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Lauren Aquilina

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Lauren Aquilina
Aquilina in 2019
Background information
Birth nameLauren Amber Aquilina
Born (1995-06-23) 23 June 1995 (age 29)
Bristol, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2011–2016, 2018–present
Labels

Lauren Amber Aquilina (born 23 June 1995) is a Maltese-English singer and songwriter. Born in Bristol, she gained popularity by independently releasing a trilogy of EPs (Fools, Sinners, and Liars) whilst studying at school. Her debut album Isn't It Strange? was released on 26 August 2016, after being signed with Island Records and Universal Music Group. Aquilina took a musical hiatus in October 2016, but resumed in August 2018.

Life and career

Aquilina was born on 23 June 1995 in Bristol to parents from Malta. Her musical origins began with her playing piano in school.[1] She has been singing since she was eight years old and has been playing piano since she was nine. When she was thirteen years old she attended her first open mic event and sang "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga while her mother filmed her. Aquilina's manager (at the time), Ryan Walter, came across one of the videos and the two began working with one another putting together Aquilina's initial EP Fools.

Aquilina performing in Kings Cross, London in May 2013

In December 2011, Aquilina uploaded a cover of Brenda Russell's song "Get Here", which she recorded at home to raise money for the Meningitis Trust.[2] She said that she was "trying to raise as much money as I can for a good cause, especially at Christmas time."[3] In August 2012, Aquilina announced her independently released debut EP Fools through her management label Interlude Artists which was released on iTunes on 22 October 2012. To promote her EP, Aquilina performed an eight-song set in Tromsø, Norway, and was noticed by a Norwegian newspaper[4] who called Aquilina "a great, talented songwriter who plays piano to accompany her beautiful voice." In September 2012, Aquilina announced through social media that she would be headlining her very first UK tour in early 2013.[5] The title track from Fools received its first UK national radio play on BBC Radio 1 on 15 October 2012 on the BBC Introducing show.[6]

It was announced on 15 August 2013 that Aquilina would headline the BBC Introducing stage at Reading & Leeds Festival 2013. She also played her first ever show in the United States on 21 August 2013, when she played a sold-out headline show at Manhattan's Rockwood Hall. Aquilina released her final EP Liars in the Fools, Sinners, Liars EP trilogy on 10 March 2014. Having asked to hear Lauren's third EP Liars, which she recorded and marketed with her manager, Island Records and Universal Music Group signed Aquilina as a new artist. In June 2014, Aquilina collaborated with Scottish band Prides on one of their tracks, "Strong Enough". Aquilina released her debut album Isn't It Strange? under Island Records and Universal Music Group on 26 August 2016 (Enn Kosova-Maudling). On 10 October 2016, Aquilina announced on her Twitter and Facebook accounts that she was no longer going to be writing music or performing for herself and that Isn't It Strange? would be her final album.[7][8] In November 2020, she admitted that her break from the music industry had to do with mental health issues and credits working with Kylie Minogue as the catalyst for getting her excited about it once again.[9]

Aquilina returned to music in 2018 with "Psycho", from an EP set for a 2020 release.[10][11][12] This was followed by numerous singles, including "Tobacco In My Sheets" in March 2019,[13] "Swap Places" in October 2020,[14] and "Best Friend" in November 2020.[15] Following the release of "Best Friend", Aquilina announced the release of her EP Ghost World, which was released on 13 November 2020.[16] On 23 April 2021, she released the single "The Knife".[17]

Reception

Music reviewing website "Sound Of The Day" praised Aquilina's vocals in her cover of Lana Del Rey's "Born To Die":

"[She] took this cover and exploded it, and took [Del Rey's] vocals to another level. She has convinced me that with her very touching and emotional feel to her voice, she can change the course of many up and coming musicians. She is just in her room with a mic and keyboard, and has something to say, imagine her in an actual studio with better equipment. This girl could be a force on whatever label she signs with. The song and Lauren remind me of the beautiful Adele. Adele has a very powerful voice and people know when she is in the room. Lauren has that presence with her beautiful voice and amazing talent."[18]

Fortitude Magazine writer Maxie Molotov-Smith complimented Aquilina's musical approach and rated her third EP, Liars, a five out of five star rating. Praising,

"Lauren’s sound is beautifully crafted soul-inflected Piano Pop (a sound that Sara Bareilles, Chantal Kreviazuk and Regina Spektor have been known to dabble in) that conjures lifting atmospheres, honey-sweet vocals and some of the wisest lyrics that any teenage songwriter has ever written".[19]

Influences

Aquilina credits Stereophonics, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Annie Lennox as influences.[20]

Personal life

Aquilina identifies as bisexual.[21] As of 2021, she shared a flat with fellow musician Orla Gartland.[22]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
Isn't It Strange?

Extended plays

Title Details
Fools
  • Released: 22 October 2012
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Sinners
  • Released: 22 July 2013
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Liars
  • Released: 10 March 2014
  • Label: UIR
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Ocean
  • Released: 9 October 2015
  • Label: Island Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Ghost World
  • Scheduled: 13 November 2020
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Title Year Peak Chart Positions Album
UK
[23]
"Fools" 2012 72 Fools
"King" —
"Sinners" 2013 66 Sinners
"Lovers or Liars" 2014 58 Liars
"Time To Say Goodbye" 2015 197
[24] 		Non-album single
"Ocean" — Ocean
"Low" —
"Echoes" — Non-album single
"Kicks" 2016 — Isn't It Strange?
"How Would You Like It?" —
"Midnight Mouths" —
"Psycho" 2018 — Ghost World
"If Looks Could Kill" 2019 — Non-album single
"Tobacco In My Sheets" — Ghost World
"Bad People" 2020 — Non-album single
"Swap Places" — Ghost World
"Best Friend" —
"The Knife" 2021 — Non-album singles
"Empathy" —
"Hanging By Your Halo" 2022 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Songwriting credits

Song Year Artist Album
"Lost" 2015 Emji Folies douces
"3AM"
(featuring Katie Herzig) 		RAC Non-album single
"Worthy of You" 2018 Plested First & Foremost
"Shoot Down the Sun" Hook n Sling Non-album singles
"Anyway" Jack Vallier
"I Believe You" Fletcher
"Groove Nocy Letniej" 2019 4Dreamers nb.
"Cruel to Be Kind" Ea Kaya Non-album single
"Crazy Enough" Julie Bergan Hard Feelings: Ventricle 1
"Devil" CLC Non-album single
"Hard Feelings" Julie Bergan Hard Feelings: Ventricle 1
"Wrong" 2020 Louise Redknapp Heavy Love
"Invisible" Grace Davies Friends with Tragic
"Tokyo Love Hotel" Rina Sawayama Sawayama
"Addicted to Blue" Grace Davies Friends with Tragic
"Josslyn" Olivia O'Brien The Results Of My Poor Judgement
"Criminal" Taemin Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1
"LUCID" Rina Sawayama Sawayama Deluxe
"Carefully" 2021 Demi Lovato Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over
"California Sober"
"Butterfly"
"EveryTime I Cry" Ava Max Non-album single
"Love (Sweet Love)" Little Mix Between Us
"Cut You Off"
"Eleven" Ive Eleven
"Minor Feelings" 2022 Rina Sawayama Hold the Girl
"This Hell"
"Your Age"
"Imagining"
"Frankenstein"
"Send My Love to John"
"Phantom"
"To Be Alive"
"Beautiful Liar" 2023 Monsta X Reason
"Performer" Rebecca Black Let Her Burn
"Hypnosis" Ive I've Ive
"Galileo" Kep1er Magic Hour
"Either Way" Ive I've Mine
"Baddie"
"Holy Moly"

References

  1. ^ Julie PeaPod (29 September 2012). "17-year-old Lauren Aquilina releases her debut EP – 'Fools'". Gozo News.Com. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Get Here review". Fakewalls.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Get Surrey entry on local bands". Getsurrey.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Lauren Aquilina in Norway (from her official facebook page)". Fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Lauren Aquilina Tickets – Buy Lauren Aquilina Concert Tickets". Nme.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  6. ^ "BBC Radio 1 – BBC Introducing with Jen and Ally, 15/10/2012". BBC. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  7. ^ Lauren Aquilina [@laurenaquilina] (10 October 2016). "💙" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Lauren Aquilina". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Lauren Aquilina: The pop star who gave up singing". BBC News. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Lauren Aquilina interview: "I'm seeing this as completely starting again" • Popjustice". 6 September 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  11. ^ Glenister, Dale (7 September 2018). "Lauren Aquilina returns in spectacular fashion for 'Psycho'". Peanut Mixtape. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  12. ^ Angove, Danny (10 September 2018). "Lauren Aquilina's Comeback Single Is A Sassy-As-Hell Pop Song With An Earworm Of A Chorus". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Lauren Aquilina Debuts Fragile New Single "Tobacco in My Sheets" (premiere + interview)". PopMatters. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Lauren Aquilina unveils sensual new single 'Swap Places'". Maxazine. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Lauren Aquilina delivers a sombre eulogy to a friendship gone awry on "Best Friend"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  16. ^ Forrest, Eleanor (18 December 2020). "Coming Out The Other Side: Lauren Aquilina". Notion. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  17. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (23 April 2021). "Lauren Aquilina returns with first single of the year "The Knife"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Lauren Aquilina Born To Die cover review". SoundOfTheDay.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Lauren Aquilina EP Review: Liars". Fortitude Magazine. 9 March 2014.
  20. ^ Garvan, Sinead (23 August 2013). "Lauren Aquilina: Headlining BBC introducing is 'insane'". BBC News. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Replying to @laurenaquilina i identify as bisexual so maybe one day but i just wanted this album to be accessible for everyone ☺️". 15 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  22. ^ Schaarschmidt, Nina (9 June 2021). "Coming of Age As a "Woman on the Internet": In Conversation with Orla Gartland". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  23. ^ "LAUREN AQUILINA". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Chart: CLUK Update 19.09.2015 (wk38)". Chart Log UK. zobbel.de. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
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