We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Gunn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what inspires you?
I’m inspired most by observing other people who are completely and unapologetically themselves. Authenticity is the most important thing in the world to me. Being our authentic self heals the world. We people want is to be loved and seen and heard and valued and understood. The less we try to understand one another, the more that we force ourselves to hide and fear what others think about us. I know what it’s like to be inauthentic. I think back to all of the versions of myself that I have been in fear of not fitting in… in fear of not keeping friends or a relationship or a job because I worried that being my truest self would lead to rejection. But living that way means you’re essentially rejecting yourself. And when you continually suppress yourself, it does a lot of damage to your self esteem, mental health and your sense of worth. It sends the message that living just as you are is somehow inherently incorrect. So, it’s really inspirational to me to witness people who have cultivated the art of being their truest, most authentic selves. It’s brave to have radical self love in a world that profits from our insecurities.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ten years ago I was working on music row as a videographer and editor for the biggest indie record label in Nashville. I was interacting with people whose names are known around the world and it was the most exciting position I had ever been in. But my boyfriend had been accepted to a school in a third world country, and so I made the decision to quit my job, get married, and go with him. Little did I know how that decision would change the course of my life for the next decade. I went from music industry networking events to isolation, and from having my work featured in People and Rolling Stone to living in poverty. The kind of poverty where you don’t have a vehicle or a cell phone or internet, or clean water or air conditioning, and sometimes have to shop in the expired foods section of the grocery store to find something you can afford to eat. At the time, I didn’t know how to process the trauma I was going through. And so with limited resources and responsibilities, I turned to songwriting to help make sense of my thoughts and feelings. Later on that became a lifeline to cope with a very chaotic life.

After a few years, we came back to the states. Any time his school scheduled him to a new assignment, we picked up everything and relocated. It totaled around a dozen times in a few short years. Finding new jobs everywhere we moved was a challenge for me as a creative, so while he worked and studied, I was generally at home trying to make myself useful during bouts of unemployment. As this pattern continued for the following 6 years, I felt pulled further and further away from my own dreams and aspirations. It took a huge toll on my mental and physical health, began to shape what I believed was possible for me, and affected my ability to feel safe and secure in my body as I unfortunately developed some chronic health problems. I started to lose faith that the situation was only temporary.

When I first came across the phrase “chaos theory,” and read these words, I stopped dead in my tracks. “Chaos theory suggests that the behavior of complex systems can follow laws… and yet their future states remain, in theory, unpredictable.” It sounded exactly like what I had experienced in life. That you can do all the right things, the smart things, the responsible things… you can get married young and settle down and sacrifice yourself for all the right reasons, and chaos can still ensue. Things can still unravel. Life can still be unpredictable. And so I penned a collection of songs about my life that became my debut EP, called Chaos Theory.

When I finally got the support I needed and found tools to empower myself again, my entire outlook about my future shifted. I discovered myself again. I found the strength to pursue a life that I wanted to live. Releasing my first record has meant so much more to me than just music. It has been the culmination of a decade of chaos and confusion coming full circle. It’s turned my pain into purpose. I’ve been all around the world, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be than right back here in Nashville, making strides to give myself the life I know I deserve – one full of creativity, authenticity, and opportunity.

My debut EP, Chaos Theory, was released this past September and I could not be more proud of this music. It’s 5 songs, each relating to an emotion I felt over the course of a very complicated relationship. The sound is probably most closely described as indie rock, folk rock, or alt rock, but genre aside, it’s really just a combination of my words and melodies with sounds throughout the decades that inspire me. I’m a huge fan of classic rock, 60s and 70s folk music, and great songwriters like Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks and Chris Martin. Also having a background in film, I enjoy cinematic soundtracks from great movies, so that inspires me too. For example, when I was writing “Electricity,” I wanted to create something that sounded exactly like how a John Hughes movie feels. He’s my favorite director.

If I could boil everything down to one point, I just want my listeners to feel seen and heard. Since day one of my musical journey, my mantra has been “You matter. Keep going.” I say it mostly to myself, to remind myself why I do what I do. But I hope I can also encourage people through my story that their lives are so valuable, even if they can’t see it right now. I just want to encourage people to keep going and not quit, because you never know how your life is going to impact someone else.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I were going to spend some time in Music City, I’d grab a nutella crepe for breakfast at Red Bicycle in Germantown, do some shopping in Hillsboro Village or 12 South, grab a slice at Five Points Pizza in East Nashville, have a pick-me up at Frothy Monkey, go on a hunt for vinyls at Grimey’s, enjoy an afternoon stroll at Radnor Lake for some pristine nature trails, grab dinner at Lola in Sylvan Park, and then end the evening at either a rooftop bar (Zeppelin has great views of downtown) or catch a local band at The Basement or a writer’s round at the Listening Room.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I was new to Nashville and new to the music scene, I met my drummer Chris Ramirez. He aligned with me early on that the calling to be a musician is a spiritual one. Having someone in my corner who celebrates artistry and authenticity as much as I do has been great on a personal level, but to also have a support system on the business side of things has been huge. I continue to write my music, create content, market myself and do my work on the artistry side of things, but Chris is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to booking, organizing a live show, and music business in general, which has been so helpful for me as a new artist. My EP release show would not have been possible without him, and he’s been helping me book more shows for 2024. He continually encourages me to shoot for the stars. When I had an opportunity to open for one of my all-time favorite artists, Jade Bird, on tour in April, he took off work and drove me all the way to North Carolina and back. So grateful! I highly recommend finding quality people you can trust and be yourself with, especially in the music industry. Having someone on your team who aligns with your vision helps you get there twice as fast.

Website: laurengunnmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurengunnmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurengunnmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV5XwRIHwslSpywy1W19lA 

Image Credits
Stephanie Parsley Gina Rose

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.