Lauren is a singer/songwriter from Hertfordshire, with a BA Hons (Jazz) Music degree. She plays the piano, percussion, and occasionally uses the guitar to write with (but she often find a pen works better!!)

She sang and played percussion with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for 5 years, touring the UK and Florida, theatres, schools, and Jazz clubs such as the famous Ronnie Scott's club in Soho. She has been lucky enough to perform alongside Jazz artistes, such as Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Tina May, Benny Golson, Roger Nobes, Jonathan Idiagbonya, Ian Shaw, Len Skeat, Ronnie Verrall, and Jamie Cullum.

Before Joining the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Lauren performed with other musical outfits, including a Funk band, a Latin group, a Dance act, Jazz quartet, and various Pop covers bands. This has meant that her own songs are a musical blend of many styles: they are often soul searching, deep and meaningful with a spiritual content, whilst being quirky and catchy, and they are inspired by life experience (whether lived out or witnessed) and most of all, emotions. Many of Lauren's songs are so very close to the heart, and her aim is to be able to positively inspire others in the way they live their lives.

Lauren is currently co-writing her album with songwriter and producer, Gavin Beckwith.

Lauren says...

"I'd say music runs in my family... my sister, Mara, is very musical, and my grandad (Reg Manus) was a Jazz musician in the the 40's. He played Jazz accordian and piano with the Ted Heath band, and was in the first televised colour musical 'London Town', as well as having his own orchestra at the BBC. I once went with my parents to see Jazz accordianist Jack Emblo play (Last of the Summer Wine theme) and during the interval my mother spoke to him about my grandad, and when she told him his name, Jack said "Wow, he's my idol!" My parents, other sisters, brother, and my cousins are also musical, so I guess it's in the blood! My brother, Andrew, is disabled and spends many hours on his keyboard or playing his tambourine :)

I started playing violin at a very young age, then piano, then singing, then drums... all kind of by accident. For example, in primary school we all had to take an ear test, and I was picked to learn violin, so I must have had a good ear (I don't know how they knew, as I had my hair down covering them, so you couldn't really see if they were any good!!) ..Terrible sense of humour, sorry!

My parents saw I was always doodling on the piano, so they asked me if I wanted lessons, to which I replied, "yes please!". When I was 15, I had to do work experience with my school, and after failing to secure a placement in a theatre, I didn't know what to do. At the last minute, my sister was singing with a local youth Jazz orchestra, and she asked the band leader if I could go around with him for a week, teaching drums in local schools... so that's how I learned to play the drums! He then invited me to play percussion with his orchestra, and when my sister left, I became the vocalist. So I have Mara to thank for all that!

This band leader was Roger Nobes, a genius musician who plays with some of the all time Jazz greats. He took me under his wing, encouraging me (as I lacked confidence), teaching me songs, and inviting me to his gigs to watch and learn... occasionally I'd even get to sing with the band. It was through Roger that I met Lorraine Craig, former NYJO vocalist, and the rest is history!

Apart from that, I took part in various musical theatre productions with a local drama group, played and sang in a variety of covers bands and Jazz groups, and I now teach singing. But the one thing I have always kept close to my heart is my lungs (he! Just kidding)... my own music, it's a very personal thing and I only began to perform it in public when I realised how my friends and people close to me were encouraged by it... I thought, wow! Music is soooo powerful."

Lauren is a singer/songwriter from Hertfordshire, with a BA Hons (Jazz) Music degree. She plays the piano, percussion, and occasionally uses the guitar to write with (but she often find a pen works better!!)

She sang and played percussion with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for 5 years, touring the UK and Florida, theatres, schools, and Jazz clubs such as the famous Ronnie Scott's club in Soho. She has been lucky enough to perform alongside Jazz artistes, such as Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Tina May, Benny Golson, Roger Nobes, Jonathan Idiagbonya, Ian Shaw, Len Skeat, Ronnie Verrall, and Jamie Cullum.

Before Joining the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Lauren performed with other musical outfits, including a Funk band, a Latin group, a Dance act, Jazz quartet, and various Pop covers bands. This has meant that her own songs are a musical blend of many styles: they are often soul searching, deep and meaningful with a spiritual content, whilst being quirky and catchy, and they are inspired by life experience (whether lived out or witnessed) and most of all, emotions. Many of Lauren's songs are so very close to the heart, and her aim is to be able to positively inspire others in the way they live their lives.

Lauren is currently co-writing her album with songwriter and producer, Gavin Beckwith