Lauren Lucas chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about her new single “Hole in my Soul.”
How did “Hole in My Soul” come about?
“Hole in My Soul” was a phrase I heard on a TV show. I brought it to my co-writer, Kenny Greenberg, and told him the way that phrase spoke to me was in how I struggle with perfectionism. It shows up in my life by hustling, doom scrolling, constant urgency, busyness, motion but not progress.
It’s like an addiction, but more subtle than, say, alcoholism. It sneaks up on you and masquerades as ambition, love, hard work; things we often reward. But perfectionism will wear you down.
What inspires your music and songwriting?
It depends on who I’m writing for. For my own music, lately, I’ve been pulling from my own life as a busy working mom, a creative, and digging into personal introspection. When I sit down with a recording artist, like Keb’ Mo’ or Cyndi Thomson, I’m there to help them write their story for their next project, so I let their life and ideas lead the way.
How does it feel to be an artist in the digital age?
I love the autonomy and independence the digital age affords artists. I could literally write and record a song today and release it into the world tomorrow. I can make my own rules. But, I’m not gonna lie, it’s hard to make streaming and socials a meaningful revenue stream.
How did it feel to co-write the original score of “Leanne” on Netflix and the theme song?
Composing the music and writing and singing the title theme for Leanne has been one of my greatest career moments. First off, I’m so grateful to Keb’ for trusting me with the project. I love working with the team at Warner Bros. and Chuck Lorre Productions.
I hear that Leanne has folks come up to her all the time singing “Leeeeaaaaannnnee,” and it just thrills me! To know I have a small part in making a show impactful for the audience. It’s been a gratifying experience as a writer and singer.
What do your plans for the future include?
Almost everything I’ve been working on is all stacking up to be released here in the next few weeks. I have a track I co-wrote on Keb’ Mo’s next album, releasing in late August. Then, Season 2 of Leanne releases on Netflix August 27th. On the heels of that, a song of mine I wrote with Jay Weigel and Shane Theriot landed in Tyler Perry’s next movie, Why Did I Get Married Again? The song is called “Through it All” and I plan to drop it in early September just before the movie hits Netflix.
I have more song releases planned for the end of year and into 2027, as well as a few performance dates in the southeast. I’ve been pouring myself into more writing — for myself and other artists’ records. And as much as I love what I do for work, I also absolutely love cooking dinner for my family, being a tee ball mom, and camping on our farm on the weekends. So, there’s a lot to look forward to into the next year and beyond.
What is your advice for young and emerging artists?
A composer friend and I were just talking about how everyone’s question at the beginning of their career is “How do you do this thing?” There isn’t a 5 step process to succeeding in the music business. There’s really just one step: work your butt off. It’s expected that you’re good at your craft.
Then, it’s about creating and building relationships. Who knows how it all happens, really? If you just keep at it, the doors start to crack. You gotta be ready to kick ’em open a little wider and step through.
What does the word success mean to you?
Whew. I’m still working on my definition. Like “Hole in My Soul,” some days (weeks, months) I get caught up in hustling too hard. I forget to have fun. I’m chasing something on the outside. But when I can slow down, and be self-possessed, I remember that success is actually still being in the game. It’s balancing the people I love and the work I love.
What would you like to tell our readers about “Hole in my Soul”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
I want people to know that the hole isn’t always something dramatic. Sometimes it’s not the bottle or the needle, or deep depression. It might be busyness, or endless scrolling and comparison. It’s motion that feels like productivity, but it isn’t actual progress.
If you’ve ever filled your days and life so full that you don’t have time to feel anything, then this song might be for you. A lot of us are going through it. I found that naming the hole helped me begin to fill it with more meaning, less hustle.
To learn more about Lauren Lucas, follow her on Instagram.
