Local StoriesJune 22, 2022

Meet Lauren Rose Thayer

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Rose Thayer.

Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story is a little all over the place. Just like me! I grew up in Derry, PA, a one-stoplight town about 45 miles east of Pittsburgh. When I was in first grade, I got my first guitar. Left-handed guitars weren’t kid-sized back then, so I had to learn how to play right-handed. It took some time but think I got it figured out after 20+ years!

Shortly after I learned guitar, I remember skipping recess to hang out in the music room of my school, to teach myself how to play the piano. Even though I was raised in a 90’s country, my middle school playlists were also flooded with the piano queens, Vanessa Carlton, Carole King, and Sara Bareilles.

Performing was my safe haven. It didn’t matter if it was playing saxophone in the band, belting out show tunes in recitals, or singing an aria in an opera; If it took place on a stage, I was on it. If someone told me I couldn’t play something or sing something, I had no problem proving them wrong.

College is where things get a little more structured. I earned my degree in music education at Westminster College in PA and immediately moved to Nashville, TN where I earned my Masters in opera performance at Belmont University. Shortly after grad school, I was ready to dive into the “real world” my first year as a teacher. March 2020 came around and I was faced with a budget cut followed by a pandemic, Like a lot of us, my whole world turned upside down.

I found myself quarantined back in PA with my family watching the world lockdown. During that time, it felt like all I could do was write songs. And thank God I did, because when the world started to open back up, I moved back to Nashville and dove headfirst into the music scene, and the rest is history.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, these past two years have been monumental, personally and professionally. I have had career changes, heartbreaks, death, loss, relocations, you name it!

I’ve gone through it. But in my short time of writing, I learned that it’s hard to write about your life if you haven’t lived it. I’ve also had to work through a lot of adversity to get to where I am today.

I have had friends, teachers, colleagues, and even partners doubt my choices, but I think it is important to know who you are and what you were created to do before you listen to others’ opinions.

I really have to give credit to my faith in the Lord for giving me perseverance through it all, because I would be a hot mess if it weren’t for Him!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I started songwriting and playing music professionally right in the thick of the pandemic. I got my start doing weekly livestreams in my living room and inviting my fellow songwriter friends to hop on and play their original music.

Once venues started opening up, I began playing writers’ rounds in Nashville and immediately caught the bug. Whenever I play a show, it is very rare that I keep the spotlight to myself. I always like making the room feel like you’re hanging out in my living room, just like I did in my first livestreams.

There are so many things I am proud of, the first would be to finally have music out on the streaming platforms. In February, I released my second single “Just a Season” and about an hour after it launched, I got a call from my manager, Danielle Mashuda, that I was heading to Austin, TX to play at SXSW!

I’m also proud of my latest release, “No Strings (feat. Ryan Buzzetto)”. I wrote “No Strings” while quarantined on my birthday in 2020 and it was one of the first songs I played live in Nashville. It has followed me everywhere, and I am so grateful for the production team and musicians who really brought the song to life.

What sets me apart from others is that I am very much against the “hustle” culture. I believe you can work hard, but not at the expense of your physical and mental health. We are all in God’s timing and He wants us to enjoy the process as much as the result.

What does success mean to you?
I believe that success and peace go hand in hand. I find it very difficult to be successful if I do not have peace in my mind, my spirit, my relationships, my environment, etc.

With that being said, if someone listens to my music and has an “Oh, hey, I’ve been there” moment, and they can relate to it, and they can find solace in my story, and it gives them peace, then I consider that success.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Kirsten Balani, Chelsea Smith, and Sarah Bizanovich

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