Lauren Mia
Lauren Mia is an electronic artist whose impressive CV, dating back to releases as early as 2018, is all the more inspiring when you learn that she only released her debut album, RE:BIRTH, in 2023. Unlike in pop or rock genres, where youth and rapid emergence into the public consciousness are almost prerequisites for success, in electronic music, longevity is often the name of the game. The ability to produce a strong body of work steadily over a period of time is the hallmark of slow-burn success stories like those of Fatboy Slim, David Guetta or Aphex Twin – illustrated by the title of the latter’s debut album, Selected Ambient Works 85–92.
By contrast, Lauren Mia is in a hurry to make an impact. On her journey up to and including her most recent single release (‘Sapiosensual’, 30th January ’25) , she’s sought and received widespread acclaim from leading lights in her field (name-checking praise from the likes of Above & Beyond and Camelphat), performed at huge festivals like Tomorrowland (2022), collaborated with Armin van Buuren’s label, Armada Music, and, most recently, established her own imprint (Halcyon, so-named after one of her recent singles). Lauren’s driven and meticulous approach to her work is reflected in her thoughtful approach to interviews. As such, we’re privileged to have had the chance to ask her about style vs technique in music production, the continual rise of DIY culture in electronic music, and her plans for her Halcyon label going forward.
FAULT: After releasing previous single ‘Halcyon’ on one of the world’s best-known electronic music labels (Armada Music, whose artists include their co-founder, Armin van Buuren), you’ve taken the bold step of self-releasing ‘Sapiosensual’ under your own label (Halcyon). What prompted that decision? And was it a difficult one to make?
Lauren Mia: Independently releasing music is something I’ve always wanted to do—and have been doing. While I love earning my place on renowned labels and working within the communities they foster, there’s something really special about building your own. Self-releasing gives me full creative control over the strategies and processes behind how my music reaches the world.
Before fully pursuing my career as an artist, I worked for record labels, and even while nurturing my previous imprint throughout my 20s, I always knew independent releasing would remain a priority. That said, I also love collaborating with labels that align with my sound, so I plan to continue doing both simultaneously.
This wasn’t a difficult decision at all. Everything I do is guided by intuition—if something feels right, I go with it. I don’t feel the need to choose one path over the other. I fully intend to keep releasing on labels like Armada and Insomniac’s Interstellar, along with others I’ve worked with. But at the same time, making my new imprint a priority is something I’m really passionate about. The seed has been planted with Halcyon, and I’m excited to nurture it and watch it grow into the vision I have for it.
You’re a classically-trained pianist turned DJ and producer. At the highest level, it’s probably fair to say that all music ceases to be about technical ability and becomes more about style, or a feeling/vibe between the artist, the instrument and the audience. Do you agree? And, if so, does that apply more or less when it comes to electronic music (versus, say, classical instrumental)?
That’s a loaded but fantastic question. First, regarding whether music ultimately comes down to style versus technical ability—I absolutely agree that style is key. But I’d also add that it’s deeply tied to an individual’s story, essence, and innovative technique.
Anyone can learn the technical and fundamental aspects of music—whether it’s production, mixing, composition, or mastering music theory. But taste and style? That comes from experience, from the soul journey we’re all on. That’s what separates a good artist from a great one, or even from an artist who is truly unmatched.
Every person carries their own experiences, celebrations, traumas, love, loss and, as artists, we share our stories through sound. Music is a reflection of the individual: their soul, energy, essence, values, and perspective. It’s about how one moves through life, how one sees the world, and the colors they want to paint and share through sound. It’s how we translate emotion into something that can be felt beyond words.
Whether that applies more to electronic music versus classical: I feel it applies to all genres of music. At its core, music is an expression of the self and that transcends any specific style or form.
Speaking of technical expertise, I read somewhere that, despite studying audio-engineering and production academically, you consider that to have been nothing more than a basic introduction – to the extent that you relied more on YouTube, endless hours of practice, and feedback from fellow producers to hone your craft. There’s been such a rise of self-taught producers recently, so is YouTube really all you need to learn and develop music production skills?
I don’t think YouTube is all you need to develop music production skills. It’s definitely an incredible and useful platform, but I’d also recommend other forms of online education—there are so many masterclasses and programs available now that go way deeper. Platforms like Production Music Live and Sonic Academy, both of which I’ve worked with, are great examples.
There are also incredible teachers out there—like Biskuwi, who had me on one of his producer challenges on YouTube. He, along with many others, offers resources beyond just YouTube. Then there are dedicated courses, platforms, and structured programs. Masterclasses are an amazing tool for aspiring producers to learn directly from established artists because we all have our own unique techniques, workflows, and approaches to music production and sound design. That said, above all, it really comes down to trial and error: the hours, the years, the experience you put in. You can learn endlessly, but at the end of the day, you have to put in the work to develop your ear, develop and refine your sound, and build your workflow. I feel there are no short cuts to that.
From self-taught to self-releasing your own tracks, you’ve really embraced the “DIY” approach to a career in music. Electronic producers like you seem to be the vanguard of this approach – you tend to see it more in in your space than in, say, with rock, pop, or country music – but it must give you so much freedom to approach things how you want, rather than being potentially hemmed in by third parties. Do you think that DIY ethos is going to become the norm across the wider industry?
DIY is huge in electronic music, and it’s been such a rewarding and successful path for me in my own journey. Having that creative freedom is something I really value. But I don’t know if it’s going to become the norm across the entire industry—every genre operates differently, and not all of them have the same independent culture that we do.
That said, within electronic music, I definitely see it continuing to grow. Most artists in our space already have their own imprints and are self-releasing, and it’s doing wonders for the scene as a whole. It’s giving artists more control, more flexibility, and ultimately, more power over their art, which is such a beautiful thing to witness and experience. At the end of the day, no one cares about the music more than the person who actually made it.
On that note: what’s in store for the Halcyon label? Is it just a home for your own music? Or are you planning on releasing other artist’s records too?
Halcyon is the new era of Ear Porn Music, the label I started in my early 20s. As I’ve evolved, so has my sound, style, and taste, and stepping into this new decade of my life, I felt it was time to rebrand and start a new chapter. That’s how Halcyon came to be. The brand and label now resonate so much more with where I am on my journey, though its fundamental ethos and sound will continue to be nurtured.
Halcyon will absolutely be a home for my music, but it’s also growing beyond that. We already have releases lined up from other artists. Some who I’ve supported previously on my former label, and others who are new to the family but deeply aligned with our vision, values, and sound.
My intention with Halcyon is for it to be a space that supports artists who are truly putting in the work – the ones locked in their studios, pouring their heart into their craft. These producers deserve to know what it feels like, the chance to share their music on a big stage, and my goal is to help make that happen by developing them, distributing their music, and creating massive performance opportunities for them when the time is right.
Which do you prefer: producing new music or performing live?
Both are equally special and important to me in their own ways. Producing music is my sacred act. Creating is a ceremony. It’s where I channel my emotions, my experiences, and my energy into sound. But what’s art if it isn’t shared? I truly believe that all music is meant to be experienced, and getting to perform it live, to feel that connection in real time, is an unmatched blessing. I live for those moments. So for me, both are everything.
Who would you most like to collaborate with and why?
I would love to collaborate with Loreen or Dua Lipa—two vocalists I’m completely in love with on a frequency level. Their voices, energy, and artistry resonate so deeply with me. It would be an honor to sit down with them, co-write lyrics, and create something special together. Producing a record with either of these two divine feminine powerhouses would be a dream.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I’d say the highlight of my career so far has been releasing my first album, RE:BIRTH, in late 2023. It was such a huge milestone for me and an incredibly rewarding experience on the creative side of my journey. On the performance side, one of the biggest moments was when Tomorrowland reached out to invite me to play in 2022—without even having an agent to pitch me for it. That was surreal. And there’s another big highlight coming this year… I’ll give you a hint. It’s in May!
What can we expect from Lauren Mia in the near future? Anything you’re particularly looking forward to?
This year is going to be incredible. I’m so excited about all that’s to come. I have a new single dropping every month leading up to summer, and I’ll also be continuing to develop my new imprint. There’s so much original music on the way, including a track I’m especially excited about with an amazing female vocalist, Gabrielle. I’ve also got a collaboration with Alfa Romero, a remix for Binaryh dropping next month, and a lineup of incredible shows all over the world: London, Switzerland, Athens, San Francisco, Mumbai, Las Vegas, Dubai, and more to be announced. It’s on!
What is your FAULT?
I guess my fault would be procrastination. As someone with a neurodivergent brain, I tend to put off things I don’t enjoy doing (like writing), which is probably why I was late sharing answers for this interview… haha!
That said, I really enjoyed answering these questions – even if I didn’t fully enjoy physically writing them! Thank you so much for having me and thanks to everyone who’s taken the time to read this and drop in with me! <3