Piano-playing Memphis sweetheart Lauren Strange made her first splash in the music scene at 9 years old when she wrote, recorded, and entered her first song in a Shelby County Schools cultural arts contest. She received first place in her school competition, and second place in the county in her age group, although she remembers hiding under her desk when her teacher first played the song for her classmates.
In her teen years, Strange spent countless hours of practicing, writing, playing, and singing with friends. She decided to teach herself how to play guitar after watching a documentary on Sting & the Police, using her momâs faded Mel Bay chord books. She then learned strumming patterns by reading guitar magazines and imitating Pete Townshend of The Who, James Taylor, & Cat Stevens.
During hot Memphis summers in high school, Strange & her pals would go to the local Marble Slab on Friday nights to sing Beatles covers (with Strange accompanying on guitar) in exchange for free ice cream. Strange also made amateur recordings with her best friend (a project they jokingly titled The Moes) but did not seriously pursue performing her own music until college.
Strange studied classical voice for a brief period at Covenant College, then decided to travel back home to Memphis to attend The University of Memphis, and to pursue dreams of performing and recording her own music. After playing several venues in the Memphis area, Strange formed a band with Mark Petty II of Roger Mexico in January of 2009, and they have since added guitarist David Smith and bassist Chris Geswein to the project, with musical contributions from Noah Glenn (of Noah Glenn & The Cloudspotters & The Olde West).
Strange and her band are currently recording The Strange EP with In Opt Studios, and look forward to releasing it in Fall of 2009. Thanks for listening!
Watch Lauren & her band perform on Youtube
here!!
Influences: Aimee Mann, Ben Kweller, Emerson Hart, Neil Young, Patty Griffin, Ryan Adams, Sugarland, Tegan & Sara, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tori Amos, Wilco, The Wreckers, dark chocolate m&ms, late night radio, in/significant others, rain
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rebekah!
said:
your voice is beautiful. Jul 18
Ntoope
said:
You are amazing Jun 12
Jill ~jamie
said:
really pretty Apr 10
dcb
said:
amazing sound..keep jammin Dec 19
hattie
said:
damm girl. your so good. :] Dec 11
Wait10Minutes
said:
yes, I like your voice...It's amazing Sep 01
VoicesLaughing
said:
omg, such a beautiful voice Jul 30
Victoria
said:
hey! you sing beautiful and the songs are very good! please listen to my music, I write songs too :) http://www.purevolume.com/victoriagomez bye! Jul 18
NEW YORK [d i a m o n d ]™
said:
i love your songs! Apr 17
Chandacious...
said:
thanks for the World download... :) Apr 03
smilelikeyoumeanit85
said:
is that you playing the piano? - you write increadible music. Mar 20
smilelikeyoumeanit85
said:
Wow Lauren! "World" is excellent! You are adorable and SO talented! Mar 20
smilelikeyoumeanit85
said:
Lauren, needless to say, your voice is stunning and you have sooo much potential to go straight to the top of the charts. come play a show in ottawa. :) Feb 20
Edgerton
said:
your amazing! you should come to arizona and play a show. Dec 26
Jimmy Sutt
said:
wow you a very good singer, keep it up :D Oct 14
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