The opening guitar intro is energetic yet melodic at the same time if that’s even possible? Then 10 seconds into ‘Keep Trying’ you get to hear Lauren Bird, a clean, crisp, punctuated voice that lets you know, you’re in good hands.. The tune has a folksy feel to it, free from formulaic structure. It is certainly of its time, in that it fits in with what we all seem to be going through, the buzzwords being covid and lockdowns. Social media has become the new distraction, however, this is also fraught with unattainable outward appearance pressures, as everyone seems to be putting on a brave face in their posts, yet inwardly we’re all trying to just survive. This is especially true for our younger generation who haven’t the resilience of life experiences to shrug most of these ever-mounting pressures to be ‘body perfect’.
The song is a wistful cuddle to those struggling, one that reaches out to everyone and lets them know that things will get better, to actively ignore those that seek to put them down and to give yourself permission to speak your own truth and not be pushed around. Basically, live your own life, don’t try to compare yourself to others.
As Lauren explains, “Keep Trying is a song I wrote about my frustrations with societal norms and beauty standards. I thought a lot about how I felt as a teenager growing up and how uncomfortable I felt in my own skin. Sending love to those who still struggle with looking in the mirror.”
There is no getting away from the fact, that with pop-folk fusion, Bird has certainly achieved peak appeal and will be creating great music for many many years to come. ‘Keep Trying’ is Lauren’s second track from her just announced The Farewell EP, out early March.
