An Awakening
To Gift A World
Part 2
Looking Back
'Hard on myself' is an apt description at times, and a trait that often overrides my intent and destroys the outcome. Such was the case during that first visit to Boston. I was focused on the couple hosting me, prerace and postrace logistics, and prepping for the run itself. But my later disgust was over not finding time to search for someone who had actually played a role in my even being there. Hynes Center, home to the race hub and expo, is just two blocks from the Berklee College of Music. I couldn't possibly have foreseen the long and winding journey that either of us would later face, but I certainly could have left a message wishing her the best and humorously thanking her for helping with mine at that point. The thought weighed on my mind the entire flight home.
During my second visit, in 2012, despite never finding Loren, I still thought of asking to see the school. I'm not sure why, maybe just to know how it felt to be there, the look and feel of the classrooms, the sounds, the smell of the hallways, but not being a musician or singer, I was reluctant to ask, so I left and walked back to the transit station with the emptiest feeling inside. I had been so sure I could make up for my previous blunder. The absence of news or updates had only increased my curiosity. Once my conviction is born, it's there until time proves me wrong, or else confirms what I was convinced of. But three years and no sight or mention of her was starting to take its toll. Had all those bizarre coincidences created a conviction in me that only reflected what I had wanted to be true?
While at Berklee, Loren had uploaded covers of Mariah Carey, Adele, and Alicia Keys. She had been a Mariah fan since childhood, and her cover of "Vision of Love" with fellow student Kris Collins was her first upload to YouTube. We're treated to the earliest displays of her low notes, runs, belting (of course), and an ending that more than hints at what's to come. Each of her several uploads was such a talent reveal at that young age. I still wonder...What if this version of her had appeared on The Voice, a couple of years later, instead of the girl beaten down by the industry at that point?
I felt it was important to return to this time in her life before things began to go awry! It was wonderful to see her sing in such a relaxed and playful manner...minus the pressure of being on stage. Listening to this cover, one can easily understand why one of her uploads was noticed by Ne-Yo's team, who then introduced her to the industry and, for me at least, validated my initial reaction to her American Idol audition in 2008. Watching this clip is a bittersweet reminder of what I didn't manage to do that first time in Boston!
All of that aside, we now move our focus to Brooklyn, New York, where Loren was charting a new course for herself, still filled with uncertainties, but viewing the future with a fresh new perspective.
A New Beginning
Loren may have given up the dream of being a successful recording artist, but there was never a thought of giving up singing. It's hard to imagine a talent this immense working as a waitress, barista, or bartender, but it's true for thousands of talented artists, and it may have been a blessing in disguise for Loren. Regardless of how she might have viewed herself at this point, it would seem she was now one of those many I spoke of in the introduction, the ones who decide to settle for less to continue doing what they love. I would guess that she approached being a barista with the same focus and determination that she brought to singing. That mindset is part of who she is and largely accounts for where she is today. Life can be such a roll of the dice, and I have to wonder, "What if?" What if her label had released her album, and it had earned acclaim? What if she had won "The Voice"? Maybe those roads would have led to success as a recording artist, but think of what we wouldn't have today if that had been the case. I seriously doubt that an industry-bred version of her would have been anything close to who she has become on her own! I have to believe that her extraordinary stage presence when performing is partly owing to all of the many experiences and hardships along the way, and not just a product of coaching or practicing in front of a mirror. There is a realness to it, an authenticity that, when combined with her vocal abilities, conveys a story in a way that few others can.
The two years that followed her departure from the industry began calmly enough, but they would soon lead to a convergence of meaningful opportunities, connections, and decisions. She resumed uploading videos to YouTube and singing at weddings, but replaced the stage and spotlight with session work in studios. There were new connections, and there were previous ones that evolved, but I lack the source reliability needed to verify the exact who, when, and how related to each of them. She commuted back to Boston to sing with a wedding band, but its members are unknown to me. Michel Heyaca, an integral part of Loren's work from early on, graduated from the Berklee College of Music the same year that Loren first attended, and was part of the music trio Liptease in NYC, alongside one of Loren's current managers, but I'm not sure at what point they came together. Zak Resnick, who became a close friend, was a cast member of Broadway's "Mamma Mia" and worked at a restaurant, as did Loren. Thus, in summary, by balancing her music projects with support-related jobs, she shared a path that many other performers traveled. This network of friendships and connections to persons and projects within the area's entertainment community led to collaborations that included studio sessions and demos for upcoming stage and film productions. One such collaboration was with Jonathan Gealt, as seen in the link below. Gealt had several artists sing each of several songs that would appear on his upcoming album. It was Loren's impressive version of "Movin' On" that he chose to add, and it's worth comparing the ending of this song to the ending of her first YouTube upload, "Vision Of Love," while still a student at Berklee College, three years earlier. Despite how impressive the range, power, and control are, the fullness of the top end is still being cultivated. What stands out, both then and now, is the "tone", especially in the middle and lower register, an unmistakable signature that's appreciated by so many listeners. With only one acoustic guitar, she transforms this song into a stage-worthy emotional performance, with multiple shifts and her distinct vibrato. The black and white video format was a nice choice for this cozy setting.
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The Beauty of Simplicity
I mentioned the growing list of connections, projects, and events. 2013 began such a run of events that it's difficult for those on the outside to know the exact dates and order of occurrence. One such event that will no doubt forever remain in Loren's mind was her friend, Natalie Weiss, introducing her to the little-known songwriting duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. She was hired to record a demo for the upcoming movie, "Pitch Perfect 3," well in advance of filming. Apparently, their submission was not chosen, as no mention appears on the soundtrack, but they would continue to call upon Loren for other sessions. One, of particular note, was a demo session for a song called "Rewrite The Stars", but with no mention of what it was for. A different collaboration was with her friend, Zak Resnick, recording a duet cover of "Say Something." I've listened to so many versions of the song, including the original solo, the duet with Christina Aguilera, Christina's solo, Alex & Sierra's version from The X Factor, and more. Some were live or taped live performances with extensive sets and orchestration, others were highly polished studio productions, and each was enjoyable to see and hear. What stood out and separated the version by Zak and Loren was the contrast in format, given that I was seeing and hearing two unadorned performers, a microphone, a single front-facing camera, a blank backdrop, and far less post-production work. In other words, I was seeing and hearing a performance in its purest form, laced with what was seen and felt as raw emotion in a song that is powerfully emotional to begin with. Opinions vary, of course, and yours may differ widely from mine, so have a listen for yourself, and then I'll share my thoughts.
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"Say Something" is one of those songs that gets inside your head, regardless of who is performing it, so hats off to Ian Axel and Chad King, alongside Mike Campbell, for creating it. Ian and Mike were both going through breakups at the time, and those feelings and emotions were channeled beautifully. The above heading, "Embedded," aptly describes my reaction to this performance. I replayed it several times initially, and many times since. Even the crying crescendo was harmonized beautifully, and I found Loren's expressiveness, which ranged from distant and forlorn to vulnerable and anguished, literally drew me into the song.
Zak Resnick is a stage actor/singer whose voice was more than adequate for this song, and Loren just seems more accomplished each time out. The solemn mood and the sense of despair were almost palpable. The blended harmony, the timing, and the emphatic pauses gave it such a personal feel. More notably, it rose to a higher peak during the apex cry than the other versions did. Feel free to compare that tandem cry to the other versions and form your own opinion, but for me, it was no contest. Adding to the sense of realism was the unpolished format with the dressed-down attire and lack of makeup, and just the one camera capturing the emotions. But what contributed the most to that realism was the authenticity of the cries, especially Loren's. If this were a BDTR moment, you would have to break that crying riff into eight or nine "cry notes"...spread between an utterance, a stifle, and a burst of anguish. There were no dramatic gestures for the camera, just raw expression. Note that the emotion began to appear on her face a couple of seconds before the cry, just adding to the authenticity. It was the combined visuals and vocals that embedded this performance in my mind and showed her rapidly developing ability to tell a story rather than just sing a song.
A Beautiful Cover with a Message
Natalie Weiss is an accomplished singer and vocal coach. She has appeared on several of the same soundtracks that Loren has appeared on and collaborated with the same notable songwriters. She gave life to the term "BDTR" with her "Breaking Down the Riffs" series on YouTube. Needless to say, as both friends and colleagues, there is great mutual respect, and their joining forces created something special with this duet cover of Jojo's "I Am." It was recorded at Candy Studio in Manhattan, at a time when both artists were involved in the production of the musical film, The Greatest Showman, as ensemble members, with Loren also recording the demo tracks for the female cast. You'll recall that in 2013, it was Natalie who had introduced Loren to the film's songwriters, Pasek & Paul. At this point, spring of 2017, the filming was completed, and post-production was nearly so, with the soundtrack being the last part to lock in place. The movie and all of the backstory regarding the project were unknown to me at the time, so I was seeing and listening to this performance solely for what it was: a spectacle of talent on display. I was simply listening to the richness of tone and resonance in Loren's rising and falling notes, Natalie's precise control and piercing high notes, Jaz Sealy's beautiful guitar work, and seeing all those wonderful faces. Combined, they created a powerful and impressive version of this song, one of my favorite duets. I would think they were both feeling good about where their careers had led them at this point, and I can't imagine anyone not enjoying what they see and hear in this cover.
Into the Storm
2015 was a bittersweet year for me. I lost my father, but not before giving him a special gift on his 100th birthday, something I'd dreamed of for years. I wish he could've stayed a bit longer because he would've loved this story.
One thing I found true of star performers is that, despite having an off night, they're still equal to, or better than, everyone else in the game. This performance of "Caught in the Storm" was at the SubCulture music venue, beneath the street, in the NoHo neighborhood of New York City. I don't know if this was an actual performance or a filmed recording session. Benj Pasek & and Justin Paul had Loren perform the song following its success in the 2nd season of the TV series Smash. It had been a surprise acceptance and was performed by Katharine McPhee in the series. There were mentions that Loren might have been a bit under the weather here, but all the qualities that distinguish her voice are still present. Hearing others perform it, I'm always reminded of what Loren brings to accompany the higher notes. The vibrato and tone, the richness and fullness throughout the range, they're all still present, even if she wasn't at her best on this occasion. Regardless, Justin seemed pleased with it.
The heading above refers to the storm of events that were enveloping her at this time and 'not' to the performance of this song. Her early collaboration with Pasek and Paul for "Pitch Perfect 3" in 2013 had been followed by work for the stage musical, "Dear Evan Hansen", and session work for the film "La La Land." But their next collaboration, which also began forming circa 2014, would prove to be one that would shape her career and ultimately affect her life in ways unimaginable at the time. For now, let's just enjoy this step along the way.
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Closing a Momentous Chapter
*No AI-generated content
Loren Allred's first video uploads while still in music school were soon noticed, and her dream seemed realized
With a fresh perspective, Loren Allred begins her journey anew, here performing a soulful ballad on stage
This duet of "Say Something" stands alone in conveying both story and emotion, while soaring to new heights
Loren and friend/fellow castmember, Natalie Weiss, join to deliver this powerful cover version of Jojo's "I Am"
Friend, Natalie Weiss introduced Loren Allred to Benj Pasek & Justin in 2013, and her future was set in motion
Immersed in lyrics that seem 'lived', Loren delivers a hauntingly soulful version of Michael Mott's "Single City"
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I'm not sure whether to liken the fall of 2017 to a period of Loren exiting the storm of events leading up to it, or just resting in the calm of the storm's eye before the next wave engulfed her. There were multiple projects during the previous three years. But the biggest of them all was now finished. The release date for The Greatest Showman had been delayed to avoid conflicting with the release of La La Land, another film project for which Loren had recorded reference tracks. The Greatest Showman is set to premiere six weeks after this performance and will debut in theaters two weeks later. It will give rise to a new chapter in her life, marked by a myriad of challenges and course changes. Loren's recording of "Single City" by Michael Mott appeared on his "Abandoned Hearts" album, released in September, and this video version followed a month or so later. By that time, the soundtrack for The Greatest Showman had been "locked" and was in the process of being mastered and readied for distribution. In other words, the deal was sealed. I'm sure she appeared elsewhere in the weeks leading up to the film's debut, but this hauntingly soulful performance with Michael on piano seemed an appropriate segue into the next chapter. The motivation and the connections underlying the lyrics in this song are unknown to me, but the choice to have Loren sing it was apropos to say the least, as it very closely aligns with her own personal experience. The more times I see this clip, the more I'm drawn back to it again...perhaps it summons my own memories across a lifetime. It impressed me enough to send Michael a note expressing my admiratioin of his composition and arrangement, including his piano accompaniment here, and applauding his choice to have Loren sing it. He was kind enough to graciously reply. The song is beautifully written, and Loren's rich tone, nuanced shaping, and emotion add such a depth of feeling. Add in the soft, dark setting of the empty room, and it literally gives life to the song. If you've ever lived alone in a big city, then this performance will likely land on you in some meaningful way. It was a splendid collaboration, and Loren's physical and emotional presence in this performance would be perceived by me as one of those shared moments in time spoken of in the "About Site" section, although not in the way you probably assume.
Hope you enjoyed Part 2
Loren Allred/Michael Mott, Oct 25, 2017 - Six weeks before The Greatest Showman's film premiere
Loren Allred/Natalie Weiss, "I Am"(Jojo), Apr 2017...Beautiful voices and friendly faces create this captivating duet
Loren Allred/Justin Paul, "Caught In the Storm", Sep 2016 ... Per the songwriter's request after its 2013 TV success
Zak Resnick/Loren Allred-"Say Something," 2014 ... showcasing feeling, expression. and skill in the purest form
Loren Allred/"Movin On" (by Jonathan Gealt), May 2013 ... Performing at NYC's The Cutting Room
Loren Allred/Kris Collins-"Vision of Love"(Mariah Carey), June 17, 2009 ... First of several uploads to YouTube
