Lauren Juzang, remember us when you’re on your world tour.

By Rachel Kelly

On Saturday, February 5th, Lauren Juzang opened up the first show of the semester at Funk N’ Waffles, (read more: “Some New EPs at NONEWFRIENDS.’ Funk N’ Waffles Show!) and I sat down with Lauren to learn more about her artist journey and recent EP release, titled HAHAHHAHA. Lauren is a wickedly talented, alternative, indie-pop singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, California, and a beloved student here at Syracuse.

Lauren started writing songs at age 13 with friends from school, who eventually became her bandmates. Deli Hours – Lauren’s high school band – was her most formative music experience:“[My bandmates] pushed me to my fullest potential and got me in the routine of producing work at the speed that real artists should. To be so consistent with writing and producing at such a young age… I would not be where I am now without that experience.”

 “Consistently writing, creating and producing on a weekly basis got me in the routine of producing work at the speed that a real artist should.” She credits her Deli Hours bandmates not only as phenomenal musicians, but also as dear friends who still make music to this day. 

On December 3, 2021, Lauren released her debut, five-song EP, titled HAHAHHAHA. Each song is distinct and accompanied by catchy lyrics and beautiful vocals. “Tangy and Best of Me are my favorite songs on the EP. Tangy, because that song represents the direction I want my music to go in. Production wise, Tangy was the most difficult to create, but the payoff was worth it. I love Best of Me because the song is sweet and easily digestible for listeners.” 

Songwriting requires a special level of creativity, and for Lauren, songwriting starts with two things: solitude and a guitar. Lyrics and a song’s story arc are drawn from imagination. Lauren’s songwriting perfectly encapsulates so many different moods, so you can imagine her musical inspirations trace back years: “The 1975 have a way of saying things that are profound, but in the form of catchy lyrics.” She spoke about how her favorite childhood anthems and artists have turned into her biggest source of inspiration, which, for her, is The 1975. All music lovers can agree with Lauren on this point – what we listen to in our adolescence becomes a staple of growing up. 

When she’s not songwriting, creating, recording, or performing, Lauren is a beloved student in the Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries. It can be difficult to balance artistry while maintaining a stressful student lifestyle. Although her schedule is jam-packed with classes and shows, she loves what she does, which is all that matters. And, her classmates are her biggest supporters. 

Lauren Juzang is filled to the brim with talent, angelic vocals, intelligence, and kindness. Anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing her live has the same reaction to every performance: jaw-dropped and in awe. She most definitely has a bright future ahead of her.