Featured Works (part 2)
In addition to composing for the concert hall, Lauren Biggs releases original songs under her artist name, Laureli Amadeus. Let’s explore a few songs.
Mend Me (Birchwood, 2022)
“Mend Me” (originally released in the album Alpenglow, then re-released in 2022), is a song about reaching to God in times of pain. I wrote it while life-guarding at Victory Bible Camp in Alaska, years ago, while wrestling with questions about faith and healing. The lyrics don’t specify the kind of hurt that needs healing, but for me the pain stemmed from feeling rejection from the church in my teens. My goal as a Christian and as a musician now is to exemplify the kind of person that Jesus would want me to be — curious, compassionate, and eager to listen.
Cradle of Ivory (Single, 2022)
“Cradle of Ivory” was written in my freshman year of undergrad, during a time when I had no idea what my purpose was. I’d been told that I had a gift in music but felt like that was the only thing I was good at. When I was upset, I would go to music for comfort, which was kind of ironic. As a music student, it was the source of both anxiety and peace for me. The “ivory” in the title refers to the keys on a piano in the practice rooms, where I cried and wrote this song. The “cradle” is the comforting presence of creation, holding me as I surrender myself to it. Most of my songs begin in a place of turmoil. Maybe this is the most self-aware song I’ve written approaching that.
Whenever You’re Ready (something not obvious, 2023)
“Whenever You’re Ready” was written over winter break in 2022/23, when I had flown back home to Alaska. The lyrics reference the midnight sun and the cold, beautiful winters. Ultimately, it’s a song to myself, offering me patience in the return home, and finally allowing the homesickness room to breathe.
