I feel this song is the most ‘me’ song I have ever written and the start of a new era…”
There is “fast-tracked,” and then there is Lauren Gottshall. In just about a year since relocating from the Chicago suburbs to Nashville, the singer-songwriter has already checked off milestones that take many artists a lifetime to reach. She has graced the legendary stages of The Bluebird Cafe and The Listening Room, shared bills with the likes of Warren Zeiders and Chris Janson, and opened for country superstar Jason Aldean.
With a storyteller’s heart, an old-soul lyrical depth, and a modern country-pop edge, Lauren is poised for a massive summer—including a coveted slot on the T-Mobile stage at Summerfest. Ahead of the release of her infectious new single “Camouflage,” we caught up with Lauren to discuss her whirlwind year, collaborating with country royalty, and the vision behind her exciting new chapter.
🎵 CAMOUFLAGE DROPPING MAY 29TH
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The “New Era” & New Music
You’ve mentioned that your new single “Camouflage” is the “most you” song you’ve ever written. What specific parts of your personality or sound did you finally tap into with this track that were missing before?
Sonically, it is light and airy and feels like a summer day, yet the content is honest, raw, and a bit sad. It is exactly the type of music I have always wanted to make. I am a very happy, outgoing person, but there is also a lot of depth to me, and I feel that is exactly what this song captures.
You co-wrote “Camouflage” with Avery and Olivia Evans. What was the creative energy like in that room, and did their family’s deep country roots influence the direction of the song?
Camouflage was the first time Avery, Olivia, and I ever wrote together. It was magic from the jump. We all kind of have the same brain when writing and make each other better writers. It is a type of music chemistry I have never experienced on this level, and it is so special.
If “Camouflage” marks the start of a new era, how does it differ stylistically from the music that won you accolades like Best Song at the Cannes World Film Festival?
I have always written the same- very honestly and real. But I finally feel like I know who I am as a person and an artist, and I know the direction I want to go sonically. I am not hung up on trying to fit a mold but rather making music that feels authentic to me.
The Nashville Journey
You’ve been in Nashville for about a year and have already played the “Triple Crown” of venues: The Bluebird, The Listening Room, and 3rd & Lindsley. Which of those stages felt the most like a “homecoming” for your storytelling style?
The Bluebird! That is the most special room I have ever been in. So many of my heroes have played in that room, and you can feel it when you’re standing in there. There is something so special about a small room filled with people who want to hear the stories behind your songs without all the bells and whistles.
You recently performed your first stadium show and opened for Jason Aldean. How do you shift your mindset from an intimate songwriter round to commanding a stage of that magnitude?
While they are both very different atmospheres, I try to stay the same. I love performing, and whether it is to 20,000 people or 20 people, you want to draw them in the same way. So when I am playing big venues, I am dancing around more, but at the core, I am the same. I love to tell my stories, crack some jokes, and play songs that I love so much.
How has being “originally from outside Chicago” shaped your perspective on country music compared to the artists who grew up in the South?
I like to call myself Chicago Country. I grew up 30 minutes north from the city in a small town that has a lot of southern values: family, neighborliness, and politeness. From growing up my whole life in Chicago to going to college in Dallas to now living in Nashville, I have found we are all a lot more alike than people think. My co-writers are from Birmingham, AL, and at face value, you might think we don’t have a lot of common, but we found we actually were raised very similarly. At the end of the day, country music is all about the story, the song, and writing about real life.
Artistry & Influence
You started playing instruments at three and performing at five. How does having that technical foundation from such a young age change the way you approach a co-write today?
Since I was little and learning piano, all I wanted was to write my own songs, so now that I get to do this as my job, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. In terms of performing, I think being on stage for a majority of my life has really helped me as a performer. I have dealt with all sorts of mishaps on stage, and now I truly have the mentality that the show must go on, and it will! Some of my favorite performances are from when things did not go to plan.
Your bio mentions influences ranging from Carrie Underwood to Billy Joel and Maroon 5. How do those pop and classic rock sensibilities find their way into your “modern edge” country sound?
To me, it all comes down to a song, and Billy Joel is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. On paper, we seem quite different; he is a rock performer, and I am a country performer, but we both care so much about the song. With different production, Vienna or Only the Good Die Young, could have been country songs. His biggest hits are kind of the simplicity of real life, just written so beautifully, and I look up to him so much.
You’re known for lyrics about resilience and chasing big dreams. What is one specific “big dream” you’ve checked off the list this year, and what’s the next one you’re aiming for?
Definitely playing my first stadium show was a huge dream come true. This year, I am aiming to keep getting better. I want to improve as much as I can and to continue to hone in on my artistry. My ultimate dream is to be able to make a living for the rest of my life by writing songs- that has always been the dream.
Looking Ahead
You’re set to play the T-Mobile stage at Summerfest on June 20th. For fans who haven’t seen the full band experience yet, what can they expect from a Lauren Gottshall live set?
I want all my fans to leave a show feeling fulfilled. Whenever I leave my favorite artists’ shows, I feel on top of the world, and I want to give people that same experience. I love telling stories on stage and connecting with the crowd, so you will definitely hear some jokes and some tears might be shed. I love performing so much that I hope my love for it bleeds off into the crowd.
After the success of the “Easy For Me” music video, do you have similar cinematic plans for the visuals of “Camouflage”?
I would love to do more cinematic visuals. I have some ideas, so we will see what is to come!
