Lauren Mia is finally ready to let us see her full artistic essence. In RE:BIRTH, her debut album, the multidisciplinary musician and producer showcases 13 track compositions in a vulnerable and symbolic tale of growth, self-reflection, and actualisation. A rising name in the melodic techno and progressive house scene, in this album, we see Lauren Mia growing from her roots and exploring the electronic grounds with a more organic and experimental take.
The completion of her Saturn Return, an important milestone for Mia, inspired this project, as she sees herself making a cosmic entry into a new decade of her life. Beyond the story of her own rebirth, the album is a symphonic take on cosmic forces, personal growth, and the alchemy of love.
Here, we connect with the LA-based producer to discuss this new chapter and the inspirations and processes that led her to RE:BIRTH.
Listen to the album…
Read the full interview…
RE:BIRTH is your debut album, what was the most rewarding part of creating your first full body of work?
This album is a huge milestone for me as a musician. I have always dreamed about working towards that point in my career where I would be ready to put out my first large body of work. This has been the most rewarding experience so far, yet also the most challenging. Though, I feel that’s what makes it so rewarding. I knew going into this, that I wanted to put out this album independently. So I had the opportunity to truly break down any and all creative limitations, and completely liberate myself creatively. All of this was because of my putting out this album independently. So I genuinely feel that is the most rewarding part of this album release. Making the album, and putting it out all on my own. I was determined, dedicated and consistent in my efforts and strategies throughout the entire experience. I stayed true to my sound, true to myself, and followed through with it all.
The completion of your Saturn Return bears great significance to your album – what advice would you say to other creatives or artists who might be entering this period of their lives?
For those who do not know what a Saturn Return is, it is when Saturn, the actual planet, revisits the same exact constellation in the sky that it was placed in at the exact time you were born. The planet Saturn only makes its way back into that constellation every 27-30 years. The first time Saturn returns to that constellation in which it was placed during the time you entered this world is a time of major growth, trials, tribulations, evolution, and basically your cosmic rite of passage into adulthood. The work that is required to be prepared to enter adulthood, your thirties. For many who weren’t even aware they were going through their Saturn Return, when they reflect back on the years when they were 27-30 years old, most can recall it being an extremely transformative time in their lives. For some, it is more challenging than others. My Saturn Return was easily the most challenging time of my life to date. For others, it’s a time of growth, career success, and positive change. All change is usually positive, as all change leads to our growth as individuals, but some have more difficulty with accepting change and flowing with it than others. I was definitely one of those individuals.
Who are two of your biggest artistic inspirations within electronic music, who have influenced your sound and the RE:BIRTH album?
To be honest, while I have a handful of producers and artists who have had a massive influence on me sonically, I specifically went into this album trying to focus on not letting any other artist influence my music within this album particularly. I am not saying that some of my inspirations have not had an influence on the music I have put out to date, but with this album, I kept myself from listening to any music for 4 months while producing and solidifying the main elements and structures of the songs that I knew would be a part of this album. A lot of friends and colleagues argued that that decision is not the best one, as it’s important to be aware of what’s ‘trending’ and allow your ears to hear the creations of others. But I do that all the time. For this album, knowing that I was going to put it out on my own, I, for the first time in my 7 years of this profession, felt liberated to do whatever felt right to me sonically. And I wanted to honor that. So I did not let any artist directly influence me. Hence the fact that while I am already known as a melodic techno / progressive house producer and DJ, I put out 2 tracks that are 145 bpm hard peak-time techno, as well as one psy-trance track in the album. Also accompanied by two ambient instrumental tracks, and the rest honoring the sound that my fans and audiences know me for. With that said, I would like to honor a few of the producers who have had a massive impact and influence on me, my sound, and my project to date: Clawz SG, Kolsch, Stephan Bodzin, Rauschaus, and Ron Flatter.
Who are 2 of your biggest artistic inspirations outside of electronic music, who have influenced you as an artist, creative and individual?
I haven’t been asked this before. It’s definitely a question I have to explore more. But off the top of my head, I think two artists who have influenced me creatively would be composers Hans Zimmer and Theodore Shapiro. Their melodic progressions, compositions, synthesis, and storytelling are just everything to me. Their scores have changed my life and influenced me immensely, both artistically and personally. I also really respect Lady Gaga for her fearless authenticity and creative freedom, her leadership and voice for the underrepresented/voiceless.
You mention the last single “Ashes In Paradise” was produced entirely in creative flow-state – how would you describe your experience of ‘flow-state’ and how do you achieve it?
Creative flow-state, the artist’s dream and daily goal. What a blissful state to be in creatively. I’ll always remember that day I created “Ashes in Paradise”. It was very special. This experience was pure bliss – I was smiling from ear to ear for days. I felt most connected to myself during that time. I felt fulfilled. I felt that I was doing what I was born to do, channeling the gift I was given to share with the world. I WISH I had the answer to how I achieved this state. I don’t. If I did, making music would become a seamless and effortless craft for me. But that is not the case. I think there are days where I am more connected to the truest part of my soul, where I am disconnected from outside influences, thoughts, maybe personal fears, and comparisons. And that allows for the melodies and frequencies that lie within my heart to come through effortlessly, without question. I wish every time I was in the studio I could be in that state, but if I was, it wouldn’t be that memorable and special. I am grateful for the moments that I am in flow-state, but also the moments that I am not because if I didn’t have the polarity, I wouldn’t appreciate it the way that I do.
The album’s themes of the divine feminine, spirituality, ceremonial and astrological life, shadow work, and more make for a very multidimensional story. Storytelling is an important part of an album, how do you tie these themes together cohesively across the album’s 13 tracks to tell your story?
Spot on. All themes of this album are closely connected and tied together, weaving through the album that’s presented chronologically. The album was written in a chronological order, telling the story of my self-discovery, growth, and transformation. My experience with loss, my feelings of hope, and my artistic liberation. Every track was made intentionally, titled intentionally, and presented in a particular manner that further describes this story chronologically. Some titles are apparent in what part of the story I wanted that song to tell, but some titles I intentionally changed prior to the release to be made abstract so that I could leave space for the listeners to ponder and explore what it means to them. My Saturn Return is the main inspiration for this album, but the start of my Saturn Return was my dive into Shadow work. This is why ‘Shadow’ was the very first single on the album and one of the lead singles that came out leading up to the album release. It is the initial chapter of this story. Another example is my experience with plant medicines followed my shadow-work, which is why the second single on the album is called ‘Ceremony’ and intended to be a recreation of a real ceremony working with these ancient medicines. The rest of the album follows as such.
How did producing RE:BIRTH push your boundaries as an artist, and where on the album do we hear you experiment the most with your sound?
RE:BIRTH pushed my boundaries in every way. It was a beautiful, gratifying, and rewarding experience. Because I produced and released this album independently, I had the space to fully liberate myself creatively. Prior to this, the labels and A&R’s I worked with would try to confine my creativity, and often tell me what I should or should not make. If I didn’t listen, it would not get signed. And I let that determine if my music was “good enough” – It was destroying my heart. I actually ended up putting out all the songs that my labels were rejecting, and they did extremely well. So that started to give me the confidence to create this album. NOW, after producing the first portion of the album with my exploring the genres many know me to make, Melodic Techno, Techno, Progressive House, and Melodic House tracks, as well as a few ambient instrumental pieces, I sat in my studio and I realized, this is my moment. This is my moment to create whatever I want. And I did. I created two hard-techno/peak-time techno tracks ranging from 138 to 145 bpm, ‘Source Code’ and ‘444’, as well as one psy-trance record called ‘Over Soul’. I was actually quite shocked at how seamless it was for me to produce the first two. The psy-trance track, however, was a bit of a challenge, but for my first go, I think it’s pretty great. I have never produced or shared music of this range or subgenres prior to this very moment in time. So it’s exciting. This is where I experiment the most with my sound, but I feel proud to say that my essence sonically remains in these tracks just like the others. That never changed and never will, regardless of the tempo or subgenre.
Many people know you as an artist who produces melodic techno and progressive house – following the release of the album, how would you describe yourself as an artist and what do you want current and new fans to know you for now?
I think now, the way I’d like to describe myself is simply as an artist, a musician, a composer, and an electronic music producer. I do not want to be tied to any labels, nor limited to sub-genres within the music industry. Until now, I was striving to land on dream labels. I was focused on fitting in, being accepted, and delivering music that suits the desires of labels, industry, and trends. I liberated myself from all of that. And there, my best work came to fruition. Interesting how that happens. So yeah, now, I just want to be known as an artist, a musician, a composer, and a music producer. No label, no sub-genre. The fear from my team here lies around what promoters will think. Promoters and talent buyers want to know what they’re booking and if it will suit their event. My answer is, I know what I am doing. Promoters are going to have to trust me to know time and place. At the end of the day, my essence and sound remain no matter what BPM or genre I create. It’s a matter of trusting that I know what to deliver when and where. And for those who don’t want to take the risk. I respect that. But the reality is, someone else will, and they will not regret it.
The album is full of cultural references both sonically and thematically – what are some of your personal experiences and interactions with these cultures for them to have inspired you?
I want to start by saying that my intention in this album was to include as many cultural references as I could, both explicitly and subliminally. I have always been fascinated by all the cultures of the world, and I also studied cultural and religious studies as a minor when studying for my Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Sciences. I spent 5 years studying the main world religions as well as the vast cultures that make up our planet. I studied Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism as my primary focus but also covered Sikhism, Jainism, Mysticism, Judaism, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, and more. There are more denominations and religions than the average person knows about. Even I was shocked when spending my years studying them all at my University. With that said, I couldn’t have included ALL the religions and cultures that I wanted to, but I primarily included South-East Asian Influence, Middle Eastern influences, and African influences. This goes for both the vocals and instruments that are woven through this album. I included instruments like the Shell Horn used in ceremonial spaces both in South-East Asia but also all the way on the other side of the world in Mexico, indigenous to Mayan Culture. I use Tibetan sound bowls, the shofar, sacred Hindu chants, as well as sacred Buddhist chants, to name a few. While doing so, my intention was to steer away from religious influences and really focus on cultural aspects and similarities as many are relevant in more than one culture, country, and civilization. That’s the beauty of humanity. Most people do not understand how connected we really are. How similar most cultures are at their core. We really are just one race, the human race. My intention of exploring and inviting all of these different cultures, and incorporating it all into this album, is to remind everyone of our oneness. Music seems to have a profound ability to achieve that generally. So I hope that with my intentions, perhaps it could further that initiative.
What do you hope to achieve next in this next phase of your artistic journey?
My goal at this stage of my career is simply to make an impact on as many people as I can. My hope with this album release and this project as a whole is to pave a path for others, especially artists, to trust and have the courage to pursue their own path, while knowing that they do not need anyone else to achieve their dreams or success in this world. In this case, I am referring to labels and A&R’s. Do not wait for them to tell you when your music is ready to be shared with the world. YOU decide that. All you need is yourself. You need your own trust, your own self-belief, and above all, your own self-love. Believe in yourself, or no one else will. There are no rules on how to get to where you want to be in this life. Just as my father always used to tell me, “Take risks. They have their rewards.” I live by this, and I hope to set an example for many. So, yes, this is exactly what I hope to achieve in this next phase of my artistic journey: to be a leading and living example that anything is possible. You do not need to conform, you do not need to wait for labels and the industry to accept you. You just need YOURSELF. The industry is rigged. It’s all about connections. It’s all about who you know, social media, and your presence. To me, that’s all nonsense. Trust yourself, be yourself, and do not rely on anyone else. Go for it. I did that, and I am achieving my goals at this very moment. So, once again, what I hope to achieve in this next phase of my artistic journey is to inspire others to do the same.