Conversations with Lauren Lajas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Lajas

Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always known i wanted to pursue my creativity as my choice of career. My brain just naturally thinks in movie scenes, melodies, and words! But also, i feel like i am my best self when sharing my creativity with the world so it was an easy choice to do so. That started with me singing and performing since i was a child. I didn’t get into songwriting until my early 20s. Life has happened and the road hasn’t been easy, but i am finally in a position to be able to devote more time to my writing. I will be releasing my first book in January. I started my podcast as well this year and am looking to take that project to the next level now that my book is done. The idea for my next music project came to me recently which i hope to start on in the new year as well.

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?
When pursuing something in the creative field, success isn’t guaranteed, right? Yet we wake up everyday choosing the same choices over and over because we have this urge. For me, there was never a second choice. A “backup” plan. My creativity is my lifeline. A reason to want to get up every morning and live my best life. Working 2-3 jobs at a time to pay for my creative projects wasn’t the hardest part honestly. I am self-funded so i had to keep a roof over my head and food in my belly, AND pay for my art. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve gone without food or slept in my car. While my peers were taking vacations and going on shopping trips, i was rationing out my ramen for the week (no seriously, that is based on a true story.) I didn’t mind it because i felt like i was paying my dues. The sacrifices would be worth it…except i wasn’t prepared for how long it took me to get to this moment. I wasn’t prepared for “life” to get in the way and royally disrupt my plans or stop them all together. I wasn’t prepared for a global pandemic that essentially stole 4 years from all of us. I wasn’t prepared for the death of my mom that changed the trajectory of my path because i chose to uproot my life and be closer to my dad to acclimate him to being without her. The thing is, i was getting older. Some of those sacrifices seemed silly to me at my age. I was stuck in survival mode and the irony of working so much to just get by or make a slight dent in a creative project left very little time for me to “create” all together which prolonged my timeline even more. My peers were now purchasing homes and starting families. I started overanalyzing every decision i made, and a little self-doubt crept in and i felt a little crazy. Misunderstood. I felt even crazier because despite the sacrifices, despite the days i went to bed hungry or went another month without a haircut or told myself i had no time for love because my “career” was my priority, i would get up everyday and make the same choices. I don’t regret a thing. I’m perfectly fine with most people not understanding me. They aren’t meant to. Learning to trust the timing of my life, to give myself grace. To find the inner strength to keep going instead of giving up and choosing an easier path. That has been the hardest part of my journey.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In each chapter of my life, i feel like i have been known for something different. When i was younger, i was known for my music and singing. In this current chapter, i am more known for my writing. My words. My blog posts and now my book! I also started a Podcast and You tube Series. Basically the same things, just in different fonts! I am so proud of my book which is about my childhood. It was really hard to sit down with those emotions for longer periods of time but i was meant to tell my story. I was meant to be an example of how empowering and uplifting it can be and hopefully encourage others to do the same. I am setting myself up really nicely to do just that and i couldn’t be more excited!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Oh man, i hate to be this person, but read my book! I talk about how i was growing up in very intimate detail and how it made me into the woman i am today. But the cliff notes version: i was a menace! A troublemaker. I was defiant and fiery. I would have definitely ended up on a different path had it not been for my discovery of music and singing. I then became a musical theatre and choir nerd which has been one of the greatest influences of my life. I have always been a social butterfly and got along with all sorts of people which has made life all the more interesting. One of my greatest loves besides music and writing, is sports! I was always super competitive and unfortunately, that has stayed with me into adulthood. Well it’s only unfortunately if we’re on opposing teams!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lavielauren.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlajas
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laurenlajas
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/55xk2pdWlgyngGXMQg5ocb

Image Credits
Lisa Olsen