BIO
Lauren Chaplain is a singer, composer, and vocal improviser.
Her passion for singing started as a child, and as a young adult, she began her informal education at a jazz vocal workshop in Brooklyn with pianist Jimmy Sigler and bassist Jerry Eastman. Eventually she began writing and recording original songs that had elements of jazz, neo-soul, and hip hop. She went on to record several house music projects as a composer and vocalist alongside the platinum record production duo Mood II Swing, as well as Sandy K.O.T. Rivera, and Wil Milton among others.
In 2011, she attended a workshop with renowned musician and vocal improviser Bobby McFerrin. The exhilaration of singing and improvising alongside 150 voices, conducted by Bobby and others, was an experience that would shift Lauren’s vision of herself as a vocalist, composer, and improviser. The profound sense of community and aspect of being fully present in the music was unlike anything she had felt before. It was where she met Rhiannon, one of the original members of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra and Gimme 5, who would become her mentor. Lauren went on to facilitate groups in the art of vocal improvisation using the teaching methods from Rhiannon’s groundbreaking book Vocal River, an innovative series of exercises combining structure and freedom.
Lauren continues to expand her skills, studying with Bobby McFerrin, Rhiannon, and Meredith Monk among other masters. The isolation of the pandemic became a prolific period of writing for her. She began composing using her voice as the sole instrument, melding structured composition with free improvisation. She is currently working on collaborations that cross disciplines ranging from animation to dance to visual art.
" When Lauren decides to study, she wraps her considerable intelligence and life skills around the ideas. She digs in and finds her own way into the subject. I have watched Lauren grow her music life in multiple directions. Not only did her voice mature but her vocal quality became more relaxed so her range expanded and her confidence allows her to explore unknown territory with grace and power. We can hear that beautiful alto, that sensuous, compassionate tone whether it is on an improvisation, a tough jazz standard or lately, one of her amazing multi-track compositions. She can bring all the voices needed to tell the story that unfolds. And these stories are worldly, moody, vibrant and full of the natural world.
Now Lauren is preparing to teach which will be an important addition to the NYC vocal improvisation scene. I am grateful for her commitment, excellence and friendship. She is a vital part of the vocal improvisation community and has singing friends around the world who treasure her gifts and her love. "
- Rhiannon
MY PHILOSOPHY
We are made of vibration, of which music is the ultimate expression. It has the power to alter both the listener and the creator, transmitting meaning with nuance beyond words. It has the infinite capacity to heal, uplift, soothe, thrill, and inspire.
I am drawn to authenticity, heart connection, soulfulness, and depth. My influences range from the harmonic arrangements of Earth, Wind & Fire to the songwriting genius of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. From the sultry poignancy of Sade to the vocal mastery of Lisa Fischer. From the gritty rasp of Joe Cocker to the effortless delivery of jazz greats like Shirley Horn and Carmen McRae. I am deeply inspired by the extraordinary musicianship of Bobby McFerrin and his passionate commitment to create community through singing with others.
Creating music is a spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and athletic pursuit for me. It can be elusive in one moment and transcendent in the next. When I compose, improvisation is at the core, whether alone in my studio or creating in the moment with others. It is a conversation through melody, rhythm, harmony, and dissonance. An intuitive tuning-in that integrates soft focus and razor sharp listening.
After years of exploring as a vocalist and a composer, my cumulative experiences are converging into something uniquely mine. I look forward to collaborating with creatives across multiple mediums.