Lauren Ruth Ward was once crowned “Queen Of Echo Park” by her friend Alicia Blue; she exists in a space and time pocket dimension of her own making within the best reaches of the contemporary music scene. Hers is a growing sphere of influences crafted one bold verse at a time and jolted to life with unparalleled on-stage presence. The Mighty Scorpio Rock star shouted this space into being with her mighty lungs, and then lavishly cushioned and dressed the new dimension with psychedelic prints. Here, each breath creates swirls of geranium-scened blue smoke and the original fire burns on and on.
Born in Baltimore and now based in Los Angeles, Lauren Ruth Ward has often been hailed as a classic rock revivalist -something she doesn’t entirely agree with for a very interesting reason, as we’ll come to learn in this interview- Regardless, one thing stands true: Nobody does it like Lauren Ruth Ward. Her vocal prowess is unmatched, and her lyrical brilliance is only rivalled by the intensity and genuine pathos of her live performances, which most relate as being closer to mystical experiences than anything else.
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Lauren’s newest song is called “Suburban Ego”, which is the primary subject of our interview with her today. The song ladden some of the most intriguing Imagery I think she’s ever penned up until now, and it advents the release of her upcoming EP, Mindseye, set to be released in early 2023. Coinciding with this new EP, Ward will be on the road in the U.S. and in Europe from late 2022 through the first quarter of 2023.
How are things going for Lauren Ruth Ward right now? What have you been up to since the release of “Messiah”?
Things are going! I have joined the VERO Music group, and have been so inspired by their support. I’ve been tour managing this tour I’m leaving for tomorrow, made a music video for Suburban Ego with Taylor Hinds and Savannah Sivert, and co-producing a music video for my next single Mindseye with Dri Sommer and Nicol Biesek a.k.a. SVNQNS, prepping for my 11/17 Los Angeles show at a new venue called The Sun Rose… living my best life!
Where does suburban Ego come from? It reminds me a lot of “Messiah” in that it stands out a bit from your catalogue for its very unique sound in that context.
Suburban Ego is a concept I’ve gone back to many times. When my ego gets the best of me. I went through a palpable transformation in 2021. I’m so thankful for the alone time I was given due to relationships naturally withering and the only silver lining of the pandemic. It’s a song about ego (duh ;) but was fully realized through self-love. Where I once use to try to hide all negative feelings to stay “good seeming” for everyone (an impossible task), I see my ego as a part of me, I don’t judge her, I welcome her with a hug, and ask her a series of questions to get her down from the high horse of fear. It always comes down to fear, our bite that is.
We know the Music video for this song is coming up soon, but what can you tell us about it without spoiling the surprise?
Savannah Sivert and Taylor Hinds are incredible filmmakers. They created this music video. It’s their first, the honour is unworded. It’s cinematic and dramatic. I got to act as my “Artist” self and my “Ego”. I met Taylor and Savannah two years ago when I acted in their ( + the incomparable Jazlyn Yoder’s) short film The Tale of the Daughter. The DP of this short also shot Suburban Ego, Caitlin Machak. It was also my first time collaborating with stylist Gigi King on a custom corset that I still have hanging on a mirror frame in my bedroom, she’s too beautiful for closet life! Makeup and Hair by Andrea Martin … This is a superstar team! Can’t wait to share their genius work on 10/20.
The song starts out with the Moon urging the sun to hurry up and go down. To me that comes off as a line about female empowerment, but what were *you* Saying?
That’s what’s cool about art, once it’s out in the open, it has as many meanings as it has listeners. Though my meaning has nothing to do with female empowerment, I’d love to hear more of your thoughts! That line is about how even the most beautiful “things” have an ego. Here’s a quote I wrote for the song: Everybody’s Got One. Even our life-providing sources of light have a dark side. Ego. We witness the sky as their stage, Moon’s impatient daytime peek-a-boos temping us with a young night. Meanwhile, Sun’s pastel masterpiece slowly milks every last second to shine. Their dualities are a reflection of what it is like to be human.
Everyone’s got an ego, but what exactly is a suburban ego and why do we all have it too?
Ego can be petty. I grew up in and out of suburbia, we can all forget that we’re actually not the most important being. We may not all have fragile suburban-minded egos, but we do all have our own individually crafted egos.
The line “If you don’t buy something you can’t use my restroom” hints at something immaterial being “sold”, something like a lie. Is that the case? what’s the “man beneath the moon” trying to prove?
His needs resemble how society has forced us to put a price tag on human comfort. Have you ever been in New York City and needed to pee so badly, or change your tampon? You’ll walk blocks to find a business with a “public” bathroom. The token to use said throne is usually granted upon the purchase of an unwanted junk food item.
Creatively speaking, where are you right now? What do you want to explore most with your music for the time being?
I am juicy. I can’t stop idea’ing. My lists have lists. I have no limits right now, not that I can see.
On that same note. What can you tell us about your upcoming 2023 EP “Mindseye”?
More of what’s above. Songs are brought to light by exploring the depths of the human condition through the lens of self-analysis.
Looking into your career from the outside, it feels like you have a commitment to carrying the torch of Rock & Roll in its purest and most sincere form. What do you think?
Two thoughts, one, thank you. “purest and sincere form” is perhaps because I am not trying to be “rock”, what you hear is what comes out of me and my collaborators. Two, these kinds of questions are hard to answer because you and I are not on the same page. “Rock” music never died. The torch was lit by Chuck Berry and has remained burning bright as fuck. Rock just is not on the radio. I’ve been an avid rock music listener and showgoer for 20 years and there has never been a shortage of bands to see and music to fall in love with. You just need to think outside the one-genre-fits-all box. Disclaimer, I love a lot of what is played on mainstream radio, I fucks with it. I’m just saying, this question (I get asked so often) sounds like it comes from a land where rock bands are far few, and I’ve never visited such a place.
Your October’s looking packed with an upcoming tour. It’s been a little while since you hit the road. How are you preparing? Any date in particular that you’re looking forwards to the most?
Preparing in every way possible. New handmade merch, new players: Ross Murakami on drums and Kaycie Satterfield on guitar. Emma Cole will be documenting. I am truly equally excited for every show on this run: San Fran, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Boise, Denver, Albuquerque, and Phoenix.. As you mentioned, it’s been since 2019 since I toured. There is nothing like it, nothing as physically or mentally challenging and nothing as spiritually fulfilling. Many hugs will be given and received.
See LAUREN RUTH WARD live on the following dates:
Oct 07. San Fran, CA
Oct 09. Vancouver, BC
Oct 10. Seattle, WA
Oct 11. Portland, OR
Oct 12. Boise, ID
Oct 13. Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 15. Denver, CO
Oct 17. Oklahoma City
Oct 19. Albuquerque, NM
Oct 20. Phoenix, AZ
Oct 21. Las Vegas, NV
Oct 23. San Diego
