Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Link.
Hi Lauren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
A career in music has been my big dream for as long as I can remember.
I was born on an Air Force base in Biloxi, Mississippi (my dad served for 6 years), and have lived in different parts of the country before settling down here in small town Fountain Inn, South Carolina. My musical roots run back through my family, and I can’t recall a time when this wasn’t the goal for me. My parents recognized the spark of passion I had for music from a young age, and enrolled me in our church’s children’s choir in which I sang until I aged out in middle school. I attribute much of my continued passion for music to those that fanned that spark in me in those early days.
I knew very quickly that music was the only option for me – everything else paled in comparison, so I launched myself into every opportunity I could (i.e. voice lessons, school talent shows, plays/musicals, local & statewide singing competitions, open mic nights, church worship teams, songwriting circles, etc.). This business is incredibly competitive, so I knew even early on that finding my way would also require an appreciation and passion for hard work on top of my love for music.
In 2020, my cousin, Cody Gentry, asked me to join him for some local gigs, and from there we started writing together and playing more shows together. Since then we’ve toured the East Coast, and recorded separate albums in legendary Nashville studios (Cody at OmniSound Studios in 2023, and myself at Sound Emporium in August of 2024) both produced by Dean Miller, country music royalty and son of the late Roger Miller. We’re currently filling in our summer tour, and plan to branch more out west later this year (stay tuned for all of the official dates!).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say that finding my way to where I am now in my music career has been smooth, but I also wouldn’t say that it’s been an incredibly difficult road thus far. Although I’ve had to earn and fight for my place over the years, I’ve absolutely been blessed with opportunities and connections.
When I was younger, my family didn’t have much money, as most people didn’t in the late 2000s and early 2010s. I remember being frustrated that people I knew had better opportunities than I did simply because they could afford them. That didn’t deter me, however, from keeping my head up and gleaning everything I could from the resources I did have (i.e. the internet). Using YouTube, I taught myself how to play acoustic guitar and piano, and would practice different vocal phrasing and styles from the various CDs we had at the time until I was able to enroll in actual vocal lessons.
Not having as many resources as others was a struggle for me as a young girl, but it has honestly made me more proud of the success I’ve had so far. I’ve been blessed with opportunities money can’t buy, but I’ve also worked hard to get myself prepared for them.
Another, more pertinent and prevalent obstacle I struggle with as an artist is comparison. I’m naturally an anxious and self-aware person, and I like to know how I measure up to similar artists/contemporaries in this field, and also to people in general. I tend to put entirely too much stock in others’ opinions, and it has often been a source of anxiety and an internal contention point for me through the years. Regrettably, it has stopped me from taking some risks, and stifled my creativity in certain aspects. I’m more aware of this now, but coming up this was a major struggle for me. I often wonder at which point I’d be in my career if I learned to manage my anxiety and self-doubt sooner. I’m so glad to be on top of it now!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a 28 year-old singer and songwriter based in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, and although I have deep musical roots in the church, I’ve found myself and artistry in Americana. I can play acoustic guitar enough to accompany myself if needed (I prefer to leave that to the true guitarists haha), but I mainly specialize as a vocalist and songwriter. Stylistically my music has often been compared to legends like Susan Tedeschi, Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, and Bonnie Raitt – which is absolutely stunning and humbling company to be in.
In August of 2024 I had the privilege of recording my debut EP, Homecoming Queen, at Sound Emporium in Nasvhille, TN, with Dean Miller as producer. I’m more proud than words can express of this project. My EP, Homecoming Queen, is the first fruits of years of hard work that I’ve put into this dream, and cultivates a safe space to reflect on themes of love, heartbreak, and victory. These songs are special to me not only because they illustrate some of my own personal life experiences, but because I worked alongside my cousin, Cody Gentry, to bring them to life. The creation and production of the album was all truly a surreal and beautiful process.
Currently, the only song released from the EP is its title track, Homecoming Queen (single). I have my sights set on releasing another single off the album within the month, with hopes of releasing the entire thing before the end of this summer!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Nothing that I can think of! They can find my music anywhere that they listen to/stream music and they can keep up with me and my musical journey through social media/my website 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laurenlink.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenelizabethlink/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenlinkmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jdl98
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0akTygMQ4sPGfZAuYQKQt0?si=Dj9ldXdsSyysp5UDVTbhwA
