Lauren Monroe

Shaped by her Queens, New York upbringing, Lauren found her own authentic expression through poetry and music. At six she wrote her first songs. In her teens, Lauren discovered the written word, creating her unique style of expressing mystical experiences through symbolic imagery and music.

Surrounded by bluegrass, rock and rootsy R&B music, Lauren soon wrote her first Americana-flavored compositions, and
started a lifelong path as a vocalist, songwriter, and musician.

Lauren also explored multi cultural experiences of music, faith, and community. She traveled the world working with healers from many traditions – Maoris, Benedictine monks, North and South American shamen and Hindu masters, becoming a cross-culturally trained healer and teacher.

She is the co-founder of Raven Drum Foundation (www.ravendrumfoundation.org), where she facilitates drum and empowerment circles in the U.S. and abroad promoting healing and resiliency with veterans and their families. She began performing acoustic in San Francisco, later moving to Boulder, Colorado and formed her band, Coy Kindred. The band traveled throughout the Western United States, playing its rugged blend of rock, blues and funk at festivals, theaters and saloons. Inspired by songwriters and artists from the 60’s to today, Lauren developed a musical and vocal style that has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmie Lou Harris and Janis Joplin.

Her debut release, “The Freedom Sessions,” features Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen and John “J.T.” Thomas, keyboardist with Bruce Hornsby, on a collection of original, acoustic rock performances that crosses over into the genres of blues, country and pop. Lauren Monroe’s music has a raw, sawdust-on-the-floor honesty that, combined with the emotional and spiritual power of her performance, draws audiences in and speaks to our current changing times.