Q&A: LESSONS LEARNED WITH LAUREN MAYS’ “MY BAD”
WRITTEN BY DEL HENDRICK
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Lauren Mays’ Spotify bio explains her artistry with “I have a Scorpio moon… of COURSE I write music.” True to this tagline, Mays’ newest release “my bad” shares the story of residual hurt from the wounds left by a former lover, imbued with the intense emotion of a true water sign. It is a wonderful contender for your breakup playlist with chords that feel like a shoulder to cry on and quiet but no less passionate lyrics that are widely relatable.
“My bad” starts with light guitar strums and vocal embellishments, as if we, along with Mays, are reminiscing and reflecting on the past. Perhaps ruminating is the better word, given the song opens with the lyrics “can't even be mad cause I saw this part coming from you long ago, it's really my bad I can't let you go.” Her gentle voice is melodic, washing over listeners like a gentle stream or bout of rain.
This song truly feels like a memory revisited on a dismal day, its melancholy gorgeously woven into every syllable. Whatever your mood is, whether it be depressed, grieving, hurt, angry, vengeful, drained, or burnt out, Lauren Mays has left something beautiful in “my bad” for you to feel seen and heard by.
Life on Jupiter was happy to gather more clarity on this new hit with Lauren Mays.
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LIFE ON JUPITER: First of all, I loved “my bad.” Your music is gorgeous and I’m so happy you shared it with us. Would you like to tell us a little bit more about yourself as an artist?
MAYS: I have written songs from a very young age. I’ve always known this is what I wanted to do. Music is a form of therapy for me. It’s like journaling but more fun!
What genre do you consider “my bad” and the rest of your discography, and what do you find yourself writing about?
MAYS: Genres are so hard to describe. I would consider myself more indie. I tend to write mostly about different relationship dynamics I’ve experienced within my life. Writing is so interesting because I really don’t even need to experience something to write about it. It’s like watching a movie; you might not have had the exact same situation happen to you but you can resonate with how it felt. It’s so cool!
I saw on Instagram that you’re a big roller skater! That’s amazing. Did this hobby come before or after music, and do they as interests intersect with each other at all?
MAYS: Yes! I love rollerskating. I’ve skated at the rink since I was a child. I just started park skating about two years ago and it’s so fun. I love my skate homies. The community is like no other. I’ve actually met so many musicians from going to the park. It’s so cool meeting other skaters who use music as a creative outlet.
For anyone who’s feeling the same as you did, reflected in the lyrics of “my bad,” what is your message to them? Was this song cathartic for you?
MAYS: When I wrote “my bad,” I was going through a lot of realizations. I had been in a very off-and-on toxic relationship dynamic that I swore I’d never go back to… until I did. I felt so stupid for allowing him back into my life. I was going through a lot and he said all the right things, but nothing had really changed. My message to anyone that resonates— sometimes you have to experience something again and again to realize it’s not what you want and that’s ok. It’s never a loss, just lessons learned.
What other artists inspire you?
MAYS: Even though my music doesn’t really sound like some of my favorite artists, I loveTate McRae, Clairo, Olivia O’Brien, Sasha Sloan, Zara Larsson, and so many more. I just love the way they write. Other than that, I draw inspiration from just about anything. I used to get my sister to give me random words just so I could try to write a song with them.
Is it nerve-racking at all to put forth such personal music? I’ve listened to “my bad” along with a handful of your other singles, “my little project,” “i like being scared” and “watch me” and they all contain such frankness with vulnerable lyrics. I admire that, but I can imagine it’s scary sometimes.
MAYS: It’s definitely a little scary. I feel like when you’re putting your art out in any shape or form, you have to release the fear of being perceived. Sharing something you created is so vulnerable already; you have to learn how to allow others to see you in whatever light they choose. I prefer to be as real as possible. That’s just who I am as a person; I’m pretty straightforward. I love hearing lyrics that feel like the artist sees right through me. That’s the feeling I wish to create within my own music.
Do you have any future projects or performances on the horizon you’d like to put out there?
MAYS: I do, I have my first EP coming out in July. I’m so excited! All the production, composing, singing, and playing is done by me and I’m so excited to finally share it.
Keep a lookout for Lauren Mays’ upcoming EP this July, and for now, be sure to add “my bad” to your rotation of songs this summer. It’s the perfect tune for a mellow walk in the sun or journaling under the shade of a tree.