Interview by Carol Wright | Photos Courtesy of Kaylee Lauren
We got to chat with singer/songwriter Kaylee Lauren about her song “My Heart’s Not Yours,” her musical inspirations and writing lyrics based on personal experiences.
Before finding your passion for songwriting, did you write poetry or short stories?
I started writing songs around two years ago, and before that, I only wrote in my journal/diary, and that was a very therapeutic process for me to confront my feelings. I learned to song-write in order to convey my feelings, and that also became a therapeutic process for me.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
A couple of my musical inspirations are Nessa Barrett, Madison Beer, Billie Eilish, and Olivia Rodrigo. I take inspiration from their confessional lyricism and vulnerable songwriting.
Tell our readers about your song “My Heart’s Not Yours.” What story are you telling through the song?
I wrote “My Heart’s Not Yours” about three months ago, and it’s about finally realizing, after a heartbreak, that my heart always deserved better from the start. I want people to hear this song and feel empowered to recognize that they deserve better than anyone’s chaos or pain. I hope my listeners resonate with this song because it offers vulnerable lyrics, expressing the feelings of recognizing your own worth.
Was it a long process to figure out exactly how you wanted the song to sound?
I started releasing music back in December 2021, and my sound was very different than what it is currently. I loved pop music, and I was leaning towards more of a pop style. As of right now, I think I have found my sound, which consists of Pop and Dark Pop. It was a while before I found my sound because I tried so many different sounds, as I think that’s the best way to find your original sound. As soon as I started writing and producing dark pop music, I instantly felt a connection with what I wanted to sound like as an artist.
When it comes to songwriting, are you someone who pulls from personal experiences to write lyrics?
I always write lyrics based on personal experiences because I feel that is the best way for me to be honest and vulnerable with my writing. It’s very hard for me to write a song if I haven’t personally experienced a feeling or situation. I also believe I am more confessional when I write from my heart and my experiences.
What advice do you have for aspiring singers?
I think you should start putting yourself out there on social media and try to shy away from the opinions of others. For a long time, I didn’t post my music on social media because I was afraid of what people would think at school, and one day I decided to post on TikTok. That video ended up receiving over 100,000 views, and it skyrocketed my confidence. Ever since then, hundreds of thousands of people have heard my music and felt validated and understood by my lyrics. I am so grateful that I have been able to connect with so many people in the world that relate to my music and connect with me as an artist.