Meet Lauren Nikohl

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Nikohl a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I’m not gonna lie, I think imposter syndrome still shows up now and then. But when I was first getting into the music industry, I always thought to myself “if they can do it, so can I.” I think it also helps to have a lot of experience under my belt. You gain confidence simply by doing the thing, and you can only get better by doing the thing. So after performing hundreds of shows and producing many songs, the imposter syndrome starts to fade as your skills improve and you gain plenty of experience.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I started my music career as a singer/songwriter making indie pop and YouTube covers. After moving to Los Angeles, I fell in love with the electronic music scene and was inspired to journey into the realm of house music. Around 2020 I started diving deep into learning to produce my own music and DJ. Now, I create a unique blend of Electro Pop, Vocal House, and Psychedelic Electronic Dance Music.

I experienced a spiritual awakening circa 2016, and that really solidified my purpose for making music, and inspired my focus to shift towards writing lyrics about my spiritual and self growth journey. I had always loved making positive, uplifting music, but my spiritual experiences created even more depth for the messages I wanted to share. I started learning about sound healing and the power that different frequencies have to shift our vibration, so I began tuning my music to frequencies like 432hz and 528hz. I want my music to help people feel good, and remind them of the interconnected nature of our reality. I feel that part of my purpose is to help raise the consciousness of the collective during this time of awakening and mass shifts on planet Earth.

I’m a multi-creative (and a manifesting generator in human design!) so I’m always working on multiple projects at once. Recently, I’ve been working on creating an oracle deck that is based on my music, so I can combine my love for spirituality with music even more. Oracle cards have been an immensely useful tool for me on my path, and all my songs are basically oracle messages with their uplifting and introspective reminders. I’ve been working on releasing the final songs that will be a part of this project, and cannot wait to share when it finally drops!

I also host various events in Los Angeles via my brand Cosmic Ascension (@cosmicascensionco), from infused sound baths to plant medicine retreats and more. I love bringing community together to collectively heal and connect with the universe. My next event is a co-creation with Disconnect Foundation on July 13th, called “Liberation at the Park,” where guests will be able to enjoy yoga, a sound bath, a cacao ceremony, ecstatic dance, a community discussion on activism, and more.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One of the most important “skills” along my journey is just being a good person–being someone that is kind and respectful, so people want to work with you again. When I came to Los Angeles, I quickly learned that networking was everything, so building genuine relationships is key. You never know when a simple “thank you” or “how are you?” to the bartender or venue staff could lead to another opportunity. It’s good to stay humble, and never think you’re above anyone else.

Another impactful skill I learned along my journey was how to have boundaries and implement self care. I used to be an over-giver, to the point that I was burning myself out and becoming overwhelmed. I think it’s important to only say yes to opportunities that truly light you up, and get comfortable with saying no to the things that don’t, or aren’t worth your time. Your time and energy are the most valuable things you have! I began implementing things like nature walks, daily meditation, qi gong, and self care baths to allow myself plenty of time to rest and restore my energy. You cannot pour from an empty cup, so I always make time to fill my own cup first, and then share the overflow with others.

One more quality or skill that has been impactful on my journey is the ability to validate myself. As a content creator and artist, you need to get comfortable with being seen, and sometimes that means that you’re going to be seen by “haters.” I know many creatives struggle with the need for validation and approval from others, and I still do myself in many ways, but you have to be able to validate yourself. As long as you are moving with integrity and authenticity, and YOU like the work that you’re putting out, I don’t think anyone else’s opinion really matters. We simply cannot be for everybody, and I don’t think you should try and create a brand that seeks *everyone’s* approval, because it’s an impossible task. I’ve had plenty of haters leaving comments on my social media, and it used to really bother me because I think it pokes at our desire to “fit in with the tribe,” else we might be banished and alone. I’ve come to realize that most “haters” are either projecting their own insecurities, or simply have opinions that I do not agree with, and it does me no good to allow them to effect my self worth. As long as I know I am moving with love, and genuinely doing my best, I think that’s enough, and we ought to be able to validate ourselves regardless of how others may incorrectly perceive us.

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?
As a multi-creative, I think one of the biggest challenges I often face is the question of “What should I spend my time on?”. I have so many amazing ideas, projects, and songs that I want to work on and manifest into reality, but I only have a limited amount of time and energy each day. So the challenge is learning how to allocate my time, and figure out what my priorities are. What I have found to be useful is the sage advice from Bashar, and that is to follow your highest excitement in each now moment, to the best of your ability, until you can’t any longer, and then follow your next highest excitement. I’ve been learning to surrender to the flow and not overthink what I “should be doing” so much, and instead allow my intuition and “excitement” to guide me each day, trusting that I am accomplishing everything I need to when I allow my soul to lead.

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Image Credits
Keshav Leire Baztarrica

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