Rule-breaking and genre-bending artist Lauren Sanderson is coming in HOT with her badass, ‘wake-up-and-be-yourself’ first single of 2024, THEY WONT LIKE THIS. Lauren’s anthem on self-awareness acknowledges that sometimes being authentically yourself means you won’t be understood – or liked – by everyone. Whether they’re judgmental, small-minded or they just ‘don’t get it,’ there will be plenty of people who will tell you who to be and quite frankly, you don’t have to listen.

Photography Hunter Moreno

What about They wont like this. What they won’t like and why?

it’s funny how my head was like “what if they don’t like this?!” without any real reason why. this question got me.

How have you dealt with not being understood as an artist before?

i’m not your typical pretty, soft, quiet female artist. i have felt judged for making music that’s harder, more rough around the edges. i feel pressure sometimes to be more digestible. but i think that’s the most beautiful part of my music. if you get it, you REALLY get it. if you don’t, you don’t.

How do you work towards self confidence? Any tricks or secrets that worked for you?

i try to remind myself that anxiety is really just thoughts. that’s it. anxiety isn’t about real scenarios that are happening, and you can’t get lost in the “what ifs”. my way of getting closer to self confidence is actively taking control of any anxious judgmental thoughts about myself and listening to my gut feeling. i think of anxious thoughts like clouds in the sky – they’re passing above me and i can either let them pass, or i grab them and become closer. don’t believe everything you think.

What can we expect from your 3rd album coming up?

my 3rd album is the little lauren, the current lauren, and the future lauren all meeting in one present moment. it’s reflective, but hopeful. it’s vulnerable, but confident. it’s lost, it’s found, it’s highs, it’s lows, it’s everything in between. i tried to steer away from choosing a ‘genre’ and focused on pure expression. that’s always worked best for me.

How have you changed artistically since your 2nd album?

i don’t let any other feedback or opinions get involved. i’m making this album from the heart, i have to put out what i love the most and trust the right people will find it.

How was doing a tedtalk at 19? What do you remember from that time and what have you learned?

it was the most surreal moment of my life. i had been so bad at school, i almost failed out multiple times and doing a ted talk was the first time i was truly accepted and supported in something. it showed me i am a natural leader. i love to be on stage, i love to remind people they aren’t alone. i definitely want to do another one – maybe next year for the 10 year anniversary.

How important is your LGBTQ community for you as an artist and as a person?

the LGBTQ community has been a huge part of my career. as an artist, i find it so cool that they find a safe space in my music. from the very getgo, i always hoped for that and i can only hope more and more of the community discovers it. as a person, the community is amazing of course. i can say 99% of my community is in the queer space so it’s nice we all find a home in eachother. s/o to one of my best friend’s Pattyo, who will soon be one of the biggest drag queens out!!!!

Opening for FINNEAS must have been pretty cool. What was it like?

opening for FINNEAS was such a crazy moment, especially because he offered me the tour through instagram stories. i replied to his tour/song story to say congrats, but we didn’t know eachother at all. then he replied, “thanks, wanna open for it?” i also found out through him that billie was listening to my music and that inspired him asking me to go with him. really crazy cause you never really know who’s listening out there.

Who are some of the mentors or important people in your life right now?

my biggest inspiration is my 19 year old self – she was fearless, motivated and did everything she could to make her dreams come true. so that’s who i look up to right now.

Who is your all time idol?

my all time idol is miley cyrus. i would absolutely love to open for her one day, i think we would connect so hard instantly. she’s the most unapologetically herself woman i have seen in this entire industry, and she’s been that way since the very second she became famous. i truly just love her and think the world of her.