We’re thrilled to interview Kaylee Lauren, a talented singer-songwriter from Los Angeles whose music is resonating with a generation. At just 19 years old, Kaylee is already making a name for herself with her soulful, vintage-inspired sound and deeply personal lyrics. Her latest single, Killer In Disguise, takes listeners back to the 1960s, drawing on the influence of iconic artists like Elvis Presley and Lesley Gore. Kaylee’s love for music from that era, instilled by her grandparents, shapes not only her sound but also her artistic vision.
Since her breakthrough in 2020, Kaylee has captivated a growing fanbase with hits like Not Enough, Intrusive Thoughts, and Make Believe. Passionate about mental health awareness, she uses her platform to encourage conversations on inner struggles, all while balancing a burgeoning career.
In this interview, Kaylee reflects on her journey, creative process, and what lies ahead in her evolving musical career.Check out the interview below and stream her latest single “Killer In Disguise” afterwards.
Congratulations on your latest single, “Killer In Disguise,” which has just been released. Can you share what inspired the song and what it means to you personally?
This song is so ’60s to me, the inspirations are heavy on Elvis Presley and Lesley Gore. I love the organic instruments we added throughout the song, and the ending has such a unique instrumental, where all the lyrics stop, and you are just in this space of dreamy vocals and a vintage-sounding record. I have loved 60’s music since I was a kid, when my grandparents first introduced that music scene to me, I am so grateful to pour some of that magic into my music today.
Can you describe your creative process for writing and producing this single? Were there any unique challenges or breakthroughs you experienced while working on it?
I wrote this song in my bedroom and finished it at this dog park, I think, in Santa Monica, I was so passionate about this record, that I would write the lyrics whenever I had the chance. I produced this single with my producer Marky, we had just finished an entirely different-sounding song, “Intrusive Thoughts” and we switched gears around for this song.
I told him I wanted a 60’s sounding song, and we found samples and sounds that gave it that oldie feel. I think it was an entirely new sound for me, so that was a cool moment or breakthrough, discovering my sound, because everything that has come after that has built off of this record.
Can you tell us about your journey as an artist so far? What have been some pivotal moments in your career?
I started writing in 2020, I was going through it, I was doing bad mentally and I needed a space to express myself because I felt like no one got me. I started writing in my journal, then poetry, and quickly started to realize, “Wow these are good I could maybe write my own songs”. I was already posting covers for my thousands of followers but never original songs. I started and I never looked back since.
I got a billboard in Times Square in NYC which has been a DREAM since I was little. I got to see myself in my dream city and it felt like a thousands butterflies in my heart, I still go crazy when I think of it. I’ve received millions of streams from around the world, which means I could sell out Madison Square Garden like 11 times..
With your earlier hits like “Not Enough,” “Intrusive Thoughts,” and “Make Believe,” how do you think “Killer In Disguise” fits into your overall musical journey?
“Killer In Disguise” really paved the way for my new music coming out soon! Everything before that song felt like a different era for my music. Those records have taught me the best writing skills, by just writing constantly, and connected me to so many people that listen to my music. Every song gets better and better and those songs are all my babies and I’m so grateful for each and every one of them.
How do you manage the balance between your music career and your personal life, especially at such a young age?
Everything is my music and my career, I am constantly working towards my dreams, and I won’t stop until I get there. I’m beyond happy to do this at my age because I feel so lucky to start from such a young age. I’ve truly learned about myself so much through this process, and my personal life kinda just coincides with my career. For every experience I go into I typically write a song about it, and when I feel sad I just believe it’s fine I’ll just write a song about it.
How do you stay true to your artistic identity while navigating the ever-changing landscape of music trends?
I love pinterest, I totally shape my artist look based off of my 60’s inspired vision board called “kaylee lauren image”. My pinterst is public i’m really proud of my boards @Kayleelauren_. So, I also find my sound through listening to so many different artists and genres, I think the ever-changing music industry inspires me every day to discover new areas in my career.
Your music often addresses inner struggles. How important is mental health awareness to you, and how do you hope to contribute to that Conversation?
Mental health is something that I am so passionate about, I have written so many songs about my struggles, and it has reached millions of people. I hope to inspire people to use their voices to advocate for their mental health and to feel understood by my writing. Giving a voice to the voiceless feels so empowering to me, I love connecting with all the young girls who message me and find comfort in my words.
Can you share any unconventional sources of inspiration that have influenced your songwriting?
My family has inpired my songwriting definitely, my grandparents introduced me to 60’s music and always are a good ear when I need someone to listens to my demos. I also find my family to be great inspirations to my songwriting because our closeness can bring out the most intense feelings and I write literally about everything I feel, and every experience, it’s my coping mechanism and my vice as a powerful outlet for emotions and thoughts.
Looking back at your early music, how do you think you’ve grown as an artist since then? What lessons have you learned along the way?
Rollercoaster is way different from my new records, it has such a fun pop vibe, my inspirations back then were Dua Lipa, Benee, and the main pop girlies of 2020. As of recently, I’ve been so inspired by Lana Del Rey, Nessa Barrett, Madison Beer, and Taylor Swift. I’ve learned to not care so much about what people think of me, before I started releasing music I was worried what people in my high school would think.
Now all of those same people see me out in public and congratulate me for my success, it makes little me so happy to know that it was all mostly in my head. Please follow your dreams and believe in your dream lfie until your living it.
