At only 23 years old, the word “seasoned” comes to mind when describing Lauren Blackford’s career and music alike.
Blackford solidified her status as a rising star following the release of her self-produced EP,
One Too Many Times, in April 2024. After embarking on a Midwest tour and winning the title of “Best Vocalist” at Illinois’s Bitter Jester Music Festival, she released her self-directed
debut music video and filmed a series of live performances aptly called the
Loft Sessions. These sessions were released in February 2025 and later appeared on the EP's deluxe version,
One Too Many Times (One More Time), on the project's first anniversary that April.
Drawing comparisons to Fiona Apple, Billie Eilish, and Joni Mitchell, Lauren's emotion-driven melodies underline refreshingly honest lyrics that leave listeners feeling equally comforted and exposed.
Jeff Milo of WDET describes her debut project as an "effervescent blend of pop and indie-rock ballads (that) bounce from pared-back acoustic strums to glitzy electronic flourishes, all while bolstering dulcet vocals that soar into punchy choruses threaded with sweet melodies sure to get stuck in your head for weeks." Her lively performances and interpersonal charm have graced stages from Ann Arbor's prestigious art fair to Chicago's Navy Pier, and have pegged her as a fan favorite in her hometown of Milan, MI.
Crowds everywhere agree: Lauren Blackford is an up-and-comer to be reckoned with.
