If you’ve been looking for a new rising artist to support with a golden voice and a thought-provoking perspective, then your search ends right here! Lauren Woo is destined to become one of your favorite musicians with “Gold plated,” a beautiful exploration of fake connection and dishonesty that flourishes from a somber lament to a cathartic display of frustration, then to a moment of acceptance and moving forward. It’s a true journey from start to finish, showcasing Lauren’s ability to craft an immersive, relatable story in her lyrics.
“My grandma and I have always been really close, and anyone who knows her will tell you she’s full of wisdom,” Lauren tells TREMG. “All the bits and pieces of wisdom she’s imparted to me I’ve always kept in my heart, and with this one specifically I’ve just never heard anyone describe fake as ‘gold plated,’ so I thought that was a beautiful way to put it. I wrote it down in my notes and a couple months later what she had warned me about actually came true, so then the song was born.”
Through every song that Lauren has released so far in English and Mandarin, you really get a feel for the world-building and thoughtfulness she offers for each new track. They complement each other as part of a wider conversation on maturing and finding yourself, while also specifically harnessing a certain situation and turning it into a strengthening lesson. She’s gearing up to release a new song every month of 2024, so now is the perfect time to become a fan and dive into Lauren’s music!
“I hope that my songs feel like a hug from me,” Lauren shares. “At times it’s the kind where we’re screaming and jumping of happiness, other times maybe just a warm embrace, and sometimes a consoling hug with a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my music, and navigating life with me as we grow up.”
You can find “Gold plated” on your favorite streaming services now, and get to know Lauren Woo on Instagram, YouTube, and her official website! Keep reading for more from our Q&A with this impressive singer-songwriter.
Hi Lauren, congrats on the release of “Gold plated!” How does it feel to let the song into the world and into your fans’ lives?
Thank you! Every time I release a song I get super excited because I work so hard on the songs that I’m, like, bursting at the anticipation, and this song was no exception. I’m really proud of this song lyrically, and I hope people can feel my heart and that the song resonates.
The concept behind “Gold plated” comes from advice that your grandmother gave you, that some people are simply “gold plated” rather than being pure gold. What was it like for you to get to capture such special advice and make it part of your musical world?
My grandma and I have always been really close, and anyone who knows her will tell you she’s full of wisdom. All the bits and pieces of wisdom she’s imparted to me I’ve always kept in my heart, and with this one specifically I’ve just never heard anyone describe fake as “gold plated,” so I thought that was a beautiful way to put it. I wrote it down in my notes and a couple months later what she had warned me about actually came true, so then the song was born.
“Gold plated” has so many beautiful lyrics, with one of our favorites being “you’re not someone that will keep through the sweat and through the heat.” Is there a certain line that you’re especially proud of?
I think my favorite line is “gold plated, you’ll fake it, disguise it but call it decorated” I think this line perfectly encapsulated the essence of what I wanted to say. Using “decorated” as an excuse for the fake gold, like someone using whatever reasoning to hurt you when in reality they are just a sorry excuse of a friend/partner.
You have an Instagram highlight dedicated to colorful sunsets, which we absolutely love. If ‘Gold plated’ was a sunset, which colors would it include?
OOooo definitely a deep golden yellow.
Another thing that stood out to us about “Gold plated” is that it captures the sadness of that kind of situation with the more mellow first verse, before the frustration and intensity come through with the guitar and strings. When you’re making a song, do you know what kind of emotions will go into it, or does that come along on its own as you write it?
I think it definitely showed the process of me digesting what had happened. From being sad, to frustrated, to coming terms with it all. Songwriting has always been the way I lay out and understand my emotions, so writing this song really was going through all the stages of brokenness, and by the end of the song it’s numb, cold, and emotionless.
You’ve released music in both Mandarin and English, and it sounds stunning in both languages! How do you decide which language to make a certain song in? Do you feel that each language lends itself better to certain emotions?
I grew up under the influence of both the Eastern and the Western cultures, and we speak both Mandarin and English in my family, so naturally my identity kind of became a mixture. When I write songs it’s a vulnerable articulation of my stories, and for me the most natural form of expression is a mixture of both languages, so I don’t really go into writing deciding which language to use specifically. With this song though, my grandma actually said “鍍金 (Dù Jīn)” which is “gold plated” in Mandarin, and I literally just thought that gold plated rolled off the tongue smoother and chose to translate it.
You explain in your Spotify bio that you view music as “sticky notes left on pages of [your] life that can instantly bring [you] back to a certain moment in time.” What is it like for you to go back and listen to your past songs?
I actually don’t listen to my songs a lot after I release them. I know I’m my worst critic because I’m such a perfectionist, so I can always find something “wrong” with the songs. I try to avoid tearing myself down, so I more often will pick up my guitar or sit at the piano and sing those songs to myself, which really brings me back to those moments in time. When I wrote about the “sticky notes” I was thinking of music more generally, that there are certain songs that will remind me of decorating the Christmas tree with my family, or singing in the back of the car with my friends, or a guy that broke my heart… etc. My songwriting is a much more catered version of that idea, since every word is actually about my real life.
What can your fans look forward to going into 2024?
Right now I’m planning to release one song a month in 2024, so 12 songs coming next year. It’s really ambitious but I’m really excited about it!
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans that the questions didn’t touch on?
I hope that my songs feel like a hug from me. At times it’s the kind where we’re screaming and jumping of happiness, other times maybe just a warm embrace, and sometimes a consoling hug with a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my music, and navigating life with me as we grow up.
By Madison Murray
Featured Image: Courtesy of Present PR
