Lauren Sanderson & The Art of Not Giving a F*ck

 Lauren Sanderson wants you to leave her shows feeling like, “I need to stop giving a f*ck!”

The acclaimed lesbian singer’s music serves as a raucous reminder of the influence that music and art can have in the 21st century—a punk rock call to embracing imperfection and the freedom to relinquish seriousness in a growing, anomic, and fragmented society. Sanderson puts it best, “as much as there is so much room to bring a serious and positive message, we also need the ‘f*ck the world’ energy and just to know that above everything, so much of our community is like ‘f*ck the world, but we’re together.’”

Before the big stage and studios, Sanderson began her journey as a musician in her bedroom, making her first splash on YouTube and SoundCloud. Growing up in Indiana, she knew she wanted her music to speak on vulnerability and authenticity. In 2020, Sanderson released her first album, Midwest Kids Can Make It Big. Since then, she has released two albums and several EPs and singles, including Fine I’ll Get In My Feelings and Songs I’ll Eat You Out To. Six years out from her first album, Sanderson remains grounded in her ability to inspire others to embrace and accept themselves through her music, and while she’s evolving sonically, her next chapter isn’t a departure from her legacy—it’s a natural evolution, extending the same grace she’s offered others to herself.

LAUREN, Sanderson’s newest album, blends pop, rock, rap, and “every genre imaginable… other than country.” She felt that an eponymous album was the most accurate reflection of the journey she took in creating it. While her previous albums have been largely experimental, LAUREN was a space for her to find herself through the process. “After a while, you sort of get tied to these narratives that you express about yourself,” Sanderson says. “And for this album, it’s really an experiment with, ‘this is who I am when I’m not thinking about how I am. It really is just me at my core. It’s fun, it’s gay, it’s ‘let go and be yourself.’”

Sanderson’s sexuality is an integral part of her identity as a performer and musician. “I love being confident in my queerness because I think it gives other people the permission to feel that same way, whether I try to or not. You know, being queer, being from Indiana, and just going on stage and being like, ‘What’s up, gay people?’ It means something.”

Creating music that cultivates community and connection is at the crux of her artistry, and is evident in her performances. “At my shows, I always try to say, ‘Let’s all take a second and look around. Because this is who we are. This is what we need. Whenever you feel isolated, or judged, or scared, just remember that we’re all in it.’”

To Sanderson, community and connection are nothing without authenticity. Her vision of a perfect audience is made up of those who show up as imperfect versions of themselves. Which might mean no makeup, whatever clothes they’re feeling that day. Essentially whatever makes them feel like them. “If you’re coming to my show, you don’t have to do anything. You can literally just show up exactly as you are. Be flawed, be imperfect, be f*cked up, be you, you know?” she says. 

Sanderson is intentionally rejecting the concept of a calculated and curated persona. Instead, she sees this new album as her opportunity to create and meet a new and more authentic version of herself. She credits the steadfast support of the LGBTQ+ community for giving her music a second and third wind along the way. “I put my life into my art, and then it comes out. And after that, it’s everybody else [who makes] it live on,” she explains. As long as she’s performing and queer people can find her music, the singer hopes it can be a safe space and a source of inspiration for someone coming out, or even for someone finding the courage to go out in public with their partner for the first time.

For Sanderson, that has always been—and always will be—the point of it all. “I’ve always felt like my career was not about myself. I feel like I’m more so just a channel to let other people be able to express themselves.”

Anika Kewalramani is a native New Yorker. She holds a BA in Government and Education and an MA in Educational Psychology. She loves writing, fashion,and an opportunity to make space for creators of marginalized backgrounds.