Lauren Calve Reflects on Change at an Intimate Show at City Winery

D.C–based singer-songwriter Lauren Calve performed songs from her first full-length album, Shift, during an intimate acoustic performance at City Winery in Philadelphia on Monday night.

The album reflects on life changes during her 10 years as an artist, notably, her mindset about music—songs don’t need to fit a genre; they should reflect the authentic her.

Describing her style as Americana–salient in her early works–there are influences in indie, folk, rock, and other genres which add dynamism to her sound.

The use of jangly chord progressions also gives a subtle garage sound. This simple guitar stands out, though, breathing authenticity and elevating the raw and hopeful angst in her voice.

Calve wrote most of Shift during lockdown, one of the biggest life changes for all of us.

She used the time to develop herself as an artist and pursue obscure interests that would ultimately influence her craft–Medieval alchemy and Jungian psychology led to the song Everything at the Same Time, which ponders life's co-existing binaries.

The concept of alchemy also inspired her favorite song, Subtle Alchemy.

The arc of this decade of shifts was traveling to Nashville, TN, to record with members in Sheryl Crow’s band. Calve recalls the memory with reverence and jokes about there being “no imposter syndrome, whatsoever.”

Shift went on to win a 2024 Best Country/Americana album at the Wammie Music Awards.