Skip to content

New Mexico mountains · Los Angeles lights · Big Sur coast · San Francisco · El Paso frontier · Southern Burgundy hills.

My path is a vivid, non-linear journey, moving through life, building from the ground up always, and planting deep roots. It has been a lifetime of trial, error, and passions survived.

Through every shifting horizon, I am a poet and an adventurer, a nurturer, a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister. Loving others and learning their stories is the quiet core of everything I do. I don’t just lean into interests — I dive into them headfirst. Whether it’s crafting a melody, writing a scene, sharing the world of artisan winemakers, creating a dish, or curating spaces, everything I build follows the light:

Do it with intention.
Take the leap.

Figure it out as you go — one note, one word, one risk, one dish at a time.

À Vous de Jouer

A debut album by Lauren DaCruz

These songs are snapshots—a time capsule of a challenging yet beautiful year. They carry the deep ache of years past—a yearning to be free and a search for the light. Each song unintentionally ends on a positive note. They come from introspection, are deeply personal, and return to me, making me comfortable in my own skin, like when I was a child, before fear and perfectionism set in. 

While these songs were written quietly on my grandmother’s baby grand piano, in the shower, or tapping a beat on my desk with tears, I’ve never wanted them to stay just there- they’ve always had wings and have wanted to fly and reach whoever they are meant to. 

The light at the end of the tunnel is for all. My hope is for everyone to let themselves shine.  

“I Want to See Your Fire”
              … À Vous de Jouer,

Lauren Kelley,
like Grace DaCruz

 

À Vous de Jouer

A debut album by Lauren DaCruz

These songs are snapshots—a time capsule of a challenging yet beautiful year. They carry the deep ache of years past—a yearning to be free and a search for the light. Each song unintentionally ends on a positive note. They come from introspection, are deeply personal, and return to me, making me comfortable in my own skin, like when I was a child, before fear and perfectionism set in. 

While these songs were written quietly on my grandmother’s baby grand piano, in the shower, or tapping a beat on my desk with tears, I’ve never wanted them to stay just there- they’ve always had wings and have wanted to fly and reach whoever they are meant to. 

The light at the end of the tunnel is for all. My hope is for everyone to let themselves shine.  

“I Want to See Your Fire”

              … À Vous de Jouer,

Lauren Kelley,
like Grace DaCruz

 

Fallen Fast

Inspired by a conversation about Motown and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, I wrote this track in five minutes in the shower, watching the water fall down while trying to capture the feeling of the world right now. When I sent a demo to my producer and friend, Jesse, he just said, "If stuff like that is coming to you in the shower, you are definitely a songwriter."
Inspired by a conversation about Motown and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, I wrote this track in five minutes in the shower, watching the water fall down while trying to capture the feeling of the world right now. When I sent a demo to my producer and friend, Jesse, he just said, “If stuff like that is coming to you in the shower, you are definitely a songwriter.”

It’s falling hard; it’s fallen fast
Kids everywhere trying to make sense
How do we answer the questions they ask?
The lessons we learned keep coming back
What can we take from the past?

It’s falling hard; it’s fallen fast

Shadows haunt us when we try and go too fast
Did you just try and forget

The faces remain and they stay the same
The mirror won’t lie as much as you try
Set down your anger and help others fly

It’s falling hard It’s fallen fast

It’s falling hard
It’s fallen fast

Inspired by a conversation about Motown and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, I wrote this track in five minutes in the shower, watching the water fall down while trying to capture the feeling of the world right now. When I sent a demo to my producer and friend, Jesse, he just said, "If stuff like that is coming to you in the shower, you are definitely a songwriter."
Inspired by a conversation about Motown and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, I wrote this track in five minutes in the shower, watching the water fall down while trying to capture the feeling of the world right now. When I sent a demo to my producer and friend, Jesse, he just said, “If stuff like that is coming to you in the shower, you are definitely a songwriter.”

It’s falling hard; it’s fallen fast
Kids everywhere trying to make sense
How do we answer the questions they ask?
The lessons we learned keep coming back
What can we take from the past?

It’s falling hard; it’s fallen fast

Shadows haunt us when we try and go too fast
Did you just try and forget

The faces remain and they stay the same
The mirror won’t lie as much as you try
Set down your anger and help others fly

It’s falling hard It’s fallen fast

It’s falling hard
It’s fallen fast

Show Me

Prompted by a lingering question from a friend, I sat at the piano one morning and let a melody in F major take shape. When I spoke with my husband in France later that day, his perspective gave the song its final piece.
Prompted by a lingering question from a friend, I sat at the piano one morning and let a melody in F major take shape. When I spoke with my husband in France later that day, his perspective gave the song its final piece.
I love the parts of you that frighten you the most
You shine like the stars, and I see you up close
Why do you wear the mask on your face?
Don’t you think it’s time to let it down?

Show me
Show me
Won’t you show me

The darkness you feel is not what it seems
Make it your friend and you’ll see light beam
Your smile takes you places that compromise yourself
If you could say no, you might reach the moon

Show me
Won’t you show me
Show me

You dance in the garden
You dance in my room
You dance in my head and I see you bloom
You spark like a firefly this way and that
Sunshine follows you into every room

Show me
Won’t you show me
Show me
Show me
Prompted by a lingering question from a friend, I sat at the piano one morning and let a melody in F major take shape. When I spoke with my husband in France later that day, his perspective gave the song its final piece.
Prompted by a lingering question from a friend, I sat at the piano one morning and let a melody in F major take shape. When I spoke with my husband in France later that day, his perspective gave the song its final piece.
I love the parts of you that frighten you the most
You shine like the stars, and I see you up close
Why do you wear the mask on your face?
Don’t you think it’s time to let it down?

Show me
Show me
Won’t you show me

The darkness you feel is not what it seems
Make it your friend and you’ll see light beam
Your smile takes you places that compromise yourself
If you could say no, you might reach the moon

Show me
Won’t you show me
Show me

You dance in the garden
You dance in my room
You dance in my head and I see you bloom
You spark like a firefly this way and that
Sunshine follows you into every room

Show me
Won’t you show me
Show me
Show me

When You See Me You Will Find Me

A deeply personal song. I dug for diamonds from the depths to write, turned poison into medicine.
A deeply personal song. I dug for diamonds from the depths to write, turned poison into medicine.

You go with me places you only know
You show me the view and you leave me searching
With your shadow and what does it tell you
Down that lane is not your alley
It’s bright, but it’s cold, and it leads to nowhere

When you see me, you will find me
When you see me, you will find me
Go and you go and you go and you go

You take my love and you offer nothing
There must be words for your silence
Each night I wrestle the ceiling in the dark
The fumes of this space are killing me

When you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
Go and you go and you go and you go

I’ve had a long day, these thoughts they are racing
I’m haunted by those dreams of my broken hope
I grab onto each one my eyes on the steep slope
But my feet are on the ground now, so I’ll take the lyric note

When you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
Go and you go and you go and you go

The funny thing about all of this
I still want to marvel at the dawn of a new day
See you next to me feeling the same way

Oh when you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
Go and you go and you go and you go

A deeply personal song. I dug for diamonds from the depths to write, turned poison into medicine.
A deeply personal song. I dug for diamonds from the depths to write, turned poison into medicine.

You go with me places you only know
You show me the view and you leave me searching
With your shadow and what does it tell you
Down that lane is not your alley
It’s bright, but it’s cold, and it leads to nowhere

When you see me, you will find me
When you see me, you will find me
Go and you go and you go and you go

You take my love and you offer nothing
There must be words for your silence
Each night I wrestle the ceiling in the dark
The fumes of this space are killing me

When you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
Go and you go and you go and you go

I’ve had a long day, these thoughts they are racing
I’m haunted by those dreams of my broken hope
I grab onto each one my eyes on the steep slope
But my feet are on the ground now, so I’ll take the lyric note

When you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
Go and you go and you go and you go

The funny thing about all of this
I still want to marvel at the dawn of a new day
See you next to me feeling the same way

Oh when you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
When you see me you will find me
Go and you go and you go and you go

Crystal Water

While Fallen Fast arrived in five minutes, this one started as a tiny melody I wrote at twelve after trying to figure out “Für Elise,” coming back to life years later when David Lynch inspired me to capture light on video. I was so nervous to share it, but Jesse loved the idea and reminded me that “making good art takes time.” 

Inside Her Castle

Thanks to my piano teacher Karla, who set me on this path, I sat at the keys in C Major and played with the unfiltered freedom of a kid. The chorus poured out instantly, and a quiet memory of wandering through a castle in Cormatin, France, finally brought the rest of the song together.
Thanks to my piano teacher Karla, who set me on this path, I sat at the keys in C Major and played with the unfiltered freedom of a kid. The chorus poured out instantly, and a quiet memory of wandering through a castle in Cormatin, France, finally brought the rest of the song together.

You stood at the stairs; you didn’t see me there
The walls ached for a fresh coat of paint, how painfully I can relate
Inside of her room she circled around
And stayed until they said that you weren’t in town
And then she took off her dressing gown
Can this longing ever fade? How do I make it go away?

Cause I will love you, with or without you
And the story goes on
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take
Find the steps I need to take

They led her down the hallway past her quiet room
The water was poured, and she fell inside her womb
She dreamed of the day he wouldn’t go away
She woke with a start and made a silent vow
When sorrow comes, take a step and let the light shine down

Cause I will love you, with or without you
And the story goes on
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take
Find the steps I need to take

I learned from her to find my own peace
And retrace my steps, so that I can see

Thanks to my piano teacher Karla, who set me on this path, I sat at the keys in C Major and played with the unfiltered freedom of a kid. The chorus poured out instantly, and a quiet memory of wandering through a castle in Cormatin, France, finally brought the rest of the song together.
Thanks to my piano teacher Karla, who set me on this path, I sat at the keys in C Major and played with the unfiltered freedom of a kid. The chorus poured out instantly, and a quiet memory of wandering through a castle in Cormatin, France, finally brought the rest of the song together.

You stood at the stairs; you didn’t see me there
The walls ached for a fresh coat of paint, how painfully I can relate
Inside of her room she circled around
And stayed until they said that you weren’t in town
And then she took off her dressing gown
Can this longing ever fade? How do I make it go away?

Cause I will love you, with or without you
And the story goes on
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take
Find the steps I need to take

They led her down the hallway past her quiet room
The water was poured, and she fell inside her womb
She dreamed of the day he wouldn’t go away
She woke with a start and made a silent vow
When sorrow comes, take a step and let the light shine down

Cause I will love you, with or without you
And the story goes on
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take
Find the steps I need to take

I learned from her to find my own peace
And retrace my steps, so that I can see

 I Want to See Your Fire

I read that Ernest Hemingway advised writing one good sentence a day, so I started doing that. I wrote, “I Want to See Your Fire.” Weeks later, at 3:35 AM during a sleepless night, that journal entry became a song—a spirit-led call to drop fear, step into joy, and let your light shine. This song asks to be played loud.
I read that Ernest Hemingway advised writing one good sentence a day, so I started doing that. I wrote, “I Want to See Your Fire.” Weeks later, at 3:35 AM during a sleepless night, that journal entry became a song—a spirit-led call to drop fear, step into joy, and let your light shine. This song asks to be played loud.

I want to see your fire. 
I don’t wanna see you break.
That flame you got inside you.
Is causing you to ache.
So what you going do now?
To make it go away.
And will you find a chorus?
To help you save the day. 
Cause I want to see your fire. 
I don’t wanna see you break.
That flame you got inside you.
Is causing you to ache.
Will you dance along the edge now? 
Or will it make you feel afraid?
Only you can decide this.
It’s only yours to take.
Do you think that you’re the first one?
To feel this heavy weight?
Well please go take a breath now.
And smile along the way.

I read that Ernest Hemingway advised writing one good sentence a day, so I started doing that. I wrote, “I Want to See Your Fire.” Weeks later, at 3:35 AM during a sleepless night, that journal entry became a song—a spirit-led call to drop fear, step into joy, and let your light shine. This song asks to be played loud.
I read that Ernest Hemingway advised writing one good sentence a day, so I started doing that. I wrote, “I Want to See Your Fire.” Weeks later, at 3:35 AM during a sleepless night, that journal entry became a song—a spirit-led call to drop fear, step into joy, and let your light shine. This song asks to be played loud.

I want to see your fire. 
I don’t wanna see you break.
That flame you got inside you.
Is causing you to ache.
So what you going do now?
To make it go away.
And will you find a chorus?
To help you save the day. 
Cause I want to see your fire. 
I don’t wanna see you break.
That flame you got inside you.
Is causing you to ache.
Will you dance along the edge now? 
Or will it make you feel afraid?
Only you can decide this.
It’s only yours to take.
Do you think that you’re the first one?
To feel this heavy weight?
Well please go take a breath now.
And smile along the way.

Press

“A true multidisciplinary creative, Lauren’s journey has taken her across different places and artistic spaces, with her music remaining at the heart of it all.”

“The EP captures a return to the childhood ease that existed before fear and perfectionism took root. “I Want To See Your Fire” is the boldest invitation in that process, and today it is available.”

“one of the most compelling debut singles I’ve heard this year.”

“an artist with a timeless sonic vision and the talent to bring it to life in exciting fashion”…
a “must-watch singer-songwriter on the rise,” sure to “win over countless listeners all over the world on what will no doubt be her breakout year.”

Let’s stay in touch or drop me a note