Rising Music Star Lauren LoGrasso On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry
An Interview With Ming Zhao
It’s going to take WAY longer than you think and then when you think you’ve made it, it’s actually going to take even longer. Keep going. When I first moved to LA, I thought I would have a sitcom on the WB lot in a matter of weeks. Now here I am, 10 years later, with some great success, but still hustling every day and trying to figure it out. It takes longer, but the wait is worth it because truly, I wasn’t ready at such a young age. I would have crumbled if I “made it” then. I am so grateful that I have had a longer journey because now I at least know who I am, have some business acumen and am making work from a much deeper, truer place.
As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Lauren LoGrasso.
Lauren LoGrasso is an executive podcast producer and host, public speaker, writer, and singer/songwriter. As a singer/songwriter Lauren has been featured in People Magazine, played top venues including The Viper Room, Hardrock Cafe and House of Blues, worked with Grammy-Award Winning producer, Jeff Bova and had her songs featured in multiple award-winning films.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in Metro Detroit in a very loud, loving Italian family. I am an only child, but I was very close with my cousins and they were like siblings to me. My Dad was a financial planner (still is and a damn good one, hire him!) and my Mom worked for American Airlines, so my Grandparents watched me a lot growing up and had a huge part in my upbringing. I grew up on a cul de sac and all the neighborhood kids were friends and played together. It was a very happy childhood. I think having love and stability as a kid is one of the biggest headstarts you can get in life and I was incredibly blessed in that area.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
It all started when I was three and went to see a community theatre play with my parents and turned to my Mom and said, “Mommy, I want to be up there doing that.” I was never pushed in any way, this deep desire to connect to people through performing music and creating art always came from within. I graduated from Michigan State with a BFA in Acting and originally came to LA to act. That career path of an actor was treacherous and really started breaking my heart. I started writing music as a way of dealing with the disappointment of acting — then, to my surprise, it started taking off. Before long, I realized that music was my deepest passion and it moved into the forefront of my life. Sometimes the dreams you find on the way to your dreams are even more powerful than your original intention. That was music for me!
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
When I first started playing live music shows in LA, I was trying to get every gig I could. When I got an email asking me to play House of Blues, I was over the Moon! But when I opened the email and read it, I felt deflated. It looked like a pay to play situation, meaning they charge YOU for the tickets up front and then you have to sell them to fans to get them in the door. Basically you become the ticket office and for a new artist, that is very difficult. I really didn’t want to do it that way, so I thought, ‘I’ll just give House of Blues a Call.’ I called them and I actually got through to the show booker. I told him the name of the agency that reached out for the pay to play situation and he said that he knew them and that they were shady. I told him, I’d much rather book through him, if possible. He asked my name. I told him and he said, “Oh yeah, I think I have heard of you.” I thought in my head, ‘Sir, there is no way you have, but thank you.’ but instead I enthusiastically replied, “That’s great!” He put me on hold and he came back and offered me a date to play there. I actually got to open up for Jim Belushi’s daughter, Jamie Belushi. It just goes to show the power of asking -you never know the opportunity it might bring!
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
My first year in LA, just as I started writing music, I was looking for as many opportunities as I could find. I used to submit myself for jobs on a website called Backstage. I got an audition for what I was told was a major record producer. When I got there I found out it was the same people who produced Rebecca Black’s song, “Friday.” I was pretty shocked, but they were overall very nice. I sang “At Last” by Etta James and the audition went well. The day after the audition, they sent me a song that they had supposedly written for me.
The song had lyrics like, “In the club, in the club, Lauren’s in the Club.” It was, to put it lightly, not really my style…But I thought, ‘you know what, suck it up! This might be an opportunity, Lauren. At least see if there’s any wiggle room.’ So being that I am a writer, and a pretty opinionated one at that, I wrote them back with some suggestions for edits on the song. I never heard back from them. It was probably for the best haha
I guess from that I learned to do your research before applying for any jobs and also to trust your gut. If someone doesn’t want your feedback and having your own voice on your work is important to you, then it isn’t a fit.
I would also say that a mistake that I have continually made and still struggle with is not asking for help when I need it. Even now, I know so many people in the industry and I often feel scared to ask for help. I would like to tell myself to stop being afraid and just ask! The worst thing anyone could say is no.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I am currently in the midst of writing music to get a new batch of singles together and out to the world. I am looking to cover a variety of topics, many that are not typically sung about in popular music such as inherited trauma, codependency, family (the good and the challenging,) the more complex and nuanced parts of a romantic relationship (vs. the traditional ‘I’m madly in love’ or ‘we broke up and I am so mad,’) spirituality and finding a relationship with God on your own terms and my usual topics of mental health and self-development. This new batch of music will lean into more of my rock side, so I am also very excited to delve into that part of myself musically, as it feels more authentic.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
I love that and I feel the same way! Well, first of all, because only knowing about one culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, race and/or religion is so BORING! That’s an obvious one. But the most important reason, in my opinion, is because it’s: 1) Important for everyone to see someone who represents their unique point of view in the world and 2) It’s also important for everyone to see someone who doesn’t represent their point of view in the world. We need to consume art, films, music, content, writing, what-have-you from people who have differing experiences and opinions from us to grow as human beings. How else will we increase empathy, compassion and connection in our world if we cannot see each other through art? Art (and food, honestly) I think can become a bridge to understanding and love where there was previously none. Seeing and understanding each other and each other’s experiences has a healing effect on culture. When we take in art made by people who have a different experience, what you usually find is at our core- we’re all the same, we want love, we want to know we’re enough, we want to feel seen. However, a lot of times the way in which we go about getting those things is different due to our experience.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1) It’s going to take WAY longer than you think and then when you think you’ve made it, it’s actually going to take even longer. Keep going. When I first moved to LA, I thought I would have a sitcom on the WB lot in a matter of weeks. Now here I am, 10 years later, with some great success, but still hustling every day and trying to figure it out. It takes longer, but the wait is worth it because truly, I wasn’t ready at such a young age. I would have crumbled if I “made it” then. I am so grateful that I have had a longer journey because now I at least know who I am, have some business acumen and am making work from a much deeper, truer place.
2) Start practicing guitar every day NOW! When I first started playing music I was working with a guitarist and he decided he wanted to pursue acting and stand up more than music. At the time, I was crushed, because I thought that meant that my music journey was over or that it couldn’t work if I was on my own, but what it made me do was actually work harder and become extremely self-sufficient on the guitar, which led me to meeting my guitar teacher, which led to my first music producer. So I am super grateful, in retrospect, but I only wish I would have started on the guitar sooner!
3) Try your best to stay present- I know you want to have everything under control, but that’s not how life works. Breathe and do your best to enjoy or at least observe the journey. One of my biggest struggles is staying in the moment and not future-casting and trying to plan or will what’s going to come next. My whole journey would have been so much more enjoyable if I could’ve just stayed in the moment.
4) Stop focusing so much on live shows and turn your attention to recording your music and building up your social media. Coming from Theatre, live shows were everything to me. Honestly, they’re still my favorite part about music because what I love most is connecting and being in community with a group of people. But over the years, especially in LA since it’s such a saturated market, I noticed that as much as I love playing tons of live shows- they weren’t really moving the needle. So at that point, I started turning toward recording music. I would say that to anyone reading, too- If you have a dream and it’s not moving along as quickly as you hoped it would, do an inventory. Get honest with yourself about what parts are moving you forward, and what parts are more stagnant. A lot of times it’s not that you’re not doing or pursuing the right thing, it’s that you have the wrong approach.
5) Fear not. You will soon learn how capable you are. I had NO IDEA when I moved to LA the wide swath of things I could do and talents I really had. I had such a narrow vision: act or fail -that’s how I felt. If I’d known how much I was capable of and how there was more than one way to be happy, I wouldn’t have wasted so many tears when acting didn’t pan out the way I wanted or even when certain things in music or my media career (I’m also a podcast host and producer) didn’t go so well. Life is vast, you are limitless and you can always start again. You’re more capable than you think and you’re loved more than you know. Go for it and know your worth.
6) You didn’t ask for a sixth thing but I’d just say: Go to therapy and don’t stop until you find the right one! Finding my current therapist was life-changing and helped me get out of a few different toxic environments and start my journey to self-love.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
I recently heard Cheryl Strayed say, “don’t let your dreams ruin your life,” and that REALLY resonated with me. It was and is my dream to perform and get my music out to as many people as I possibly can. However, over the years, so many times I *have* let my dreams ruin my life. I missed out on major life events like weddings and birthday parties, so that I could be at gigs, I spent so much time beating myself up because I thought I wasn’t where I was “supposed” to be which robbed me of the present moment, I basically threw my personal life to the side because I thought I would just figure that out once I “made it.” But your life and your pursuit of your dreams aren’t two separate entities, they’re happening in tandem. And if you throw away your personal life and your real life dreams and completely prioritize your career dreams, your life dreams aren’t going to just magically fall in your lap. So I’d say, if you want to take two weeks off and go to Italy (like I just did,) go to Italy! If you want to take a week off your job and just sit and enjoy being a person, do it. If you want to spend time with family and friends- definitely do it- our connections are the most precious part of life! If you want to pause all together to figure out why you’re doing your work in the first place, I commend you for that too. Or if you want to keep doing your art but just find more balance, go for it. But do NOT let your dreams ruin your life. Because “ordinary life” is precious, too, and if you pour your entire personhood only into your work, you will have nothing real to create from.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would definitely like to implore people to start working on their mental health, healing their trauma and finding deep self-love. I think so many of the world’s problems (and CERTAINLY the entertainment business’s problems) would be banished if we could all start this deep inner-work. If I were President, I would make mental health care free and mandatory for all citizens. But since I am a musician and podcaster, I choose to make music and shows about mental health and self-development. I hope it has some impact and inspires my listeners to go through their pain, heal and find their way to self-acceptance and self-love. It is hard, but it is so, so worth it and ultimately gives you, and those around you, a much better life.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
So many people. First and foremost- my parents have given me so much love and support throughout the years and without their foundation of love, I don’t think I would have achieved even a portion of what I have. No matter what the world puts me through, nothing can really hurt me, because I am always going to be Jo Ann and Mike’s daughter.
My guitar teacher, Jason Land, has been one of my biggest supporters as a musician, entrepreneur and a human. He also introduced me to my first producer, Jeff Bova, who not only was an amazing producer and mentor, but who also introduced me to my therapist and set me on a journey of self-development and spirituality.
Also, my friend Liz Fohl who is an incredible musician and songwriter and has really encouraged me as a musician. We’ve also co-written some incredible songs together including one that got featured in the award-winning film of my other friend, Steffi Hill, who has also been a huge supporter of my music.
And finally, my friend Paria Sadighi is always singing my praises and has helped my work to get seen by some incredibly important people in the industry and I am so grateful for her belief in me. She also directed my second music video for my song, “Freakshow,” which premiered in People Magazine!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
When I was little and someone was being me Logan to me, my Mom would always say, “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” My whole life I thought she made that up until a few years ago I found out it was Abe Lincoln and then I just googled it and apparently, he didn’t say it first either? I don’t know, either way, that saying has always stuck with me. Any time someone has hurt me in my career or life and seemed to have gotten away with it, I always think about how eventually everyone gets seen for what they really are. Even if they don’t, it’s just really not my job to avenge the wrong and that saying kind of puts me at peace with it.
I also love something I heard in church once: “No love is ever lost, it is remembered in the heart of God.” There have been so many times in my life where I’ve loved someone or something that didn’t love me back and I remember feeling so hopeless and wasted…But this thought that the love wasn’t wasted, but rather, remembered and recorded by God. That it was seen and felt and had a place in the Universe…It brings me great comfort.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
This might be a cliche answer, but Britney Spears. I just feel like she could really use a really good friend and I would like to be that for her. Call me, Britt. Love you!
How can our readers follow you online?
I am @LaurenLoGrasso on all social media. I am also really excited about building up my spotify and youtube following right now, so I’d love it if you followed me there.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3s3NZslwHLLSdthJwens8g
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJHZrtoQ25k&t=5s
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
