Sweet Spotlight: Lauren Juzang's 'EITHER WAY ??!?'
- Jonnica Hill
- Jul 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 17
Get to know more about rising star Lauren Juzang and her new EP, 'EITHER WAY ??!?'
Lauren Juzang is a rising star whose glow simply cannot be ignored. After supporting Jensen McRae on tour, the 22-year-old singer/songwriter recently released her latest project, EITHER WAY ??!?.
The 7-track collection perfectly showcases her knack for pairing delicate storytelling with playful indie pop/folk melodies. Lauren’s personality shines through, leaving you with an overwhelming feeling of joy and patching up any lyric-induced nicks your heart experiences along the way.
Lauren generously chatted with Jonnica's Jams about life lately - from graduating, going on tour and, of course, making music. Keep reading to stay in the loop...
Q&A with Lauren Juzang:
Q: "Congratulations on your brand new EP, Either Way ??!?. How do you feel now that it’s out in the world?"
A: "I feel … good? It’s been so long since I’ve put out a project, I’ve forgotten what it feels like/what to do LOL. But that being said, I am literally so proud of it and it is my favorite thing to listen to!!! And people seem to be liking it, so that is awesome."
Q: "Like many great songwriters, your songs often deal with deeply personal experiences and feelings - do you ever find it challenging to release songs for others to hear?"
A: "Hmmmm. Not really? I think it’s funny when my friends and people around me hear the songs and are like … are you okay? I maybe worry what the subjects of the songs will think, but I sent the songs to my ex-boyfriend before it came out, so that alleviated any of that stress beforehand lol. Otherwise, I usually feel fine about that – I stand by what I write and if it’s all true and I felt that way, then I don’t really feel bad about it!"
Q: "I feel like 'All these questions' is such a perfect closing track. With its bittersweet feel, did you always plan for it to be the final track?"
A: "Wait, thank you, that’s so nice. Yes, immediately when I started it, I knew it would be the closer—I knew that production-wise it would be a ballad and have a big ending and would be dynamic in the ways all of my favorite album closers are. I’m the most proud of this song and the way that it turned out."
Q: "It’s been two years since your last EP, what has changed the most for you since then?"
A: "Oh, what a good question. Literally so much. I moved back to LA, graduated college, had my first big heartbreak, and overall through those experiences and others I’ve become a lot more confident in myself!! I also learned how to produce which contributed a lot to that. I’m a lot more sure of myself, of my decision-making and of what I want which is a great feeling, and making this EP was a huge part of that."
Q: "You recently supported Jensen McRae on the Praying For Your Downfall Tour - what was that experience like? Did you learn anything new while on the road?"
A: "It was the BEST. I miss it so much actually, lol. The whole crew was so wonderful, and getting to hang out with them every day was so much fun. Jensen is an angel and a genius and cares so much about everyone around her. I think the main thing I learned is how important it is to take care of yourself and be proactive about your health!!! Mental and physical. Travelling so much and singing almost every night takes a toll on your body, and taking care of yourself has to be made a priority. Also, I learned how much I love cracking jokes!!!"
Q: "How do your own shows compare to supporting performances? Do you approach/prepare for these kinds of shows differently?"
A: "I haven’t headlined in ages (hopefully soon), but yes, when I’m playing solo, it’s a lot different. I definitely rehearse less, and it’s a lot more fluid when I play by myself– I can kind of do whatever I want because it’s just me! Which is fun, but I’m also excited to have a more structured show. I got to play with a band for the two LA shows, which was epic, and luckily I got to play with my two best friends!!! Preparing for that was so fun–I love making arrangements and figuring out how to bring the songs to life with a band. And my friends rock."
Q: "If you had to pick a colour OR a flavour to describe Either Way ??!?, what would it be?"
A: "Maybe yellow!!!!!! Like a bright yellow. I love the cover so much and I feel like all of those colors reflect it, but if I had to pick one, I’d pick yellow."
Jonnica's Top 3 Tracks:
"Why'd you ask ?"
"Thursday in June"
"All these questions"
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