...Continued

An Awakening
to Gift a World

A Message

More Than Just a Cover

An Iconic Venue For a Special Occasion

During exchanges with Loren's followers over the years, I've observed that despite their wide diversity, they seem to share an appreciation for who she remains as much as who she has become—setting her apart from what often emerges after success in the industry. There are, of course, many admired artists in the music industry today, across many different genres. Although Loren's popularity now spans the globe, keep in mind that this story has not been about rating or ranking anyone's place in the industry—but rather the growth and transformation that we have seen arise from a new perspective and a newfound awareness. This continues to be a story about the potential that can be awakened if you can summon the will to search for it, the dedication to nurture it, and the courage to give it wings—to fly! Loren's followers are now many and continue to grow, but it's more about how deeply she affects them, not just about numbers—touched hearts are worth more than just the ears of pleased listeners, as seen time and again in this story.

Turning our attention to her current role as an independent artist and businesswoman, I'm reminded of other artists who have taken control of their careers and broadened their roles. I won't single them out, but several have successfully crossed into other music genres and other media platforms. Loren has already proven herself across genres and seems poised to show similar versatility elsewhere. Now self-directed, she hires talented production personnel, quality musicians, selects boutique labels for distribution, and performs where she chooses. Appearing to choose the most efficient pathways toward her goals, she seems able to just point her finger in whatever direction she would like to go next. To touch upon that versatility, these mini-vignettes provide a few light-hearted examples.

Songwriter

Refined Tastes

Local Savvy

Loren, the gleeful spirit

Loren Allred, sophisticate

Just a Brooklyn gal

In Part 1, just before Loren's 2012 TV appearance on The Voice, I mentioned my focus on the Summer Olympics in London. The opening and closing ceremonies featured performances by rising UK singer Emeli Sande. There are more connections between the following three artists than most would suspect. Know that Emeli's first name is Adele, but she chose to use her middle name (Emily) because rising star Adele was already known at the time. Adele's "Chasing Pavements" was one of the songs Loren uploaded to YouTube while still in school, leading to her early signing with a label. A common thread linking all three artists was the early influence of Lauryn Hill. Regarding 'self', Adele's insistence on remaining herself strongly coincides with Loren's decisions throughout her journey. Emeli expressed a similar show of strength by adding a tattoo image of Frida Kahlo, a renowned artist who refused to adapt her style to suit her clientele. To my knowledge, Loren has never commented on her ink, but she has certainly shown her strength and resilience when needed. Then there is the fact that Emeli and Loren both entered the industry at roughly the same time, and both endured similar struggles during that time, although Loren unfortunately faced issues beyond just contracts and broken promises. Now independent, the U.K.'s Raye knows that scenario all too well. By February 2012, Emeli Sande had released her first album, "Our Version of Things", containing the track "Clown", which portrayed those hardships and emotions experienced early on.

Aside from just interest, the connections above factor into the performance included below, specifically the raw intensity and emotion seen and heard. The lyrics in "Clown" mostly reenact the struggles Emeli faced in trying to get signed by a label, while they portray the puppeteering and manipulation that Loren faced after the ink had dried. The memory of those moments alone is enough to account for the intensity evident in this studio release. But there is an additional factor that lends special importance to what you're about to see and hear. During an interview in 2025, Loren stated she would be releasing a song from her recording industry days that was to have been on her album—which her label never released. Loren later confirmed that her cover of "Clown" was indeed that song—I'd love to know what else was on that album. Backstory aside, this recording stands on its own, impressively demonstrating the power of a memory, a shared experience, and what they can evoke. The black-and-white format was the perfect choice for this video. The vocals, song lyrics, and story speak for themselves, so I'll simply suggest noting the number of shifts (20 or more) and the control throughout. This cover should've dropped 14 years ago. Enjoy Loren's version of "Clown."

A Song Revisited

Loren's emotionally charged, long-overdue cover of "Clown"

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Royal Albert Hall was opened by Queen Victoria in 1872. To appreciate the significance of this 2025 event, we should briefly return to 2010, when Ne-Yo championed Loren's signing with a label, having heard her on YouTube. It should have marked the beginning of her rise to stardom, but when her two lone allies departed the label a short time later, Loren was left behind in a no man's land of contract obligations with a stalled career that was constantly being obstructed. Her label, for reasons known only to them, offered her to TV's The Voice as a contestant—the final blow. Exhausted and depressed, she chose to let her contract lapse and walk away from the recording industry. Pivot from that October 2012 television appearance on The Voice to this October 2025 appearance at the Royal Albert Hall, and you will surely view this moment in a different light.

Having lived the journey within this story, she now stands on a stage previously shared by Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali, and a multitude of other legends. Her performance would be seen on TV and Theater screens throughout Europe and streamed around the world. Hats off to Westlife for wanting to bring new life to this song as a special dedication to one of their own, and for selecting Loren to help do so.

Some Perspective

Photo by Enrique

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Loren Allred's wedding photo by Forthephoto

Moments in the Circle of Life

Loren Allred's special guest appearance with Westlife / "Flying Without Wings"

Loren Allred / "Clown" Official Video, May 12, 2025

ITV - Oct 27, 2025, Westlife's 25th Anniversary Tour Concert

One's vision and objectives are often blurred when success requires that others join the journey. In that instance, your two greatest allies are your instincts and a reliable counterpart. The former has always served Loren well, and the comfort and support of the latter are something we're all either grateful for or wish we had. Those who've seen my much-neglected learning site, cogsoma.com, will note the similarity of Loren's journey and the circle of life depicted there, from dreams and struggle to fulfillment in multiple ways. For Loren, so much lies ahead in both career and life—having a trusted ally by her side can only help her reach for her own star, rather than the ones that others would have her reach for. (Loren Allred's wedding photo by Forthephoto)

Loren posted her wedding comments and photos in September 2025, though the event took place earlier in the year. I chose not to include them at the time, respecting her privacy. Now readily found online, I'll add this special occasion to her story—I join with those who attended and others in celebrating their union. She has often acknowledged his support and help in keeping her grounded.

For the regular concert the following night, they requested Loren, who was flown in from New York, and she suddenly found herself performing on a stage she had dreamed of someday standing on, one treasured by all who have stood in her place throughout history. It proved to be a special night for the audience and performers alike; so special that, afterward, her performance replaced the original first-night performance for the official ITV broadcast and Cinema release. From the moment she entered the song, the rich, resonant tone stood out during the opening lyrics, blending beautifully with Westlife and the other voices. Her powerful finish gave everyone what they were hoping for, and the surprise inclusion in the telecast and cinema release was a wonderful tribute to how she was embraced by all: band members, orchestra, and, of course, the audience. I've replaced the original video link with the official ITV broadcast upload below, although portions of the introduction were left out.

With a World Music Award, four Record of the Year Awards, and multiple world tours, Westlife needs no introduction to music fans. The original group was formed in 1998 and is currently composed of Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Their third #1 single, "Flying Without Wings," won Record of the Year. After eleven world tours and a six-year split, they reunited in 2018 and resumed their world tours. In 2024, tenor Mark Feehily suffered a health setback, but his absence didn't stop the trio from touring. In June 2025, they announced that their "The 25th Anniversary Tour" would launch in October with a first-time appearance at London's Royal Albert Hall, on two consecutive nights. The first performance was structured for filming a TV and Cinema Special, with the second night being a regular full concert. On both occasions, "Flying Without Wings" would be dedicated to missing member, Mark Feehily, and to make it even more special, the group chose to add guest artists to perform in his absence. For the TV & cinema filming session, U.K. singing star Kirsten Joy, of Clean Bandit, was selected.

Photo by David Levene/The Guardian

But First...

By Stedáwi

No AI-generated content

A National Honor & A First-Time Role

Loren was invited to perform at the Capital Fourth event for the 4th time. However, for this special 250th anniversary celebration, she was honored twice—first, by serving as a co-host, and second, by being asked to deliver the closing performance. Was this a first step toward one of those 'other platforms' previously mentioned? Regardless, it was a grand way to support the event and close the show against a backdrop of Mount Vernon framed by fireworks!

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Loren Allred co-hosts & performs live for A Capital Fourth 2026 on 07/03/26, PBS

"... deeply moved & appreciative"

The Power of Words & Music

Inspired by the story, "An Awakening To Gift A World" by S.D. Williams (Stedáwi)— A narrative-based tribute to Loren Allred (Lyrics by S.Baresic)

I speak only for myself with the subheading, "deeply moved and appreciative," though I can't imagine Loren feeling much differently. "The Power of Words & Music," however, speaks freely—far and wide, empowered all the more by 'imagery'. Each can impact and influence separately, but when they join to tell a story, it's a powerful force. It generates feelings and emotions, elicits thoughts and memories, and influences attitudes and directions. Having this story reach across an ocean and inspire someone to honor its central figure with this beautiful tribute means a lot to me. The late nights feel all the more justified when someone far away shares an appreciation of her journey—overcoming both adversity and adversaries, including a few within—rising to claim her place at the top. They had seen, heard, and felt what I had wanted to convey in my narrative. Allow me to share that person's contribution to both her journey and my own

A small thumbnail of Loren's AGT audition was left in the "Comments" section beneath my repost of her Capital Fourth performance (seen above). I often see these after a post, viewers assuming the post was my only exposure to the artist. I realize their intentions are good. I paused, having seen that audition many times and covered it thoroughly in Part 4, but then clicked on it to see which part they wanted to show me. In almost the same motion, I moved to delete what was obviously not Loren singing. But during that brief moment, the lyrics stopped me—it wasn't a deepfake attempt; it was a song 'about her'—a tribute. Somehow, the song's verse and structure seemed oddly familiar — not so much in the opening lyrics per se, but in how they collectively reflected my story's narrative — that is, until the last few lines of verse, which left me feeling I had actually written the song. The orchestration infused the phrases with the very emotions the story sought to convey, and the way it resonated in me felt similar to the events of August 2008, when an instinct arose from a discovery. This time the occasion would not be pushed aside, as it had been in Boston during that first visit — being left to wonder about indefinitely. Thus, a friendly inquiry — "Did you create this song from my story about her, or did it just seem that way? A nod to you for a nice tribute to an artist 'the world now listens to and wants to hear more of'—Regards, from the author of 'An Awakening To Gift A World." I awoke the next day to find a reply: "Yes, your story and Loren's life journey inspired me to write this song. I just didn't know how to share it with you and her. She is now my new sensation, and I hope I will read more from you in the future..." SB.

I'm deeply appreciative of Mr. Baresic's acknowledgment that this story and Loren's incredible journey did indeed inspire his song. The final lyrics beautifully reflect what the story portends for her—"a voice that touched the world and still has more to give."