This week’s NY Entertainer of the Week is Lauren Jaimes. Lauren is a Brooklyn based country music artist who recently released her EP “Here To Stay”. We got to chat about her music, her upcoming show on April 7th at The Bitter End, her NYC favorites, and more!
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about your EP “Here To Stay”?
Lauren Jaimes: My EP “Here to Stay” is my first venture into recording and I am so proud of it! The EP is a compilation of six original tracks and one original bonus track. All of the songs are very different from each other, but they are all tied together by the shared characteristic of telling a story. If you only have time to listen to a couple tracks, check out fan-favorite “Cherry Pie”, or “Leave The Light On”, both based on my real-life family experiences.
upfrontNY: How would you describe your music?
Lauren Jaimes: My music blends elements of country, pop, and folk. I love telling stories through songwriting so every track on the EP is a tiny snapshot of something bigger.
upfrontNY: Were you always interested in songwriting?
Lauren Jaimes: I have been writing songs since I was around 9 or 10. I feel lucky that I was introduced to music at a young age. My Dad was a professional musician before I was born and he pretty much taught me everything I know!
upfrontNY: Do you have a favorite song to perform?
Lauren Jaimes: I love performing “Cherry Pie”. It’s an intimate song that came to me when I was processing my grandmother passing away. It’s definitely the song people talk to me most about after my show.
upfrontNY: You grew up in a musical household in Miami – can you tell us about that and how it influenced your music today?
Lauren Jaimes: Both of my parents were musicians AND missionaries in South America before I was born. My Dad sang and recorded Christian Spanish music during that time and helped me learn guitar when I was growing up. He also pushed me to play flute, so I was a band dork for most of middle school and high school. I loved it!
upfrontNY: Was country music something you grew up with? If not when and how did you get your introduction?
Lauren Jaimes: I actually grew up listening to a lot of 60s and 70s artists, some country and some not. Don Mclean, Willie Nelson, Chicago and Johnny Cash are a few favorites. I still love older country music, but I fell in love with the genre all over again because of Kacey Musgraves. I love her sound, and I credit her with introducing me to modern country today.
upfrontNY: You also play guitar- when did you learn to play guitar and do you remember the first song you learned to play?
Lauren Jaimes: I learned to play guitar from my Dad and I think the first song was “Ring of Fire”!
upfrontNY: You are playing The Bitter End on April 7th– what are you most looking forward to?
Lauren Jaimes: I’m looking forward to playing some new music! I’ve been working really hard on some newbies that are very special to me and I get to debut them on April 7.
upfrontNY: What can your fans expect from your show?
Lauren Jaimes: One of my strengths as a live performer is connecting emotionally to what I’m singing and having my audience connect as well. People often tell me their favorite aspect of my performances is how a certain song made them feel something. From deeply personal stories to fun and upbeat songs, you can always expect to hear something new. I’m constantly previewing new songs for live audiences. My performances always include a joke or two and a shot of Jameson, and even if country music isn’t your jam, it’s always a good time.
upfrontNY: What is your favorite part of performing?
Lauren Jaimes: My favorite part of performing is actually after the show. I love finding out that a song really related to someone or that they were moved by something they heard in the lyrics. Plus it’s always a party after!
upfrontNY: What have been some of your favorite concert experiences as a fan that you have gone to?
Lauren Jaimes: I recently went to a Keith Urban and Kelsea Ballerini show at the Barclays Center for my birthday and found out Keith Urban and I share a birthday too! They are both such incredible artists and it was amazing to see them kill it live.
upfrontNY: What is your dream venue, city, or country that you want to perform?
Lauren Jaimes: I would love to play the Opry one day.
NYC FAVORITES
Favorite thing about NYC: I can’t lie to you, my favorite thing about NYC might be dollar pizza.
Favorite NYC music venue: My favorite NYC music venue is The Triad. It’s really beautiful inside and has such a great sound.
Favorite NYC spot for inspiration: I actually get a lot of inspiration when I’m riding the subway. It’s not glamorous, but there is so much down time to and from work that I have a moment to myself to just sit and think.
Favorite NYC restaurant: La Lanterna – I highly recommend it!
Favorite memory of performing in NYC: My favorite memory is my EP release show. The turnout was great, the house was packed, and the best part was that my Mom and Dad were able to be there! We had friends and family come from all over the country. And because so many people believed in me and supported me, it continues to inspire me to make the absolute most I can out of my music career!
Check out Lauren’s Music!
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