Bratty, Sexy and Spicer Than A Pepper, “Lauren” Bangs

Alternative pop, hip-hop, and raw rock instrumentation collide furiously on Lauren Sanderson’s self-titled album, Lauren.

Released via Pack Records, this project serves as a maximalist cocktail of nü-metal ambiance, bratty club pop flippancy, and killer lyrical wordplay that feels loudly intentional and entirely unbothered. Sanderson, an Indiana-born artist who built her career from bedroom recordings to opening for FINNEAS and embarking on massive world tours, channels an undeniable late-90s/early-00s IDGAF bravado here. Stripping away polished studio perfection in favor of a gritty, speaker-blowing edge, the record embraces its polar opposites—ferociously sexy yet soft, smart yet unhinged—to establish a powerful, cross-genre sonic identity before a single lyric even hits.

Irreverent and irresistible energy defines "Come Say Sum," delivering lyrics that sound like Bhad Bhabie possessing Fred Durst. Sanderson carries herself like a badass you don't want to fuck with, keeping her tongue planted firmly in cheek while spitting fire bars. Though Durst does not appear on the actual album track, his presence looms large from his explosive feature on the single and video versions.

A potentially cliché cheerleader chant opens "Possessive" and flips it into something undeniably cool. A walking funk bassline rolls beneath Sanderson’s half pop diva, half tough-girl rapper delivery, keeping the groove steady and sharp.
Operating as weird, exceptionally cool music, "Smoking Section" balances a club-ready foundation with a chaotic edge. The chorus gets punked up with a driving disco beat and a choppy rhythm that allows Sanderson’s fluid, Id-fuming raps to take complete control.

The record shifts into tripped-out pop rock with massive crossover appeal on "Shut Up and Kiss Me." The track's highly repetitive chorus immediately sticks to the top of the brain like the sugary Warhead it is. Meanwhile, we hear attuned urban flair and a chorus that is smooth and spicy combined together on "Make It Make Sense" as Lauren confronts a lover.

Sanderson uses her sexuality to produce another club banger with "Girl’s Night," and her witty, biting spits complement her sultry, hot, and horny vocal gyrations.

Sanderson’s personality really shines through on "MySpace Girls"; she can switch between coy, staccato teasing and boisterous insinuation at the drop of a helmet. That unyielding attitude perfectly matches the aesthetic of the cover art, where Sanderson rocks a leopard skin motorcycle helmet to establish the entire project's fierce, distinct visual vibe.

Ultimately, this is a hot rock/club crossover and Fred Durst’s blessing will ensure that crossover is massive. A club record that rocks, Lauren is full of swagger & style, ready for you to bang it loudly.