Features

Lauren Auder

Interview by Derek Robertson
Photography by Laura McCluskey in London, UK

Lauren Auder’s kaleidoscopic mishmash of styles is the product of growing up with the world at their fingertips and a refusal to heed boundaries; the internet has given Lauren the freedom – and confidence – to be whomever they want. Since finishing high school, they’ve been crafting moody, enigmatic soundscapes littered with personal anecdotes, a dark twisted fantasy for millenial pop omnivores. Two years on, Lauren is ready to confront the world on their own terms.

What does the new record sound like?

It’s pulling from the same places as before: experimental, hip-hop, and very ‘noise’ and ambient influenced. But there are more baroque pop and classical influences infused into it, and a more luscious backdrop.

History is a melting pot of shit things and beautiful things together. I’m focused on thinking about how to cope with that and see the beauty in things.

You’re a fan of dark, intense art – not just music. Very apt for these troubled times. 

It’s an inevitable part of humanity; there’s always dark stuff going on, and there’s this eternal recurrence of us fucking up. When you look into history you realise it’s melting pot of shit things and beautiful things together, but I’m focused on thinking about how to cope with that and see the beauty in things.