Lauren Minear is a genius of a musician with an impressive past that ventures far beyond music. As a professional psychotherapist she learned to understand the human mind, as well as people who were suffering, in order to give them what's known in psychology as "Self Actualization," healing the damage from the psychic pain her patients possessed. Such insight means her album's writing packs a greater psychological wallop than many of her peers in the modern era.
While Minear spent many of her early days in Nashville, Tennessee, a successful career brought the lady to NYC, New York, where she earned some impressive musical accolades with the instruction of a guitar player so cool you know who Bonnie Raitt is, George Marinelli, as well as legendary folk artists like Steve Earle, Tom Prosada-Rao, and acclaimed musical songwriters Alice Randall and Joe Croker. This profound, in person experience gives Minear's compositions a historical foundation based on personal instruction from the best in the business.
All of these artists are apart of the art Minear makes with music. "Chasing Daylight" is one of the songs from her second album, CHASING DAYLIGHT. It features smart chord progressions, inspiring lyrics, a mood lifting chorus and concepts such as humiliating one's self for a significant other, knowing it's a road of pain, loneliness and confusion. A relationship with another human is like life. You can have fun together, sometimes you don't want to be there, and in the end, there will only be memories. Were they worth it?
The song has a surprising twist near the end. You are expecting cheerful folk/country/pop/rock, hoping the character within the song will make it. "Chasing Daylight" does not give you a definitive, encouraging answer as to whether this person ventured through the murk. Just like us, living life, they are still trying, and at least there is hope. Indeed, Minear's previous psychotherapist career has clearly given her greater wisdom when creating art about what it is to be only human.
"Bone Tired" is certainly a song for people who need both a break and some uplifting encouragement. It's soft yet darkly deep, like the depths of distant seas. The lyrics describe a woman who has been worn down, yet persists. Chiming, high-tonal notes gleam amidst haunting words about suffering, understanding and transcendence. The chorus features back up vocals helping the listener feel as if they are not alone. It's happy, uplifting and sadly honest, without being corny, mawkish, or boring. Folk rock elements and even a touch of bluegrass twang, imbues the track with an earthly endurance.
Another previously unreleased track you'll find that provides your ears with something else beloved is "The Sun." It's a celebrational track...a simple message about appreciation. Sometimes in our life there is someone who is there for us. This song is about them. There's a warning in the lyrics, though. Just like the survivor in S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders," you gotta stay gold, Pony Boy. Near limitless, divine powers are conferred upon the object "The Sun," appreciates. Is it God? A father? Husband? The Sun, itself? Like any impressive poetry, a good song interprets itself openly to wise listeners.
Minear's mighty musical majesty has propelled her to popular places where audiences appreciate pure talent tempered by experience like New York City's The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, and Brooklyn Music Kitchen, to name a few. "I just want to keep making the best songs I am capable of making and connect with people through them," Minear says. "I would love to start playing to festivals and larger audiences."
This incredible, original, creative artists isn't about pride. Her ambition isn't just "making it big," whatever that can mean to any artist. Minear's audio adroitness is also motivated by a very real transpersonal commitment...her family. That's where her work finds sincere motivation. "Mostly I want to watch my kids grow up. They are my greatest inspiration. I keep making music so they can experience me as a whole person doing something I love deeply with the time I'm away from them." An admirable, moving statement we should all think of, as life flies by irredeemably.
You can find out more about Lauren Minear, here: https://laurenminearmusic.com/
Follow her on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/laurenminearmusic/
Don't forget Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/laurenminearmusic
She has a whole YouTube channel devoted to her music, with videos! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4XJIcAZWSuYDyuoq-xc47w
