Rising Stars: Meet Lauren Gottshall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Gottshall.

Hi Lauren, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Chicago, IL but moved to the suburbs and lived in Glencoe, IL for the majority of my life. I always knew I wanted to be a singer for as long as I can remember. I started taking piano lessons when I was three, started performing in musical theater by the time I was five, started playing guitar when I was 11 and performed when I was 12.

Music has always been such an important part of my life and always will be. I remember the moment when I found clarity in my music and knew I was determined to achieve my goals. I was 8 and watching American Idol with my family. Carrie Underwood was performing her song, Change, on the Idol give back episode. She was wearing this big, beautiful black dress and I remember telling my family, “I am going to do that one day.” And now, here I am, making those little girls’ dreams come true.

I tell people I started writing songs at 12 (but I think that is more of when they began to be good for the outside world). I remember this song I wrote in 3rd grade called “Forever and Always” about some girls that were mean to me at school and to this day my brothers will still sing it and think it is hilarious. I was always just creating little melodies and songs for as long as I can remember but it started getting serious when my parents divorced.

I was 12 when that happened and it was such a pivotal point in my life. I knew a lot of things that I probably shouldn’t have but growing up my mom always called me “Nancy Drew”—you really couldn’t hide anything from me. I took the divorce really, really harshly and did not know what to do with all of those emotions so I decided to pour my heart into writing songs and really never stopped.

From high school friend drama to boy problems to mental health struggles to made-up stories, I truly wrote about (and still do) everything. My grandfather, who was an incredibly influential person in my life, was also a songwriter. When he died, my grandmother gave me all of the old songs he had written which was one of the most special things I have ever received. I also have his guitar hanging on my wall. While he followed the path of journalism and never got to see his music dreams come true, I hope I can accomplish enough for both of us and make him proud up there.

I definitely was not always as confident with my music because kids can be mean but slowly, I started to gain more confidence. On stage, I was always confident. It was the one place I always felt most myself. But trying to promote yourself at 15 is not always easy. People in my high school would make fun of me but after a bit, I realized I really didn’t care because I was not going to give up my passions and dreams for some random kids whose names I won’t even remember in 10 years.

Luckily, I always have had a really strong support system. I am extremely close with my mom and two brothers. When I was struggling with mean girls or dealing with mental health issues, my mom would make me have dance parties in the kitchen (which my brothers and dog always joined in on). My personal favorites were Mean by Taylor Swift and 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton.

My dad and extended family are also super supportive of my music. Both my parents have always encouraged me to follow my dreams—which I am very lucky to have! My mom has flown all across the country with me just to watch my dreams come true and I am so beyond grateful for everything she has done for me. I also have had such supportive friends throughout my life from birth till college. I still am very close with some of my childhood friends who have watched me grow up and have seen my career grow with me over the years. I am one lucky girl!

Right now, I am currently finishing up my undergraduate at Southern Methodist University with a major in Journalism and a minor in English, Songwriting, and Music Industry Practices. Throughout my whole life, I have been extremely lucky to have such amazing teachers both academically and musically. My guitar teacher, Carlos, who I have been a student of since I was 11, has been my biggest supporter. He made such a huge impact on my life and truly shaped me into the musician I am. My professors at SMU have been equally amazing. I have learned so much and feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from such amazing, accomplished people.

I will be graduating in December 2023 and heading to Nashville full-time. I could not be more excited and cannot wait to see where this journey takes me.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anyone’s journey is especially smooth. I have definitely faced my fair share of adversity through the years both personally and professionally. Personally, I have struggled a lot with mental health issues and you would never know it by looking at me. I am probably the most outgoing, smiley girl you’ll meet but, on the inside, I struggled a lot. My parent’s divorce was such an impactful part of my life. My parents’ divorce led me to songwriting and use my pain for good, through songs.

As cliché as it sounds, I truly believe music saved my life. Music has always been this point of stability when everything else in my life was not necessarily incredibly stable. Professionally, this business definitely has its ups and downs. You get a lot of no’s in this business but I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I started my career quite young so there were times I got really down on myself and questioned if I should continue music but as I said everything happens for a reason and I feel so blessed to be on the journey that I am on and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a country music singer-songwriter. I also have a little pop, a little folk, a little indie, and a little everything in me.

Music has been the biggest part of my life. First and foremost, I am a songwriter. Songwriting is who I am. Words really do have the ability to heal. What I want with my music is to help heal others.

So many of my favorite artists’ songs have helped me get through such tough times and made me feel less alone so that is what I want to do with my music. I want to give people hope and make them feel a little less alone in this world.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
I have so many favorite memories I really can’t pick one, so I will tell you two that instantly come to mind. I grew up with my backyard being Lake Michigan so all my favorite memories revolve around the lake or water. Whether it be at home, at summer camp, or anywhere else, I spent my summers always around water. I am the biggest beach girl ever! One of my favorite memories of my childhood was learning to waterski when I was 8 at my aunt and uncle’s lake house right outside of Nashville.

Another favorite memory pertains to the start of my musical journey. Before I started doing songwriting and performing, I grew up doing musical theater. When I was 8, I auditioned for the high school’s production of Les Misérables and got cast as Young Cosette. I remember the phone call when the directors told me I got the part like it was yesterday. It was such a defining moment in my childhood because it reassured me people saw my talent and believed in me as much as I believed in myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laurengottshall.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laur_sings/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laurengottshall2663
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-23287215