Podcast Host, Singer-Songwriter and Media Consultant LAUREN LOGRASSO Opens Up About Her Journey So Far And Her Latest Music!

Get to know Lauren LoGrasso! She is a podcast host and producer, singer-songwriter, media/podcasting consultant and SAG-AFTRA actress.

After moving to Los Angeles and receiving her first rejections, she turned that pain turned into purpose and picked up a guitar and wrote her first song. Within nine months of writing that song, she had played House of Blues Sunset, The Viper Room and The Hard Rock Cafe. While continuing to pursue music, she also started to follow her love of talk radio and got a position as a host on AfterBuzz TV, which lead to becoming the EP of Maria Menounos’ SiriusXM Show, Conversations with Maria Menounos and a host and producer on The Tomorrow Show with Keven Undergaro. She now works as the Executive Producer of Female Content for a podcasting company called Cadence13 where she works on shows like Lauren Conrad: Asking for a Friend, Girlboss Radio, The Goop Podcast, Meaningful Conversations with Maria Shriver and From The Heart—Conversations with Yoga Girl. In addition, she independently produces and hosts her own podcast, Unleash Your Inner Creative. The show has been on the New and Noteworthy category 37 times since the show launched.

On the music front, she is also working on her debut EP, “Road To Glory” with Grammy Award Winning Producer, Jeff Bova!

Connect With Lauren Lograsso Online Here:

Website- http://laurenlograsso.com/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/laurenlograsso/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/laurenlograsso Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/laurenlograsso/  YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_a_G54T99F2zxuO31Xtbcw

Learn more about Lauren Lograsso in the following All Access interview:

Happy New Year! When it comes to your music, what are you most excited about for 2020?

I am most excited for my next release! We just decided we’re going to be putting out my next single, “Rise” on Friday, March 20th. It’s probably my most empowering and anthemic song on this EP. I am excited to show a different side to myself.

Outside of that, I am excited to continue to deepen my skills, write more and start to put myself out there more as an artist.

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be a musician? What do you think motivated you day in and day out?

First, you have to know that I didn’t write my first full song until I was twenty three. I grew up singing and performing musical theatre, so I thought that would be my way in with music. From a young age, I thought I would be a Broadway star. However, I never fully fit into that box. I would go to auditions and leave feeling unfulfilled because I was trying to fit into songs that didn’t fit me/my voice fully.

After almost a year in LA, songs started coming to me. It started with me learning a few chords on the guitar and then from there, I started writing music pretty quickly. They first came to me in between sleep or in my dreams and then, thankfully, I also started writing while I was awake.

Shortly after that, I started playing music with my friend Jordan and we had our first show within a month. At our first show, seeing the way the audience was reacting to us, and the way I felt, singing my own words and melody…That was the first moment when I thought I could actually potentially make a career out of writing my own music. Once I experienced that–the unbelievable feeling of self-expression and connection with the music that had come out of my soul, I knew there was no going back.

What kept me motivated during the tough times, was an absolute unquenchable passion for expression, connection and performing. My deepest desire is to achieve my dreams to show other people that they can do the same, no matter what the dream is…That no goal is out of their reach. So my passion for music and people are my two greatest drivers!

How do you think your hometown has influenced the kind of music that you make? If not, why is that?

YES! Growing up in the suburbs of Detroit Motown was and is everything to me. My music and I have been highly influenced by Motown music and the story of Berry Gordy. It has empowered me to think of myself as an entrepreneur and know that when the product is good, it will rise to the top, no matter the obstacles.

Growing up, how important was music in your life?

Music was always what brought me the most joy. From dancing around the house with my Dad to MC Hammer songs, to doing my first musical at age four, to singing Annie: The Musical at the top of my lungs while jumping up and down on my bed (this is actually on tape somewhere haha) it has always, always been the ultimate form of self-expression. My Mom would always say she knew I wasn’t feeling well when I didn’t sing. Otherwise, she couldn’t shut me up.

I was constantly in song. Looking back, it seems so clear that this has always been my greatest passion. I just wasn’t able to fully claim it until I unlocked my songwriting ability. Writing music is the greatest honor I have ever known. I only wish I could go back and whisper in my child-self’s ears, “You’re a songwriter”–I often wonder how different my life would’ve been if I had been empowered with that label earlier on…

I will probably continue to wonder, however, I do believe everything happens for a reason and I am grateful for the fact that I discovered it at all. There is also a beauty in discovering a gift later in life, because you don’t have any childhood baggage on it–you’re able to process your creativity with an adult brain and therefore, aren’t unhealthily attached. For that, I’m grateful.

With everything that you already do in your life, how challenging or easy has it been to fit in making music? Was it always the plan to incorporate it into your career?

I wouldn’t say it has been easy, but not incorporating it would be an unbearable denial of self. As I have mentioned, music is my heart and soul. To be honest, the original plan I had when I was a fetus (23 years old) was to just do music full time and also to act a bit…The thing is, though, I have pretty much always been a multi-passionate creative. Even when I was in college I was this way. I got two degrees – A BFA in Acting and a BA in Communication, I was on the campus sitcom & sketch comedy show, I was the lead in the musicals and Shakespeare, I hosted my own radio show, I was the vice president of our performing arts society and the head of communication for the Telecasters (the production group that created the sitcom and the sketch show)…So I have kind of always been this way where I am involved in a million things because I am a curious, multi-passionate human who wants to explore as much of life and creativity as I possibly can.

I also feel that one hand washes the other- my role in media has allowed me to get greater coverage on my music, having my own podcast gave me the courage to finally put out my songs, the sensibility/natural good ear I have from being a musician helped me to seamlessly roll into producing podcasts and radio, my rich background as an actor made it super easy for me to get up on stage and start performing my own music within months of writing my first song, my experience as a podcaster made it easy for me to translate speaking on a mic to public speaking…Everything is connected!

Some people will say no one will take you seriously if you do too many things…I say, if they don’t, let them! Here’s the thing: 1) They’re honestly probably triggered because they also have many passions that they’re not letting themselves explore and 2) They’re being extremely short-sighted…The current economy we live in simply doesn’t support one stream of income for creatives anymore. It can if you’re INCREDIBLY lucky, but there’s always a chance that one source could dry up. You want to make as many opportunities to make a creative life as you possibly can. So if you have many passions, pursue them and don’t let other people’s limiting beliefs stand in your way. They will take you seriously when you have multiple jobs because of your multiple valuable skill set and you’re running a multi-million dollar business. I believe in you!

I’m curious how you think your other current jobs help you be a creative musician today?

It has helped me in all of the ways I answered in the question above. It has also given me some REMARKABLE material for songwriting. Many of my songs are either directly derived from things I’ve experienced in my media career or from lessons I’ve learned on the journey. I recently wrote one called, “Secrecy” (it will probably be on the next EP) based on an interview I produced for The Goop Podcast. The host, Elise, had on this man named Barry Michaels, he is an incredible therapist who talks a great deal about the personal shadow. His interview on the show made me realize that if I can’t confront the things I’m ashamed of and name them, then they will always own me…That it is only by calling out our secrets that we can truly be free. So I went home after that and proceeded to write a song where I divulge all of my most horrifying and shameful secrets, and talk about learning to accept my shadow self–how that’s the only way to fully accept who you are. It’s deep. Your outside interests/work can be a wonderful way to spark new ideas. Never miss an opportunity to become inspired–wherever you are in life is providing you infinite material for your music. Soak it up!

Let’s talk about your newest music. What was the inspiration for your latest single, “Road to Glory”? How would you say that it prepares listeners for your debut album coming out later this year?

My inspiration for my song, “Road to Glory,” is my journey in Hollywood. I have been here a minute now. I came here green- with an open heart, and big dreams, believing in my goals and the goodness of people. I still believe, however, along the way, I did encounter villains, disappointments, heartbreak, necessary lessons and ultimately, growth. I recognize now that all of these things were vital in bringing me to a place where I was actually ready for the dreams in my heart. Sometimes, our skin needs a little toughening, and our dreams need a little testing to make sure we really want and can handle them. “Road to Glory” is about taking and passing the tests along the way. Ultimately, it’s a song of angsty optimism, and hope. It’s a soulful reminder that there will be blockages, traps, failures, tears and villains on your path, but as long as you always keep going, and keep your focus on your goal, you will eventually make it to your dream…And when you get there, you will be better for the pain you endured, survived and turned into purpose.

I think the song prepares you for the themes of my album. All of the songs have a throughline of this concept of “Angsty optimism” – of acknowledging the pain, but always keeping your mind and heart in possibility and believing the best possible outcome will make its way to you. My next song, “Rise” is about the rebuilding after getting kicked down. I have another song, “Therapy,” about the importance of self-love and rebuilding after codependence, there’s another song, “Freakshow” that’s about accepting yourself as you are, with all your flaws, because it’s better to be a freak that be boring. At the end of the day, they are all songs that I hope help the listeners feel more comfortable to be their full selves and go boldly toward their dreams. I think “Road to Glory” sets that up nicely.

Would you like to go on tour and share your music on the road?

Let me tell you: I am dying to go on tour, honeybuns! It’s currently one of my biggest dreams. I’m hoping to find a way to do this sometime in the next year. I’m in the midst of finding and submitting to opportunities. It would really be a dream to be able to open for someone bigger- this is such a great way for newer artists to grow. Putting it out there, I believe in the power of intention 🙂

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music? What if anything has stayed the same about your music-making process?

My voice has gotten so much better it is absolutely unbelievable. My guitar playing has as well. And I have become a better songwriter. I think the lesson is here: if you practice, you’ll grow. Weirdly, I think people forget that sometimes? They think their skillset is stagnant. However, I have always been a fan of the idea of Kaizen: continuous improvement. I hope I look back five years from now and think, “oh my gosh, I am so much better!”

I would say the thing that has stayed the same is I don’t force myself to be bound to “Songwriting rules” and go more off of feeling than how things are, “supposed” to be done. If I want to write a song with a weird structure, I do it. If I want to write a song with a non-traditional chord change, I do it. I often write songs without guitar, just by singing into my voice recording app and go with the first thing that comes to my head and fill in the gaps later…My process is all about doing what feels good, because that has always made the best songs!

How do you feel about social media? What do you think social media has done for your career so far?

I have mixed feelings about social media. On the one hand I love sharing and connecting, on the other hand, I don’t know that I’ve necessarily found my niche with it yet and I definitely know it hasn’t always been an asset to my mental health. I am still trying to figure out my relationship to it and the best way to share myself in a way that is valuable for my followers!

So far in my career, it has allowed me to reach people I otherwise never would have been able to reach without a huge marketing force. It has allowed me to have a one-on-one relationship with listeners and fans. It has allowed me to put my music and podcast out there to an instant audience. For that, I’m grateful!

What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, India.Arie, Lizzo, Ani Difranco, Fiona Apple, Billie Eilish Sara Bareilles…Basically everyone who inspired me to become a writer or is inspiring me right now to become a better writer and a bolder performer! Out of that long list, I would be most thrilled to collab with Gaga or Billy Joel.

If you could design your dream music video right now, what would it look like?

I would love to have a big budget so I don’t need to worry about bartering, piece-mailing everything together and producing the entire shoot myself. It was so empowering to executive produce and self-finance my first video for “Road to Glory,” but it was also incredibly stressful, so it was harder to focus on just performing. The day-of, I was still handling so much from coordinating food, to working on the space, to finalizing props… My ideal video would have a sizeable budget (20k +), an incredibly seasoned director, a few accomplished producers, with a message that makes me extremely emotional (either excited, tearful, happy, joyful). The message of the last video did make me cry, by the way, and turned out beautifully, but having additional resources could have just made the process so much easier. Here’s to manifesting an abundance of fans and cash to make this dream a reality!

Where would you love to hear a song of yours played?

It would be amazing to see it on a TV show I watch or a big movie! Also, all of the radio stations!

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

Just that: hope. A belief that they are enough and have everything it takes to live a life they are proud of…To know that they are never beyond redemption, resilience, self-love and worthiness. That they can always rise out of whatever despair they are in, learn to love themselves and achieve their wildest dreams. Also, that therapy is a really helpful tool that every human can use!