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“Let us read,
and let us dance;
these two amusements
will never do any harm to the world.”

Voltaire

I’d add let us make music, nuanced words, coupled with epicurean conviviality.
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Who I Am

New Mexico mountains · Los Angeles lights · Big Sur coast · San Francisco · El Paso frontier · Southern Burgundy hills.

My path is a vivid, non-linear journey, moving through life, building from the ground up always, and planting deep roots. It has been a lifetime of trial, error, and passions survived.

Through every shifting horizon, I am a poet and an adventurer, a nurturer, a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister. Loving others and learning their stories is the quiet core of everything I do. I don’t just lean into interests — I dive into them headfirst. Whether it’s crafting a melody, writing a scene, sharing the world of artisan winemakers, creating a dish, or curating spaces, everything I build follows the light:

Do it with intention.
Take the leap.

Figure it out as you go — one note, one word, one risk, one dish at a time.

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Pieces written over the years.
Some found and continue to find their way into melodies;
others were only ever meant for the page and a quiet reflection.

À Vous de Jouer

A debut album by Lauren DaCruz

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These songs are snapshots, a time capsule of the past year- tumultuous and beautiful, and from a deep ache of years past- a yearning to be free, searching for the light at the end of the tunnel. Each song unintentionally ends on a positive note. They come from introspection, are deeply personal, and return to me, making me comfortable in my own skin, like when I was a child, before fear and perfectionism set in. 

While these songs were written quietly on my grandmother’s baby grand piano, in the shower, or tapping a beat on my desk with tears, I’ve never wanted them to stay just there- they’ve always had wings and have wanted to fly and reach whoever they are meant to. 

The light at the end of the tunnel is for all. My hope is for everyone to let themselves shine.  

“I want to see your fire”

              … A Vous de Jouer,

Lauren Kelley,
like Grace DaCruz

 

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You go with me places you only know. You show me the view and you leave me searching. With your shadow and what does it tell you Down that lane is not your alley. It’s bright but it’s cold and leads to nowhere. When you see me you will find me And you go and you go, you go, you go… You take my love, and you offer nothing. There must be words for your silence. Each night I wrestle the ceiling in the dark. The fumes of this space are killing me. I’ve had a long day these thoughts, they are racing. I’m haunted by those dreams of my broken hope. I grab onto each one my eyes on the steep slope. But my feet are on the ground now, so I’ll take the lyric note. The funny thing about all of this, I still want to marvel at the dawn of a new day. And see you next to me feeling the same way. When you see me you will find me And you go and you go, you go, you go…
You go with me places you only know.
You show me the view and you leave me searching.
With your shadow and what does it tell you
Down that lane is not your alley.
It’s bright but it’s cold and leads to nowhere.

When you see me you will find me
And you go and you go, you go, you go…

You take my love, and you offer nothing.
There must be words for your silence.
Each night I wrestle the ceiling in the dark.
The fumes of this space are killing me.

I’ve had a long day these thoughts, they are racing.
I’m haunted by those dreams of my broken hope.
I grab onto each one my eyes on the steep slope.
But my feet are on the ground now, so I’ll take the lyric note.

The funny thing about all of this,
I still want to marvel at the dawn of a new day.
And see you next to me feeling the same way.

When you see me you will find me
And you go and you go, you go, you go…
When you see me
you will find me
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When you see me
you will find me

You go with me places you only know.
You show me the view and you leave me searching.
With your shadow and what does it tell you
Down that lane is not your alley.
It’s bright but it’s cold and leads to nowhere.

When you see me you will find me
And you go and you go, you go, you go…

You take my love, and you offer nothing.
There must be words for your silence.
Each night I wrestle the ceiling in the dark.
The fumes of this space are killing me.

I’ve had a long day these thoughts, they are racing.
I’m haunted by those dreams of my broken hope.
I grab onto each one my eyes on the steep slope.
But my feet are on the ground now, so I’ll take the lyric note.<br/>

The funny thing about all of this,
I still want to marvel at the dawn of a new day.
And see you next to me feeling the same way.

When you see me you will find me
And you go and you go, you go, you go…

I want to see your fire.  I don’t wanna see you break. That flame you got inside you. Is causing you to ache. So what you going do now? To make it go away. And will you find a chorus? To help you save the day.  Cause I want to see your fire.  I don’t wanna see you break. That flame you got inside you. Is causing you to ache. Will you dance along the edge now?  Or will it make you feel afraid? Only you can decide this. It’s only yours to take. Do you think that you’re the first one? To feel this heavy weight? Well please go take a breath now. And smile along the way.
I want to see your fire. 
I don’t wanna see you break.
That flame you got inside you.
Is causing you to ache.
So what you going do now?
To make it go away.
And will you find a chorus?
To help you save the day.
  Cause I want to see your fire. 
I don’t wanna see you break.
That flame you got inside you.
Is causing you to ache.
Will you dance along the edge now? 
Or will it make you feel afraid?
Only you can decide this. It’s only yours to take.
Do you think that you’re the first one?
To feel this heavy weight?
Well please go take a breath now.
And smile along the way.
I want to see your fire
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I want to see your fire

I want to see your fire. 
I don’t wanna see you break.
That flame you got inside you.
Is causing you to ache.
So what you going do now?
To make it go away.
And will you find a chorus?
To help you save the day. 
Cause I want to see your fire. 
I don’t wanna see you break.
That flame you got inside you.
Is causing you to ache.
Will you dance along the edge now? 
Or will it make you feel afraid?
Only you can decide this.
It’s only yours to take.
Do you think that you’re the first one?
To feel this heavy weight?
Well please go take a breath now.
And smile along the way.

Inside her castle
You walked up the stairs you didn’t see me there. The walls ached for a fresh coat of paint, how painfully I can relate. Inside of her room she circled around. She waited until they said that you weren’t in town. And then she took off her dressing gown. Will this longing ever fade? How do I make it go away? Cause I will love you, with or without you. And the story goes on. When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take.  Find the steps I need to take. They led her down the hallway past her quiet room. The water was poured, and she fell inside her womb. She dreamed of the day, he wouldn’t go away. She woke with a start. And she made a silent vow. When sorrow comes take a step and let the light shine down. Cause I will love you, with or without you. And the story goes on. When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take. I’ll find the steps I need to take. I learned from her, to find my own peace. And retrace my steps, so that I can see. Cause I will love you, with or without you. And the story goes on.  When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take. I’ll find the steps I need to take.
You walked up the stairs you didn’t see me there.
The walls ached for a fresh coat of paint, how painfully I can relate.
Inside of her room she circled around.
She waited until they said that you weren’t in town.
And then she took off her dressing gown.
Will this longing ever fade? How do I make it go away?

Cause I will love you, with or without you.
And the story goes on.
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take. 
Find the steps I need to take.

They led her down the hallway past her quiet room.
The water was poured, and she fell inside her womb.
She dreamed of the day, he wouldn’t go away.
She woke with a start. And she made a silent vow.
When sorrow comes take a step and let the light shine down.

Cause I will love you, with or without you.
And the story goes on.
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take.
I’ll find the steps I need to take.

I learned from her, to find my own peace.
And retrace my steps, so that I can see.

Cause I will love you, with or without you.
And the story goes on. 

When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take.
I’ll find the steps I need to take.
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Inside her castle

You walked up the stairs you didn’t see me there.
The walls ached for a fresh coat of paint, how painfully I can relate.
Inside of her room she circled around.
She waited until they said that you weren’t in town.
And then she took off her dressing gown.
Will this longing ever fade? How do I make it go away?

Cause I will love you, with or without you.
And the story goes on.
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take. 
Find the steps I need to take

They led her down the hallway past her quiet room.
The water was poured, and she fell inside her womb.
She dreamed of the day, he wouldn’t go away.
She woke with a start. And she made a silent vow.
When sorrow comes take a step and let the light shine down.

Cause I will love you, with or without you.
And the story goes on.
When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take.
I’ll find the steps I need to take.

I learned from her, to find my own peace
And retrace my steps, so that I can see.

Cause I will love you, with or without you.
And the story goes on. 

When my heart breaks, I’ll find the steps I need to take.
I’ll find the steps I need to take.

Fallen fast
It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast. Kids everywhere trying to make sense. How do we answer the questions they ask?  The lessons we learned keep coming back. What can we take from the past? It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast. These shadows haunt us when we try and go too fast. Oh, did you just try and forget? The faces remain and they stay the same. The mirror won’t lie as much as you try. Set down your anger and help others fly. It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast. It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast.
It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast.
Kids everywhere trying to make sense.
How do we answer the questions they ask? 
The lessons we learned keep coming back.
What can we take from the past?

It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast.

These shadows haunt us when we try and go too fast.
Oh, did you just try and forget?

The faces remain and they stay the same.
The mirror won’t lie as much as you try.
Set down your anger and help others fly.

It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast.

It’s falling hard.

It’s fallen fast.
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Fallen fast

It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast.
Kids everywhere trying to make sense.
How do we answer the questions they ask? 
The lessons we learned keep coming back.
What can we take from the past?

It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast.

These shadows haunt us when we try and go too fast.
Oh, did you just try and forget?

The faces remain and they stay the same.
The mirror won’t lie as much as you try.
Set down your anger and help others fly.

It’s falling hard. It’s fallen fast.

It’s falling hard.

It’s fallen fast.

Show me
I love the parts of you that frighten you the most. You shine like the stars, and I see you up close. Why do you wear the mask on your face? Don’t you think it’s time to let it down? Show me  The darkness you feel is not what it seems. Make it your friend and you’ll see light beam. Your smile takes you places that compromise yourself. If you could say no, you might reach the moon. Show me  You dance in the garden. You dance in my room. You dance in my head and I see you bloom. You spark like a firefly this way and that. Sunshine follows you into every room. Show me 
I love the parts of you that frighten you the most.
You shine like the stars, and I see you up close.
Why do you wear the mask on your face?
Don’t you think it’s time to let it down?

Show me 

The darkness you feel is not what it seems.
Make it your friend and you’ll see light beam.
Your smile takes you places that compromise yourself.
If you could say no, you might reach the moon.

Show me 

You dance in the garden.
You dance in my room.
You dance in my head and I see you bloom.
You spark like a firefly this way and that.
Sunshine follows you into every room.

Show me 
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Show me

I love the parts of you that frighten you the most.
You shine like the stars, and I see you up close.
Why do you wear the mask on your face?
Don’t you think it’s time to let it down?

Show me 

The darkness you feel is not what it seems.
Make it your friend and you’ll see light beam.
Your smile takes you places that compromise yourself.
If you could say no, you might reach the moon.

Show me 

You dance in the garden.
You dance in my room.
You dance in my head and I see you bloom.
You spark like a firefly this way and that.
Sunshine follows you into every room.

Show me 

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A Vous de Jouer, releasing on August 4.

Pre-save I want to see your fire on spotify.

Let’s stay in touch or drop me a note

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