’ve written and produced myself. It’s quite daunting to release something I’ve put my whole self into from start to finish!! But hopefully by the time it comes out I’ll have less imposter syndrome about it!"
'Blackout' is out now. Listen HERE @laurendejey
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