Lauren Daigle Talks Album, Kaleidoscope Tour, and More
Lauren Daigle‘s musical journey has been filled with challenges, but her passion for music shines through. On September 8th, she released her highly anticipated self-titled album, marking a brand new stage in her already booming career.
This album is a culmination of creativity and self-discovery, featuring 23 tracks with intense and heartfelt messages. Earlier this year, she released the first ten songs, including the chart-topping single “Thank God I Do” which has gotten countless millions of streams across platforms.
LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE
From the electrifying “Salvation Mountain” to the soul-stirring “Sometimes,” Lauren’s talent knows no bounds. With multiple Grammy, Billboard Music, and American Music Awards, she has proven herself in the industry.
When the pandemic canceled her world tour in 2020, Lauren faced disappointment and uncertainty. However, collaborating with renowned songwriters like Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Jason Ingram, and Jon Green brought her solace. Their collective creativity helped Lauren find her voice again by turning frustration into art, and she poured her heart into the album.
BUY YOUR TICKETS TO SEE LAUREN LIVE HERE
Lauren Daigle’s latest album marks a fresh and exciting chapter in her career. It showcases her unique, emotive voice and unwavering dedication to creating resonant music. Offstage, she continues to support music education and charitable causes through The Price Fund.
What was the inspiration behind the style of outfits for the Kaleidoscope tour?
LD: So, for me, I had this awesome experience in New Orleans. I grew up in Louisiana and there was always the tradition of Mardi Gras. I would see the colors and the floats and all of the kind of world of wonder that would be trapped in each float, and I found myself seeing artisans create clothes not for money but just for the beauty, the joy of creating and that was really important to me. I remember walking around the streets and looking at people and asking how much time did you take to spend on this? Like, this is unbelievable. Even the craftsmanship that they would put into each piece was just absolutely profound. And so I found myself really falling in love with watching people, just out of the sheer joy of making something, right? Expressing themselves through clothing or through art and design, with textiles and different things like that. And I said, “Okay, when we go back out on the road. I wanna figure out a way to bring that into the clothing.” So Hannah and my team–there was a girl that actually painted, a team of, it was like, probably 4 people, that painted the pieces. And it was really special. I got to go and paint just a little bit and then stitch some things–that was really fun! So I kind of pop over there and get to be a part of as much as I can, and then head back to the studio rehearsal space. But it was really cool to see. Each theme–each item of clothing, was based off of a kaleidoscope and color, because those were the things that were very compelling to me while walking through the streets of New Orleans and seeing all the color that came through.
Hannah, what’s your take on the question, how do you build these pieces up every night for Lauren?
H: Oh wow! Hmm. For Lauren, I feel like we wanted to hone in on like 4 to 5 to 6 specific looks that we could, like, intertwine and continue for the continuity. Like we loved the idea of, that would work really well with what the band’s wearing.
LD: Yeah it was really important, we actually talked about this prior. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t like, “Oh the artist stands out, like, times 50, and then the band is just kind of, like, mellow.” I wanted to make sure that it was like, “Oh, we are all one unit.” Like it’s important to me that it’s not like this hierarchy thing where the artist is more pronounced or bigger than the band. Um, and so, we used all the same color palettes, the same tones. And like, even the things that they painted on a white background for mine, they painted on a white background for the band. All the things that I interspersed are my pants and then we have like three tops that we interact with, and then we just kind of create different looks each night with the different variety of pants that we have in conjunction with those three tops. So I have two tops that were painted and then one top that was purchased. Going back to the theme, Mardi Gras is this one moment in time where even people who don’t agree with you as far as politics, or your belief system, or whatever, everybody comes together and creates something that–when it’s all put together and you can see the visual of everybody together–it’s really unique. It’s really profound. And so I didn’t want there to be any sort of division, I wanted it to be this thing of like, “hey when we all unify, when we all come together, this is a greater force. This is something that’s more potent than this individualistic expression that might separate. I like everybody to feel like we’re in one, cohesive space together.
What was your reaction when you found out you were nominated for 2 Grammys?
LD: Oh my god, yeah, that was awesome. I was in LA, we were about to go to the Crypto, and my manager runs in–I was still in bed, I was like asleep, like kinda like just peeling my eyes open, ya know–she runs in she’s like “Lauren!!” I was like “Oh, gosh, what is going on here, did something happen, ya know?” And, um, she was like “You’ve been nominated for two Grammys.” And this is what I told my friend, I said, “Ya know, the beauty of doing music is like wow, I can’t believe I get to do something that I love and share a message that I love and get to talk about the things that are important to me. But then to be honored by your peers, like, having them look at what you’re doing and say, ‘Oh, that’s notable, we need to make mention of this, or we need to see this for what it is,’ that’s very special. Because you never know if you’re ever gonna get that again. I won two Grammys in, I think it was 2018 or 2019 and it isn’t a thing where you’re just like “Yeah, I just kinda do this for a living, this is just who I am,” it is a challenge, there is a moment of thinking, hey, this may never happen again and if it does, wow, like holy cow, but if it doesn’t, I’m gonna savor. I’m just gonna make sure I savor every drop. Well fast forward here we are four years later and being nominated again this is, wow, I did not know that this would happen. And honestly, the more that time passes the bigger it’s becoming to me. I think in the moment I was like, this is all so much in one day! Like, Crypto, plus nominations, plus, like, so many people flying in for the show, I was like “Oh my gosh.” Now I feel like, oh, this is really sinking in. Like the beauty of having people that you respect look on your work and say, “Hey, this, job well done, we want to make mention of this.” That’s very, very special. And I really don’t take it for granted. Because to have something happen to you one time is really special, to have it happen to you multiple times is like, it’s amazing, genuinely.
Your song, “Be Okay,” what was the inspiration behind it and your thought process going into it?
LD: Yay, awe, I love–so this is the song, I don’t know if you ever heard, so I remember specifically that day being really intentional. Ellie, my sweet Ellie, she was flying into L.A., I was writing in Orange County, and she just said to me, “Hey, I received this email of a little girl who has a terminal illness, and she’s asking me about death, like she’s asking me questions that us, sitting on this side of heaven, we can’t even answer.” It’s like “What can I expect, what’s it gonna be like, I’m afraid, ya know.” And, um, it was really her last moments, and I remember Ellie saying these are bigger than what I have to offer. This is more than I have to offer. But the only thing I do know is everything will be okay for this little girl, she will be okay. And so, she had a lot of the song written before she came to me and then we finished it together and it was one of those moments in writing where the room just felt so heavy, it was like every tear that dropped from your eye felt like it was just cutting the room in half. Like the weight of a tear was just so heavy and, um, we followed this girl throughout her journey and it was very close to home. And I’ll never forget sitting in this studio, it’s called Gold Pacific Studio, and we went to do the piano part for that song. And we sat down, and I thought, Oh my gosh, I’m gonna, I’m gonna just melt. It was like every note that he played felt like it was from another place, and um, yeah, it was just so powerful. So all that to say, I don’t know if you heard it in the room, but I start playing “He’s Never Gonna Change,” and then in the middle of “He’s Never Gonna Change,” we switch it to “Be Okay,” and every single night, in the middle, the whole crowd starts cheering the second we switch to “Be Okay.” And what I realized was this is like an anchor point for people, for people who are just needing some reassurance, especially in the times that we’re living in. You can look around the world and see there’s a lot of darkness, a lot of chaos, and it’s really wild that a song–God can ride the airwaves of a song and reach to the deepest parts of people’s, or their uncertainty, or their insecurity, or their questioning, or their longing, and he can go in and say, “Hey, everything will be okay.” And when I look back, therfe are moments in my own life where I knew things were not right, where I was making terrible decisions, pushing friends out that were really for me, and moments of questioning everything: “Am I doing what I’m supposed to do?” “Am I beyond myself? I feel like I’ve lost myself.” And I got on my knees and I remember this one very specific moment and God said, “Lauren, I promise you, everything will be okay.” And all of the friendships from that season that had fallen apart got restored. It’s been really, really powerful. And so, yeah, that’s a really long answer, I was trying to give your editor as much.
Going back to style, where do you draw your style from on the regular, because I’ve seen you evolve. When you would do winter jam, you would wear all the bracelets and the flowy fits. How do you feel like you’ve evolved your fashion from when you did winter jam to now the kaleidoscope tour?
LD: Okay well this is a funky little number [pointing to what she has on in the interview]. It’s a jumper–or a sweater–I started saying jumper because I’m around all these Australians. And how fun?! I found it at this little vintage shop and I love the detail but then also how they got the speckling effect where it all felt like it was blending in that has a kaleidoscope effect to me. So just based on the tour, what I personally like to do, is even offstage I still dress very similarly just to stay in the headspace, stay in the mindset. And the theme of the tour is color, so basically, every single thing that I’ve worn in this season has been full of color. Whether it’s T-shirts, it’s got color. Whether it’s shoes, it’s got color. Whether it’s sweaters, it’s got color. Color for everything. I also love pattern and the use of pattern. I think, right now, the fashion industry, it’s amazing all the different textiles and things being used to create patterns. I’m like, ah, it’s so inspiring. I went to this shop, this vintage shop on Abbot Kinney and saw a bunch of different denims layered to make these coats that were, like, so layered and the depth and dimension that was given was really powerful. And the shape. The line was a very avant-garde, organic shape. It wasn’t like hard, rigid lines, which, when you think of denim, you think of a structured piece, right? So I say all that to say the beauty of all–and they were all in different shades, which was really unique, because it just created a lot of color even though it’s one simple fabric. But I love making sure that when I’m offstage there’s still a piece of me that is connected to the show or connected to the era, the season of what we’re giving out to the world. That way, when I get on stage, it doesn’t feel far away. It still feels really close. So how has my style changed? I think each album has had something new. The core of who I am is always going to be that hippie girl. Like I’ll tell ya, there was a period where I was like, I wear so much baggy clothes, like, I need to feel like what my skin feels like again. Like, what is it like to walk around in my own body, without like 10 pounds of clothes on? So I tried slimming it up just a little bit. But, yeah, those Magnolia Pearl and Das Werk from Amsterdam, those are brands and styles that I’ll probably wear ‘til the day I die.
How does it make you feel that you have a song like “You Say” that has impacted thousands of people’s lives?
LD: So, “You Say,” was one of those songs that, like, I did not know that it was gonna be what it was. I remember writing it, going to my manager’s house after and saying, “Oh my gosh!” It was the first song that we had written since the “How Can it Be” record. I went on tour for two years so it’s the first song I’d written in 2 years. And I remember thinking, ‘Wow, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it was gonna be, like, I thought it’s gonna take a little time before I got that muscle working. But, fortunately, the people that I wrote with are incredible writers. And so I remember finishing it, and going to my manager’s house, and saying I think we had something special. But that wasn’t even the song we were gonna lead with. Like I thought “Rescue” was going to be the song that changed everything, right? So, it was really beautiful to see that “You Say” was something that was kind of a surprise. It naturally, organically happened. We didn’t have a mainstream radio team or anything like that. God just had a purpose for that song. And I feel like the thing that’s wild is when you see a song interact with the time. Like, I don’t know what’s coming. I don’t know what’s ahead in life. But people need to know who God says they are. They need to feel that connection and that certainty to how he has made us, you know. And so I think there was just a moment of feeling so much doubt and insecurity and fear. And my friend, my co-writer, said, “Hey, why don’t we replace those lies with the truth. And with mental health and things that took off, especially after COVID, I feel like that was a song that reminded people who they are. You are loved, you are. You do belong. Like, there is a space on this planet for you and there is a reason why you’re here. And so, anyway, I say all that to say, how does it feel for a song like that? It’s life-changing. It’s other-worldly. There’s definitely moments where I’m singing where I feel it’s not my own, like, I don’t even know how to make it mine because it’s so much bigger than me. But I’m so grateful I get to sit and be a part and hear how a song can save people in the most dark moments.
What would you have told Lauren when she was small? The young girl who was seeing those visions from Jesus and The Holy Spirit of what she’s doing today?
LD: Mhmm. Wow. I would tell her, just listen. Continue to listen, because if you keep your ears open and if you keep your eyes open and allow yourself to see, everything does work itself out. It really does. And I think a lot of times I sit and I strive and, you know, say “Oh, I’ve gotta be better at this or I need to do this or whatever.” I would just tell her you’re gonna get there. You are gonna get there. Just rest in that. Just rest in that. And I would tell myself to keep dreamin’ because there’s so many moments that I look at and I say, “God! You showed me this!” I remember this picture. I will never forget the day of sitting–I know exactly what street–I was driving down Johnson Street in Lafayette, Louisiana. I had my hand on top of the steering wheel–definitely wasn’t doing the 10 and 2 driving. And the entire windshield turned into an arena. And I could see it clear as day. And I remember being like, “Okay, God. Are you? What is this that you’re showing me? Like this is so, so powerful. And not knowing if I was just turning, if I was just, I don’t know, not knowing if I was just daydreaming, or if it was him. Like what was it? And it’s really, it was the other day when we were at Crypto, I was like, “Wow! This is–this is the picture. This is what he showed. So I would, I would tell myself, keep staying pure. Purity is the most important thing. Keep purity at the forefront of every single thing that you do. Because I think a lot of times, we can say, “Oh, this isn’t that big of a deal,” or “That’s not that big of a deal.” But authenticity is the one thing that people can’t take from you. Purity is the one thing that you can pour into everything. And so I think that would be the other thing. I would tell myself, “Yeah, I still look at myself and say ‘Wow!’ Wow! I’ve done this for ten years now and it’s not gotten old yet. Not yet.
What are you doing for the holidays? Do you have a tradition that you guys do?
LD: Oh, I’m going home! I’m going home for the holidays! Well, okay, so all my siblings got–they’re all married now. So we’re kind of mixing it up where we’re gonna do our family special days not on the actual holiday days. But I said, “I still want a day where we’re all together. Let’s just, let’s pretend, like, that Thanksgiving is two days later and just call it a day.” And we’re gonna go and all do this special family event together that I can’t–it’s just like huh, how are we all in town at the exact same time making it happen? It’s really, really special. So we’re getting a bunch of our friends together, a bunch of my family together, and we’re gonna play games and do the whole thing. And food! Food is the most important thing. My gosh! My family, my dad, owned a restaurant. He owns a catering business. He and my mom cook like wild, wild foods. So food is very important in our household.
What’s your favorite dish?
LD: Ohh, my dad does this shrimp and gouda grits that is like–it’s mind-blowing. He puts an entire block of smoked gouda in these grits and goes down to the shrimp boat down in South Louisiana and literally gets the shrimp off the shrimp boats and makes this dish. It’s, like, phenomenal.
