With degrees in microbiology and English, anything related to music is not where Lauren anticipated finding her niche.
Lauren grew up in Brentwood, TN, just south of Nashville. Her childhood consisted of every sport available to 1990’s suburbanites, her mom’s 80’s cassette collection, trying to set up a frog breeding trade in her neighborhood, playing piano and trumpet, and performing at any given opportunity. While the sports, frogs, and musical instruments didn’t take deep hold, the love of music, performing, and theatricality did. High school was consumed by academics and theater. Post-high school took Lauren to performing at her local renaissance festival, and attending college at Louisiana State University and Middle Tennessee State University.
Unfortunately, she graduated during The Great Recession and many companies were in hiring freezes; so Lauren found herself working at a grocery store before her science career could even start. One day while stocking organic tea and contemplating the next steps in her future, she heard, “There you are! I want to hire you.” Bill Wence was standing at the end of the aisle. He assured her that he was not a creep and that his business was real. “I do radio promotion for Americana music”
“I love the Avett Brothers!” was the only thing Lauren could say in response to the shock and absurdity of the situation. Simply knowing the genre of Americana sealed the deal. She quit her job at the grocery store the next day and has worked with Bill ever since.
When she is not ear deep in new music, Lauren can be found at the gym, crafting and cooking at home with her cats and snakes, and (still) performing at the Tennessee Renaissance Festival.
