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Lauren Mayberry

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Lauren Mayberry
Mayberry performing in 2023
Background information
Birth nameLauren Eve Mayberry
Born (1987-10-07) 7 October 1987 (age 37)
Thornhill, Stirling, Scotland
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • drums
  • percussion
  • keyboards
Years active2003–present
Labels
Member ofChvrches
Formerly of
  • Blue Sky Archives
  • Boyfriend/Girlfriend
Websitelaurenmayberry.co.uk

Lauren Eve Mayberry (born 7 October 1987) is a Scottish musician who is the vocalist and percussionist of the pop band Chvrches.[7] In Chvrches, Mayberry co-writes and co-produces the songs with Iain Cook and Martin Doherty, and sings as the lead vocalist. She also plays drums and keyboards. Mayberry is a soprano.[8] She is also an active feminist and philanthropist.[9]

Early life and education

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Mayberry was born in 1987 in Thornhill, Stirling.[10][11] She has played the piano since she was a child and drums since she was a teenager.[12]

Mayberry attended Beaconhurst School (now known as Fairview International School) a private school in Bridge of Allan. She also lived in Gladstone, Illinois, as a foreign-exchange student.[13] After completing a four-year undergraduate law degree at the University of Strathclyde, she earned a master's degree in journalism in 2010, and won the Royal Environmental Health Institute for Scotland Journalism Award.[14][15][16] This led her into a career in freelance journalism and production running. From 2009 to 2010 she was a contributor[17] to the UK music website The Line of Best Fit.

Career

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Mayberry performing with Chvrches in 2012

From age 15 until 22, she played drums in various bands.[18] Prior to Chvrches, Mayberry was involved in two local bands, Boyfriend/Girlfriend and Blue Sky Archives.[18] In Blue Sky Archives, she was a vocalist and played the drums and keyboards.[18] As a member of Blue Sky Archives, Mayberry also covered the Rage Against the Machine song "Killing in the Name" which was released as a single.[19]

In September 2011, Iain Cook of Aereogramme and The Unwinding Hours produced Blue Sky Archives' Triple A-Side EP.[18] Cook started a new project with his friend Martin Doherty and asked Mayberry to sing on a couple of demos.[15] They wrote together for seven or eight months in a basement studio in Glasgow.[18] Cook, Mayberry and Doherty decided to form a new band after the sessions proved to be successful.[15] The band chose the name Chvrches, using a Roman "v" to distinguish themselves from actual churches on internet searches.[15]

Mayberry performing with Chvrches in 2016

In 2013, the band signed to Glassnote Records after releasing the tracks "Lies" and "The Mother We Share" in 2012.[20] Their debut EP, Recover, was released in 2013.[21] The band released their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe, on 20 September 2013.[22]

Mayberry has collaborated with artists such as Marshmello,[23] Death Cab For Cutie,[24] Bleachers, The National,[25] the lead singer of Paramore, Hayley Williams,[26] and The Cure's frontman, Robert Smith.[27]

In 2023, it was announced that Mayberry would be releasing solo material for the first time, which would be accompanied by a US and European/UK tour later in the year.[28] She released her debut solo single, "Are You Awake?", on 1 September 2023.[29] This was followed by the singles "Shame", "Change Shapes", "Something in the Air" and "Crocodile Tears" over the next year. Her debut album Vicious Creature was released on 6 December 2024.[30]

Activism and philanthropy

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Feminism and women's rights

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Mayberry performing with Chvrches at The Greek theatre in Griffith Park, Los Angeles in September 2018

Mayberry is a vocal feminist and is the founder of TYCI, a feminist collective in Glasgow.[31] Her ongoing work with the organisation includes written contributions to the online magazine and blog, and she can be heard regularly on TYCI podcasts.[32] The group also holds live events, raising money for charities like Glasgow Women's Aid.[33]

In September 2013, Mayberry wrote an article for The Guardian in response to misogynist messages she received online.[34] She wrote:

What I do not accept ... is that it is all right for people to make comments ranging from 'a bit sexist but generally harmless' to openly sexually aggressive. That it is something that 'just happens'. Is the casual sexual objectification of women so commonplace that we should all just suck it up, roll over and accept defeat? I hope not. Objectification, whatever its form, is not something anyone should have to 'just deal with'.

She discussed the issue again in a Talks at Google session in 2014[35] and on Channel 4 News, following aggressive responses to the band's video for "Leave a Trace".[36]

Mayberry is a patron of Rape Crisis Glasgow[9] and has been involved with other organisations such as Water Aid,[37] The Yellow Bird Project,[38] Wild Aid[39] and Plus 1,[40] donating a portion of Chvrches' ticket sales to Amnesty International. She has also been involved with Glasgow's Rock School For Girls[41] and Amy Poehler's Smart Girls.[42]

In 2015, Mayberry wrote about an abusive personal relationship for Jenni Konner and Lena Dunham's Lenny Letter.[43] In December 2016, Mayberry took part in a fundraiser show with Carly Rae Jepsen, Lorde and Charli XCX for the Ally Coalition,[44] an organisation started by Jack Antonoff to raise money for homeless LGBT youth.[45]

In 2024, she was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Strathclyde.[16]

United States politics

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Mayberry has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration and has attributed his presidency with the rise of global activism for social issues, calling him "an unpunished sexual predator in office."[46] Referring to the mixed reaction by the crowd to a Trump joke she told at a concert, Mayberry said "you can't say you don't think he's a racist. You can't say you don't think he's a sexist. You can't say you don't think he's transphobic and homophobic, 'cause he has shown us who he is."[47]

Mayberry is a staunch advocate for gun control in the United States. Following the Sutherland Springs church shooting, Mayberry released a video recounting her memory of the Dunblane massacre in which 16 children and one teacher were murdered with handguns, resulting in sweeping gun control legislation in the UK. Mayberry credits these efforts with substantially decreasing the number of mass shootings in the UK.[48]

Personal life

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As of 2020, Mayberry lived in Los Angeles.[49]

Mayberry and actor Justin Long have engaged in multiple philanthropic activities together, including hosting a holiday variety show charity fundraiser at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles[50] and travelling together to Nicaragua to visit a women's shelter.[51] In May 2018, The Guardian identified Long as Mayberry's boyfriend.[52] Mayberry subsequently suggested that these claims were false.[53] In September 2018, People reported that Long had split from Mayberry, "whom he began dating in 2016".[54] During an interview with Rolling Stone in October 2018, Mayberry indicated that she was single.[55]

In 2019, Mayberry met her current boyfriend, Sam Stewart when his band Lo Moon was opening for Chvrches.[56][57] Sam is the son of Eurythmics member Dave Stewart.[58]

Discography

[edit]
Mayberry performing with Chvrches in 2019
Solo
With Boyfriend/Girlfriend[59]
  • Kill Music EP (2007)
  • Optimism EP (2008)
With Blue Sky Archives
  • Blue Sky Archives EP (2010)
  • Plural EP (2011)
  • "Killing in the Name" (2011)
  • Triple A-Side EP (2012)
With Chvrches
Main article: Chvrches discography

As a featured artist

References

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  1. ^ Sharples, Grant (19 October 2021). "Chvrches brings pop horror to the House of Blues". Boston.com. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. ^ Varga, George (9 December 2021). "Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches got emotional at her first concert of 2021, but it wasn't by her band: 'I wept!'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  3. ^ Scott, Kate (10 May 2019). "Chvrches Are Still The Rulers Of Electropop". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  4. ^ Cleary, Andrea (27 August 2021). "Chvrches: Screen Violence review – A small step up". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  5. ^ "ABOUT - Blue Sky Archives". 22 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Get 'Lost in Music' with John Meagher". The Irish Independent. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. ^ Cohen, Ian (27 February 2011). "Rising: Chvrches who also include Martin Doherty, Iain Cook and unofficially since 2018 Jonny Scott". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  8. ^
  9. ^ a b "Chvrches singer Lauren Mayberry: 'No rape victim should have to wait for help'". 30 March 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  10. ^ Bromwich, Kathryn (30 November 2014). "On my radar: Lauren Mayberry's cultural highlights". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  11. ^ Jamieson, Teddy (21 April 2013). "Past experience helps Chvrches handle the hype". The Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  12. ^ "Chvrches Find Their Place in a Pop World". MTVIggy.com. MTV. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Lauren vs. Funnel Cake". YouTube. 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021.
  14. ^ Taylor Bennett, Kim (29 November 2012). "Dollars to Pounds: Chvrches". TheFader.com. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  15. ^ a b c d Savage, Mark (31 December 2012). "BBC Sound of 2013: Chvrches". BBC News. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  16. ^ a b Media, P. A. (26 June 2024). "Scots singer and World Cup-winning footballer awarded honorary degrees". STV News. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Authors: Lauren Mayberry". thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  18. ^ a b c d e Stern, Marlow (10 July 2013). "Chvrches Is the Most Addicting Band of the Summer". Newsweek. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  19. ^ Coplan, Chris (23 May 2013). "Listen to Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry cover Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  20. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (16 September 2013). "Chvrches' Hype Dreams: Can Blog Buzz Produce A Hit Album?". Billboard.com. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  21. ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (25 March 2013). "Chvrches – Recover EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  22. ^ "Reviews for The Bones of What You Believe". metacritic.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  23. ^ "Marshmello releases new single in collaboration with Chvrches and Lauren Mayberry as main vocalist: Watch - Marshmello". 8 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Death Cab For Cutie Perform With Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry: Watch - Pitchfork". Pitchfork. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  25. ^ Live Nation TV (3 December 2015). "The National ft. Lauren Mayberry Perform "I Need My Girl" at Treasure Island Music Festival". Retrieved 15 February 2017 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "Chvrches & Hayley Williams Get Animated in 'Bury It' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  27. ^ "Chvrches Announce New Album, Team Up With The Cure's Robert Smith for 'How Not to Drown'". Billboard. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  28. ^ Mier, Tomás (20 July 2023). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry Announces Solo Music, Tour During Band Hiatus". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry shares snippet of debut solo single 'Are You Awake?'". Yahoo News. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  30. ^ Savage, Mark (6 December 2024). "Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches: I was always trying to make everyone happy". BBC News Online. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  31. ^ Martin, Jen (27 January 2014). "TYCI – Sounds, Ideas, Collected". Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  32. ^ "TYCI by TYCI on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  33. ^ "Sleater-Kinney // Glasgow Women's Aid Collection – TYCI". Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  34. ^ Mayberry, Lauren (30 September 2013). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry: 'I will not accept online misogyny'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  35. ^ Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES: "Music, Gender and Social Media" | Talks at Google, 10 September 2014, retrieved 4 January 2020
  36. ^ "Chvrches lead singer Lauren Mayberry on misogynistic trolls". Channel 4 News. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2017 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ "Chvrches help WaterAid transform lives with new limited-edition water bottle - Press releases - WaterAid UK". Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  38. ^ "CHVRCHES". Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  39. ^ "Lauren Mayberry on Twitter". Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  40. ^ "+1+1+1+1+1+1". Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  41. ^ "Rock'n'Roll Summer School for Girls Glasgow". Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  42. ^ Staff, SmartGirls (16 May 2016). "Smart Snacks: Lauren Mayberry on Cyberbullying". Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  43. ^ "Lauren Mayberry Pens Essay On Abusive Relationship For Lena Dunham's Newsletter". 27 October 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  44. ^ "The Ally Coalition". Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  45. ^ "Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, Charli XCX & Others Come Out for Ally Coalition Talent Show". Billboard. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  46. ^ Helen Meriel Thomas (30 April 2018). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry praises rise in global activism against Trump presidency". NME. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  47. ^ Stephen, Bijan (21 May 2018). "The Defiant Anthems of Chvrches". GQ. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  48. ^ Jones, Damian (6 November 2017). "Chvrches singer Lauren Mayberry hits out at Donald Trump over Texas shooting". NME.
  49. ^ Bonnar, Myles (8 May 2020). "Chvrches singer Lauren Mayberry on lockdown life in LA". BBC News. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  50. ^ "CHVRCHES' Lauren Mayberry and Justin Long Host A Night Of Laughs, Music And Charitable Giving". Forbes. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  51. ^ Drew Sutton (25 June 2017). "next steps". Vimeo. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  52. ^ Mossman, Kate (20 May 2018). "Chvrches: 'It only takes two seconds to say: I don't agree with white supremacy'". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  53. ^ "It's OK, CHVRCHES Doesn't Actually Believe Love Is Dead". Lenny Letter. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  54. ^ Fernandez, Alexia (13 September 2018). "Drew Barrymore and Ex Justin Long Spotted Together in NYC: Report". People. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  55. ^ Exposito, Suzy (14 October 2018). "Chvrches Share Metallica, Pearl Jam Impressions in Rolling Stone Morning Sessions" (Interview). Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  56. ^ Mossman, Kate (20 April 2024). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry: 'I was fixated with death… I needed to live in reality'". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  57. ^ Lauren Mayberry | Couples Therapy, 25 October 2022, retrieved 19 November 2022
  58. ^ Mossman, Kate (20 April 2024). "Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry: 'I was fixated with death… I needed to live in reality'". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  59. ^ "Boyfriend / Girlfriend's Albums | Stream Online Music Albums | Listen Free on Myspace". 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
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