Singer-songwriter Lauren Jenkins has always proven herself to be a visionary when it comes to her music. Rather than just releasing music, she envisages every project she does as a complete audio-visual package and her bold debut āNo Saintā, accompanied by a short film, was proof that sheās not your average artist. Released via Big Machine, who sheād been signed to for years prior to the albumās arrival, āNo Saintā launched Jenkins to a global market and gave her a foothold on the live music scene here in the UK. In a surprising move, Big Machine dropped Jenkins and after taking some time to find a path forward, Jenkins decided to go it alone as an independent artist.
Her first body of work to be released is āMiles On Me, Part 1ā EP, the first of a three-part EP that progresses her story from the songs we heard on āNo Saintā. Marrying the desire for a streaming audience to get regular music with her usual visionary approach, Jenkins continues to be one of the most innovative and exciting artists in Country music with this three-part project. Comprising four songs, with a run time of 14 minutes in total, āMiles On Me, Part 1ā showcases Jenkinsā growth as an artist and celebrates her new-found freedom as an independent artist.
If you loved āNo Saintā, youāll love these songs even more. āLike You Found Meā, the EP opener and the projectās lead single, is a jangly guitar-led track that ups the tempo and finds Jenkins taking comfort in who she is. Her lyrics are honest and stark, as she asks a potential new lover to be careful with her heart. Jenkins sounds free and happy, and the song is the perfect way to kick things off. Second track āSheās a Starā is the first sign of Jenkinsā sound beginning to evolve. A bluesier undertone runs through the track as Jenkins sings in a more hushed tone. The end result is a seductive song thatās unlike anything weāve heard from Jenkins before.
The EPās highlight is āMiles On Meā featuring David Ramirez. One of the EPās more vulnerable moments, the acoustic-led ballad combines Jenkins and Ramirezās voices beautifully. The instrumentation on the track builds to a crescendo with crashing drums and guitars, stepping closer to rock territory than weāve heard before. Closing track āMy Own Advice, references Jenkinsā āGive Up The Ghostā and features some of the most honest lyrics weāve heard from her as she reflects on her inability to take her own advice and stop repeating mistakes.
With āMiles On Me, Part 1ā Lauren Jenkins shows that sheās happy to be operating in her own lane. This is a confident and bold collection of songs that perfectly builds on āNo Saintā but offers something fresh and new. With two more parts to go, Iām already keen to hear what else she has up her sleeve, and knowing Jenkins like I do sheāll have plenty of surprises in store.
Track listing: 1. Like You Found Me 2. Sheās a Star 3. Miles on Me (feat. David Ramirez) 4. My Own Advice Released by: Lauren Jenkins Release date: 9th July 2021 Buy āMiles On Me, Part 1ā now
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