Lauren Smith is originally from Toledo, OH, where she grew up singing in the local jazz scene starting at age 12. She has performed alongside many great jazz musicians, including Jon Hendricks, Johnny O’Neal, Clifford Murphy, Gene Parker, and Ralphe Armstrong. In high school, she was recognized by the DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards, Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, performed with the NAfME All-National Choir in 2018, and was selected to participate in a week-long performance program in NYC with the National YoungArts Foundation. She is a recent graduate of the University of North Texas Jazz Studies program, where she studied jazz voice and worked at the UNT College of Music recording studio for two years. Currently, plays shows around DFW with her band, Sevigh, who released their first EP in December 2023. She is experienced in teaching rock, pop, classical, and musical theatre vocal styles, keys, and guitar. Some of her favorite artists are Jeff Buckley, The Replacements, Aretha Franklin, Mk.gee, Momma, MJ Lenderman, and Alex G.