Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Kunkel.
Lauren, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a singer-songwriter originally from St. Joseph, Michigan, but the path toward music was a bit unexpected. With two parents who are engineers, the only real music exposure I had was through the rock records my dad would listen to in the basement. But I was always naturally musical, singing constantly. Then, in sixth grade, my friend convinced me to do the school talent show with her. It was my first performance, but I immediately fell in love with being on stage, so it was after this that my parents finally decided to put me in voice and piano lessons.
After that, I got involved in as much music as I could, performing locally and picking up the flute and musical theatre. However, music was still just a hobby for me. I really wanted to be a doctor—that is, until junior year of high school, when I realized the only thing I was really passionate about was music. So, I ended up pursuing contemporary music and songwriting at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
Up until this point, I’d gotten by largely on passion, with little experience and knowledge in the industry. But surrounded by so many skilled musicians and peers, I made it my mission to learn about the technical side of the industry.
Finally, the summer before my sophomore year, I wrote a song called, “September,” and to me, that’s when I finally found my sound as an indie/alternative-rock singer- songwriter. I continued writing more songs that year, building up my repertoire until I became tired of having a bunch of music written but nothing out there for people to actually listen to. I started working with local musicians and a student producer named Alex Arnaout to record my music, and my debut single, “September,” was finally released on all platforms in fall 2019. My second single, “Feeling February,” was just released this past Valentine’s Day.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think music is ever a smooth road. Any career in the arts is especially full of ups and downs. Music is a very personal thing–we put pieces of ourselves out there for the world to experience, so rejection and judgement become constants that hit hard. Self-doubt is a struggle that I, like many other artists, have had to deal with constantly. Going to college for music is a path that earns a lot of (often condescending) questions like, “How do you make a career that way?” Or “What is your backup plan?” There’s no straight path–in fact, many people don’t even think
it’s a good idea to go to college for it. Often I don’t have answers to these questions, and it gets very intimidating.
Similarly, doubting my ability is a constant struggle. Music is subjective, so there are always times when people don’t like my music, or I submit songs for playlists and they get rejected, or I audition for a group and don’t get in. It’s easy to feel like I’m “not good enough” when these things happen, and the combination of these doubts has led to many moments where I’ve been sure that I’m going to quit music and get a “stable” job. But music is my passion, and I always bounce back soon. Just as I couldn’t see myself doing anything else three years ago when filling out college applications, I can’t see myself doing anything else now. Before long, I always find myself creating again, and the community of equally passionate friends and peers around me at Frost makes it hard to stay down for long.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’m a 21-year-old singer-songwriter currently based in Miami, Florida. As a full- time student, I’m often at school, but the rest of my time is usually divided between performing, writing, and recording music. My songs can be found on all streaming services under “Lauren Kunkel.”
I’m an indie/alternative-rock artist, and my sound is unique because I blend my backgrounds in contemporary music, songwriting, musical theatre and poetry to tell meaningful, yet catchy stories. Combined with a live band sound and raw vocals, my music captures both high energy and emotional expression. There’s something in it for everyone: the production is high-quality and professional, the upbeat rock sound makes it fun to listen to, the lyrics add an honest and meaningful edge, the vocals exhibit both raw female power and expression, and the music itself is compelling to both advanced musicians and average audiences. I’m particularly known for my captivating live performances. On stage is where I thrive the most, with a vibrant energy that I use to share my stories with the crowd. You can always find me performing at local Miami venues and events.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The music industry is in constant fluctuation and now is no exception. Getting placed on playlists is becoming huge for promotion. Despite the fact that it can be difficult for artists to get paid because streaming is popular, the rise of technology has made it easier for anyone to put out music. Independent artists are growing, and the need for labels or record deals is becoming less necessary. I’ve also noticed that the “album” has lost a lot of appeal now. People don’t have to buy the whole album to listen to songs anymore, and with on-demand streaming, people often only listen to the songs they like, with the exception of fans of large artists. Thus, especially for newer artists like myself, singles and EPs have become popular, because it’s easier to get someone to listen to a song than a whole album. In the next 5-10 years, I’m sure these trends will continue to grow, and I also think that genre divisions are going to become less clear, just as they have recently with crossovers between genres like hip-hop and country.
Pricing:
- My singles “Feeling February” and “September” can be bought on iTunes for $0.99 each
Contact Info:
- Address: 4245 S Red Road, Miami, FL 33155
- Website: www.laurenkunkel.com
- Phone: (269) 487-8625
- Email: laurenkunkelmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkunkelmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenKunkelMusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lokunkelmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6KmCW0um8LKybRXNk23HY7?si=yGa6ItIIToeqVXnXIO9SPg
Image Credit:
Michael Koch; Timolyn Esson
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