Lauren Mayberry

Lauren Mayberry

Lauren Mayberry performing with Chvrches at Coachella

Lauren Mayberry performing with Chvrches at Coachella in 2014
Background information
Born 7 October 1987 (age 27)
Origin Thornhill, Stirling, Scotland[1]
Genres Synthpop, electronic, indie pop
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter, journalist
Instruments Vocals, drums, keyboards
Years active 2003–present
Labels Goodbye/Virgin, Glassnote, Hostess
Associated acts Chvrches, Blue Sky Archives, Boyfriend/Girlfriend
Website chvrch.es

Lauren Eve Mayberry (born 7 October 1987)[2] is a Scottish musician, singer-songwriter, and journalist best known as the lead vocalist of the Scottish synthpop band Chvrches.

Biography

Mayberry completed a four-year undergraduate law degree at the University of Strathclyde, followed by a Masters in Journalism in 2010.[3] This led her into a career in freelance journalism and production running. She has played the piano since she was a child and drums since she was a teenager.[4] From age 15 until 22, she played drums in various bands.[5] Prior to Chvrches, Mayberry was involved in two local bands, Boyfriend/Girlfriend and Blue Sky Archives.[5] On Blue Sky Archives, she was a vocalist and played the drums and keyboards.[5] As a member of Blue Sky Archives, Mayberry also covered the Rage Against the Machine song, "Killing in the Name", which was released as a single.[6]

In September 2011, Iain Cook of Aereogramme and The Unwinding Hours produced Blue Sky Archives' Triple A-Side EP.[5] Cook started a new project with his friend Martin Doherty and asked Mayberry to sing on a couple of demos.[7] They wrote together for seven or eight months in a basement studio in Glasgow.[5] Cook, Mayberry and Doherty decided to form a new band after the sessions proved to be successful.[7] The band chose the name Chvrches, using a Roman "v" to distinguish themselves from actual churches on internet searches.[7]

In 2013, the band signed to Glassnote Records after releasing the tracks, "Lies" and "The Mother We Share" in 2012.[8] Their debut EP, Recover, was released in 2013.[9] The band released their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe, on 20 September 2013.[10]

In September 2013, Mayberry wrote an article for The Guardian in response to misogynist messages she received online.[11][12][13] She wrote: "What I do not accept ... is that it is all right for people to make comments ranging from 'a bit sexist but generally harmless' to openly sexually aggressive. That it is something that 'just happens'. Is the casual sexual objectification of women so commonplace that we should all just suck it up, roll over and accept defeat? I hope not. Objectification, whatever its form, is not something anyone should have to 'just deal with'."[14]

Mayberry is the founder of a feminist collective in Glasgow called TYCI.[15] Her ongoing work with the organization includes written contributions to the online magazine and blog, and she can be heard regularly on TYCI podcasts and their monthly radio show presented by Subcity Radio.

Discography

Lauren Mayberry at the SPIN Party at SXSW in 2013
With Boyfriend/Girlfriend[16]
With Blue Sky Archives
With Chvrches
Main article: Chvrches discography

References

  1. ↑ Jamieson, Teddy (21 April 2013). "Past experience helps Chvrches handle the hype". The Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Mayberry, Lauren (27 February 2011). "Rising: Chvrches". Pitchfork (Los Angeles). Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Dollars to Pounds: Chvrches – The FADER".
  4. ↑ "Chvrches Find Their Place In a Pop World – MTV IGGY". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Chvrches Is the Most Addicting Band of the Summer – Newsweek and The Daily Beast".
  6. ↑ Coplan, Chris (23 May 2013). "Listen to Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry cover Rage Against the Machine’s "Killing in the Name"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "BBC News – BBC Sound of 2013: Chvrches". 31 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "CHVRCHES' Hype Dreams: Can Blog Buzz Produce A Hit Album? - Billboard". Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay (25 March 2013). "Chvrches – Recover EP". Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Bones Of What You Believe". metacritic.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  11. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (30 September 2013). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry Blasts Online Sexism in Editorial". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  12. ↑ Payne, Chris (2 October 2013). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry Talks Online Misogyny In Op-Ed". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  13. ↑ Reed, Ryan (30 September 2013). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry Stands Up Against Misogyny". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  14. ↑ Mayberry, Lauren (30 September 2013). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry: 'I will not accept online misogyny'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  15. ↑ http://www.scotcampus.com/tyci-sounds-ideas-collected
  16. ↑ https://myspace.com/boyfriendgirlfriend/music/albums

External links