Let’s start with a confession: until 2021 I knew a few CHVRCHES songs, but didn’t really know the band that well. It was that year that I went to their set at the Shaky Knees Music Festival with the hopes of hearing one particular song. “Never Say Die” had been mercilessly implanted in my head by the video game Forza Horizon 4 to the point friends were asking me to stop humming it. From that set, a new CHVRCHES fan was born. I spent the next several weeks catching up on the years and albums I had missed. I was hooked by the band’s mix of bold synthesizers and infectious electronic beats that were woven over dramatic musical arrangements.
While the music of CHVRCHES was more than enough to get my attention, it’s the vocals that got me hooked. Frontwoman Lauren Mayberry may only be one part of the band’s collective sound, but her voice takes their electronic core and refocuses it as legit indie pop music.
CHVRCHES burst onto the international music scene with their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe (2013). The record, featuring standout tracks like “The Mother We Share” and “Recover,” showcased Mayberry’s dynamic vocal delivery lending to the songs’ strong emotional connection. The momentum continued with their sophomore album, Every Open Eye (2015), which further refined their signature blend of upbeat electronic textures and moody lyricism. Songs such as “Leave a Trace” and “Clearest Blue” exemplified the band’s evolution, combining polished production with intense introspection. Over the years, the band’s innovative approach has been recognized through various industry nominations and awards, including accolades from prominent music publications like NME and recognition at events such as the Brit Awards.
Beyond her musical achievements, Lauren Mayberry is a passionate advocate for gender equality and social justice. She frequently uses her platform to challenge systemic issues within the music industry, speaking out against sexism and championing the representation of women in all aspects of the creative process.
Throughout her time with CHVRCHES, Mayberry has never shied from being a voice for her causes and has helped the band maintain its authenticity even as its fanbase has exponentially increased. However, like any group project, some individual creativity always gets sidelined for the collective work. That’s why Mayberry has embarked on a new chapter of her career with the release of her debut solo album, Vicious Creature.
Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of influences—from icons like Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, and PJ Harvey and distinctive sounds of ‘90s British girl groups such as All Saints—Mayberry set out to break free from external expectations and rediscover her personal artistic identity. Reflecting on her transformative journey, she explained, “So much of this process has been an exercise in empowering myself to listen to my own intuition – something I really trained myself out of. That’s ultimately why you start making things – because you felt a feeling, and you wanted to articulate that somehow. I think it was important for me to relearn that kind of independence, and recognize what I bring to any table I choose to sit at.”
Vicious Creature allows Mayberry to reflect on her life experiences and emotions with a new freedom. “There’s things I’ve never been comfortable performing or sharing with a band of men,” Mayberry shares. “As much as my time with the band has always had this feminist narrative underpinning it, a lot of my role felt like it was more about me trying to fit in than leading the conversation, and I wondered what it would look like for me to create under different circumstances.”
Vicious Creatures is not simply a CHVRCHES album re-spun as a solo project. From the big sound of “A Work Of Fiction” to the more minimal, vocal-forward “Anywhere But Dancing” to the Brit-pop influenced “Something in the Air,” it’s clear that Mayberry wanted to cover a lot of sonic ground.
Details About Lauren Mayberry’s Concert in Nashville:
The Vicious Creature tour makes its stop in Nashville on Saturday February 22, 2025 at The Mil at Cannery Hall (formerly Mercy Lounge). Doors are at 7 and the show is at 8:00 PM. Mayberry will be supported by The Cult of Venus as an opener. Tickets to see Lauren Mayberry are on sale via the Mil’s ticketing website. We hope we’ll see you there!
Leave a Reply