New York–based alternative singer-songwriter Lauren Minear returns with “Ellie,” a warm, uplifting, and emotionally resonant new single that explores the complexities of neurodivergence, identity, and self-understanding. Balancing deeply personal subject matter with buoyant, liberating production, the track transforms a moment of recognition into an anthem of compassion for both ourselves and the parts of us we may have spent years trying to understand.
The song was sparked by an unexpected emotional reaction. After listening to a podcast exploring eight different presentations of ADHD in girls, Lauren found herself profoundly affected by one particular profile. Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, she immediately recognized something familiar in the story.
“I had a very strong emotional reaction to one of the profiles,” she explains. “So I wrote her a song.” Though rooted in a specific experience, “Ellie” ultimately speaks to something much broader: the feeling of growing up without the language to explain who you are.
Rather than leaning into melancholy, Lauren intentionally chose a more uplifting sonic direction. “For some reason, I always heard ‘Ellie’ as a dance track,” she shares. “The first time I listened to it, I was literally dancing in my closet.” Inspired in part by watching artist sombr build his breakout track “back to friends,” Lauren wanted the production to counterbalance the darkness of the song’s themes with a sense of movement and release.
That vision became a collaborative effort alongside Grammy-winning producer Scott Jacoby. Together, they constructed an expansive rhythmic foundation built from live-recorded percussion elements. At Mission Sound in Brooklyn, the team recorded kick drum, hi-hat, and shaker parts before looping and layering them beneath drummer Doug Yowell’s performance. From there, pianist Andrew Sherman expanded on Lauren’s original demo before additional textures were added by guitarist Ben Butler and bassist Richard Hammond at Jacoby’s Eusonia Studios in Manhattan.
“It was a really fun creative process for all of us,” Lauren says. “Each musician had time and focus to flex their respective genius.”
While “Ellie” stands confidently on its own, it also offers an early glimpse into Lauren’s next creative chapter. The single will appear on an upcoming album that explores the emotional complexities of being a millennial woman navigating her forties in a rapidly changing world. Like much of Lauren’s work, the song transforms intensely personal experiences into something universal, creating space for listeners to feel seen, understood, and perhaps a little less alone.
Originally from Nashville and now based in New York, Lauren Minear is known for translating complex inner worlds into immersive sound. Her voice, often compared to Natalie Merchant, Dido, and Maggie Rogers, carries a quiet intensity, while her lyricism draws parallels to Joni Mitchell and Sarah McLachlan in its emotional precision and depth.
Since her debut in 2022, Lauren has cultivated a growing international audience while sharing stages with acclaimed artists including Pete Yorn and Cassandra Lewis. She has performed at iconic venues such as The Bitter End, Club Groove, and The Basement, earned recognition from international songwriting competitions, and was personally selected by Ben Folds for his exclusive songwriting retreat.
Her third album, Boxing Day, released in October 2025, was met with critical acclaim. EARMILK described it as “an 11-song masterpiece that pulls apart the webbing of motherhood, relationships, and womanhood.” Written in the aftermath of betrayal and self-reflection, the record traces a journey through anger, shame, acceptance, and ultimately liberation.
With “Ellie,” Lauren Minear delivers a moving and ultimately uplifting reflection on identity, self-understanding, and the freedom that comes from finally recognizing yourself.
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Listen to “Ellie” HERE.
