Detroit native Lauren Scales lived and breathed music even before she learned to speak. The daughter of acclaimed jazz artists Charles and Gwen Scales, Lauren Scales has been performing most of her life. She began playing piano at age 4, and by 12 years old she was singing with the internationally celebrated Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. By high school, she was a featured soloist with the widely respected Renaissance High School Jazz band. She also began to sing professionally with her parents.

Though she started at home base, Lauren has since soared on her own musical accomplishments and creativity. She earned a Bachelor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Michigan. There she had the opportunity to study with such musical giants as Robert Hurst, Marian Hayden, Geri Allen, Ellen Rowe, Benny Greene, Sunny Wilkinson, Dennis Wilson, and Vincent Chandler. Lauren went on to place as Second Runner Up in the 2016 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, hosted by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and featuring guest judges Dianne Reeves and Christian McBride. Most recently, she was a participant in the first annual 2018 UNISA Jazz Vocal Competition, hosted by the University of South Africa.

Earning her Master of Music in Songwriting Composition from New York University, this songwriter and composer enjoy writing her own music, both lyrics, and compositions on piano and guitar. She was named the NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar of 2017, and received national recognition for her compositions as a participant in the 2016 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Her aim in songwriting? “To create a song that is all at once uplifting, poetic and emotionally honest, and that is accessible across genres and generations.” Her aim is reflected in writing that crosses musical boundaries, creating a distinct voice from a flurry of influences from all over the musical spectrum. She embodies the soul of Motown, the storytelling prowess of jazz legends Nancy Wilson and Billie Holiday, and the excitement of Led Zeppelin, all in one breath. Blending her jazz background with soul, R&B, pop, and classic rock influences, Lauren also enjoys taking classic tunes and re-harmonizing them into her own eclectic style.

In addition to performing, composing, and writing lyrics, Lauren is an avid student of poetry, finding inspiration from the likes of Kahlil Gibran and Paulo Coelho. She writes poetry centered on themes of love, light, and the role of perspective in our lived experiences.

Lauren is currently the lead vocalist of the progressive R&B group Valipala and continues to perform in a variety of configurations in the New York City area. She is working towards her debut E.P.

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