In 2012, a video emerged on YouTube of a twelve-year-old girl named Lauren Marie Presley singing a cover of Sara Evans’ “A Little Bit Strong.” Something that stirred up attention, the big thing that many were buzzing about, is that she was, in fact, a distant relative of Elvis Presley. Indeed, a factor that could strike curiosity; once anyone heard the youngest’s voice, they knew there was much more to her than just a common last name. Fast forward thirteen years, and the question is, where is Lauren Presley now?
A native of Texas but growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Presley’s love for music dates back to when she was only five years old. Fortunately, she was surrounded by a support system of musicians, so her talents were nurtured and allowed to grow. This led to the publicly recognized 2012 YouTube video, but until recently, not much has been heard from Presley.
So, did she stop making music? Are you kidding? Of course not! The artist has just been building up for something big, which arrives on April 18, 2025, in the form of her debut EP, Hanging In The Balance.
It was a long time coming, but to recap, in more recent times, Presley released a song in 2020 called “A Little Longer.” Garnering praise, she emerged with another song called “Sad Songs ” in 2022, before several more came flowing out in 2023. Showing she had grown as both a singer and songwriter, Presley’s style has steadily morphed from Pop to a moodier form of Alternative Pop with a Rock-n-Roll edge.
Quite compelling, 2024 was another big year for Presley, releasing striking songs such as “White Noise” and “People Leave.” Displaying more elements of progress, these tracks felt far more than skin deep, and something fed by personal experience. With that said, the raw emotion of Preseley’s style is entirely on display with Hanging In The Balance.
Consisting of five songs, the debut includes the aforementioned single “People Leave” as the anchor, with plenty more to keep it afloat. Dissecting “People Leave,” the track is a delicate mix of Modern Pop, clarified vocals, and a Hard Rock edge you cannot ignore. Acting as a great introduction to what else Presley has put together with this debut, there is also the explosively emotional “Can I Be Happy,” “Paralyzed” with a simply seductive guitar solo, and “Ghost,” which is a perfect match for mainstream Pop radio.
All in all, Lauren Presley’s evolution draws your attention. Presley’s musical development was rooted in Country, which, in truth, makes her songwriting that much stronger. However, it is her ability to create Pop songs that are not cookie-cutter (like so many others out there today) while daring to show off a darker Hard Rock edge that takes hold of you. Someone to look out for, Cryptic Rock gives Lauren Presley’s debut EP, Hanging In The Balance, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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