Feature Friday: Lauren Horbal
Can I Get a Hell Yea HellCat?!
Lauren first came to the Music on the Move Studios family as a part of the all-female house band, The HellCats. Now, 3 years later, she’s taking center stage at our June 24th, 2022 showcase!
First off, what are your pronouns & what genre/vibe will you be bringing to the showcase?
She/her. The songs I’m performing at this showcase are all heartbreak songs, but despite that it’s an uplifting vibe in my opinion. As far as genre, I’d say “light rock”. Big queer vibes.
Obviously you’ve been a part of this showcase in several ways. As a HellCat, as a duo, as a friend! Can you tell us how you got involved?
I was referred by the amazing Kristen Ford! She needed a guitar sub a few years ago for this gig and she threw my name into the hat for this (thanks KFo!)
What kept you coming back to be involved?
The first time I was involved with the showcase, I kind of felt like a fish out of water, I felt like I had imposter syndrome time and was worried I wasn’t really a good enough musician to be involved. It was a lot of work! But wow, learning all that music before the show and getting to play with a variety of different artists made me step up my game. As a band I feel like the Hellcats instantly connected at that first show I did and I was like wow- these are my people! It’s really indescribable how it feels to be surrounded and supported by a group of insanely talented women who are all rooting for you. Everyone helps each other out at music in the move and that is absolutely what has kept me coming back. The opportunities I’ve had since getting involved have been extraordinary as well.
Where are you from originally & what brought you to Nashville?
I am originally from Shelton, Connecticut and I know y’all have probably never heard this before but.. I came here to pursue a music career!
What’s your musical background?
I started private drum lessons in 1996 and have been playing ever since. I picked up a guitar sometime in middle school and am self taught. I studied classical and jazz in college, hated it and dropped out. I am most heavily involved in rock and Americana genres with a side of punk.
Do you have a “day job”? (Or two?) What is/are it/they?
I work at Trader Joe’s and bartend on occasion. The Nashville way
You’re in several bands! What are they & what’s their sound?
I am the front person of a Tegan and Sara cover band called “sugar spell it out” and we sound like tegan and Sara
I play in Fame & fiction which is a 6 piece all queer band and it’s indie rock
I play in a punk band called the swanies and we like to be loud, yell a lot, and let people know they should not leave their dogs outside in the cold.
I also do a lot of freelance work and my most consistent person I play for is Rachel Baiman and that’s folky- Americana and sometimes we have 2 banjos going at once
Now describe your original/solo sound for us please!
I’d say that I’ve written mostly sad and angsty lesbian songs because of course. I think sometimes when you’re hurt and angry with someone the best way to get through it maybe isn’t getting back at them but to write it down instead, and then look back on it as time passes and forget why you were ever upset in the first place. The songs I’ve written are mostly breakup songs but there’s an element of triumph over the heartbreak in all of them.
What upcoming projects/tours do you have?
My band fame & fiction is releasing a music video on June 20th for our song “Enough” which is definitely a coming out/ pride themed song, just in time for pride. I will be touring through the summer and fall with Rachel Baiman this year.