We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren-Taylor Carrillo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren-Taylor below.
Lauren-Taylor, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Keeping my creativity alive means filling my “creative well”, and that looks different every day. Some days I find myself couch deep with a good book, exploring a new city, organizing my craft drawer, trying a new recipe, driving the scenic route home, or watching a docuseries. To sustain myself creatively, I must indulge in my curiosity.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hola Chicos!
I’m a Mexican-American YouTuber, & singer songwriter/poet. I am a visual learner, an unconventional storyteller, an eldest daughter with a gift of self expression. I find myself enamored with video editing styles, film framing, emotional melodies, words floating uncomfortably around a room, & thoughts so inspired I drop everything to write it all down.
YOUTUBE
For 5 years, YouTube has been my creative outlet. I started posting videos the summer of 2020, my first video being a decluttering of my bedroom. Since I was about 7 years old I’ve dreamt of starting a YouTube channel. I would film chubby bunny & try not to laugh challenges, monster high dramas & iMovie videos with my friends. Creating has always been my way of existing in this world. It’s where I feel safe.
As I grew and experienced life, my channel held record of it. Since graduating high school my channel was the only thing I thought about from morning to night. It was all consuming. Until recently, within this past year, I realized I was using my devotion to it as a distraction from what I really wanted…
SINGING/SONGWRITING
Ever since I could form noises with my mouth, I’ve loved to sing. My mom once told me that I’d sing to her as a baby when she was stressed out, as if knowing she needed soothing. Now was it really music? Who knows, I was 4, but I had a gift, and as children we let that be enough. I can’t remember the exact moment I picked up a pen and wrote my first song lyrics but I do remember the reason; catharsis. The first song I ever wrote, in full, with a piano accompaniment and all, was called Runaway. “Runaway runaway, just go and runaway, runaway’s all that I did” I performed it at my elementary school recital. The nerves were overwhelming but I pushed through and sang my heart out on that duet bench.
Fast forward a decade later, some musical performances under my belt and life unfolding as it did, I was having trouble finding that brave little singer inside. Until, my junior year of college, I found myself writing poetry with melodic cadences. “I’ve found her again” I remember whispering to myself one evening with tears streaming down my cheeks. Now 23, I’m reclaiming the parts of me I’ve been terrified to name.
I am currently working on my first single. I’ve been writing for the past year and am now digging my heels into music production. If making music were like riding a bike, I’d say I’m at the stage where I’ve yet to learn about training wheels. I feel like I’m learning a new language, and I love the challenge. Right now, it’s all about experimenting, wether that be with my sound, my lyricism, or my world building, I am surrendering all novice to the art of music, and I am finding so much joy in it. So far, this body of work has been everything i’ve needed it to be; cathartic. When the lyrics don’t seem to have a cadence, and the melodies start to sound like mush, I go back to what I know. I sit at that duet bench, place my hands on my piano, form noises with my mouth, and trust fall into what comes out.
WHAT’S NEW?
If you’re interested, I have a series on my YouTube channel documenting my life while reading, “The Artist Way”. In this 12 week video series I share the most raw parts of myself, the good, bad, beautiful and ugly. I post Friday’s at 5pm EST. Every week I am equally as terrified to post the videos as I am excited to be putting forth my bravest foot.
Also, keep on the lookout for some music! Wether it’s a cover song on YouTube or a snippet of the songs I’m working on on instagram, I hope you find a part of yourself in the melodies
besitos,
LT
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I don’t believe there are any “important qualities or skills” to have in any industry. Everyone is different, and those differences will make you stand out. Please write that on your wall of something and let that sink in. Learning that is the first step in the right direction of your journey (I am still learning it). Some areas of knowledge to familiarize yourself with: 1. Figure out what makes you unique. “UGH”, I know, everyone says it and it’s annoying to hear, especially when you’ve got no idea how to set yourself apart. 2.What do you like? In style, in sound, in the way you go about your morning routine. It may sound silly but you can have fun with this! 3. Why are you doing this? No really, asked yourself why. When you do, don’t shame yourself for what that answer may or may not be.
My advice:
1. Q; How do I find out what makes me unique?
A: Hate to break it to you but the things you find hard to except about yourself… usually is a great place to start.
Personal example: I find it hard to except that I am starting this music career of mine late, Wether that’s true or not is none of our business. When I flip it on it’s head, I see that I bring a unique perspective that’s not common in the pop girl scene. I’ve had the time to process my life experiences and on my own timing, what a blessing.
2. Q: What do I like?
A: IDK! & it’s ok if you don’t either! Give yourself permission to explore different realms of your desires. If you’re waiting for someone to give you permission, I here by grant you full access to finding what sparks joy! *poof*
Personal example: I like to travel, well, love actually. Want to know how I found out? I gave myself permission to go off the “script of my life” and take a solo trip to Paris for a month. All I did was cafe hop, window shop, people watch and write about it. When i created space for the things I liked, I created space for my creativity. The result: I wrote a song in one sitting called, “Btch Boy” that I am really proud of.
3. Q: Why am I doing this?
A: Before you answer, let me give more context in the direction I want you to take this question. Just for a second, think about future you at the peak of your career, when money isn’t something to factor in anymore, when your art can speak for itself. Why are you taking this journey with your creativity? What do you want to say with your art? How do you want others to feel when they interact with it?
Personal example: I am a singer songwriter because I want others and myself to feel. Feel seen, loved, confused, happy, sad, angry, nostalgic, the list goes on… I hope my lyrics take the knife from unsuspecting backs. I hope my melodies create soundtracks for beloved memories. I hope to be a light on otherwise dark worlds, and to be the release for tired souls.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
For starters, I’d pack my bags, fly to Paris, rent out an apartment for a year and travel the world. Experiencing new things and getting out of my comfort zone is so important for my writing process, so this is a MUST. Second, I’d get my novice A$$ into the studio and figure out how to convince Dan Nigro, Benny Blanco, & FINNEAS to make music with me. Then I’d gather all my journals, from my year of escapades, and lock myself in said studio, with or without their brilliances and crank out as many body’s of work that I authentically can.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurentaylorcarrillo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenTaylorCarrillo/videos
- Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurentaylorcarrillo
