"Rebellious," "playful," and "colorful" have all been used to describe country music's hot new female artist, Lauren Briant. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, this country girl grew up on the vivid lyrics and instrumentation rooted in country songs. "I would listen to the radio and sing along," Lauren remembers, "and I guess when you grow up country, country music melodies and stories are the only ones that make sense."
Showcasing her talents on the stage from an early age, Lauren's first performance occurred at the tender age of three when she would charge her own brothers admission to her shows—even though they took place in their living room!
After mimicking stage presence and vocal styling from her favorite female country singers, Lauren went on to write her own stories set to music. Only as she continued to perform, she was encouraged to transition into the pop format due to the successes of several new artists at the time.
"Everyone would tell me 'you should really sing pop music, because it is too hard to make it as a female artist in country music'," Lauren reveals. "I was so young and impressionable that I actually altered my dreams for a few years because of what other people wanted me to do."
It wasn't until being discovered at a local watering hole by famed producer Shannon Houchins (TLC, Usher, Outkast) that Lauren was led back to her country roots.
"I feel more of a connection with country music, and I love the way my voice feels belting out Honky Tonk tunes," Lauren says. "I was never really a fan of the R&B or Pop format, so it seemed foreign to me as a songwriter and performer to pursue a career just for popularity's sake."
Lauren immediately went to work in Nashville with Houchins at the helm, writing and recording her first album alongside Nashville notables Noah Gordon (Tim McGraw, Craig Morgan, John Michael Montgomery, Emerson Drive), Philip Douglas (Lonestar, Tracy Lawrence, Billy Ray Cyrus), Dan Murph (Randy Travis, Bucky Covington), as well as country artist Colt Ford (collaborations include Jamey Johnson, John Michael Montgomery, Montgomery Gentry).
After hearing her vocals in the studio, Houchins, the producer that initially recognized her raw talent, immediately signed her to Average Joe's Entertainment and positioned her to open for country sensation, Colt Ford. Since her debut performance, Lauren has consistently garnered new fans at the shows and at radio alike. "When I'm on stage and the crowd is going crazy—whether it is for an original song or one of my favorite country covers—I feel at home."
Now that Lauren has returned to her roots, it's safe to say this colorful young woman is on the right path once again. With real life lyrics such as those in one of her songs, "Butterfly Tattoo," stating "My daddy's gonna kill me if my momma doesn't first," Lauren Briant is sure to leave a permanent impression on the hearts of country fans everywhere.
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