Lauren Cross
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You're listening to rebel radio with your host Malika Bella lyrics locals love on the rebel HD two.
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What's good everybody. Welcome back to rebel Radio. I'm your host Malika Bella here with our next guest, Lauren Krause.
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Hello, everyone. Hi.
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So before we get started, we're going to do a little game. It's a word association, right? There's no right or wrong. It could be a word, a phrase, whatever comes to mind first. All right, we have three words. Our first one fame, Lady Gaga knew it. And we can go into detail about them throughout the conversation. Next word, Vegas.
Unknown Speaker 1:16
Lady Gaga.
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2420. Let's see. Oh,
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my goodness.
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Final word. Okay. Music.
Unknown Speaker 1:26
Oh, come on. Lady Kaka. Yeah. So So one original.
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Can you elaborate?
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What was the first where you said, Okay, well, fame, right. The Fame monster? Like, obviously, second album of Lady Gaga. Yeah.
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Would you say Okay, before we get into like, what? Like, who Lady Gaga is what she means to you everything. What would you rank fame? On your like album list
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or the fame or the fame monster? The Fame? Altar first album. I mean, I love all albums, obviously. But I'd say the fame is number four.
Unknown Speaker 2:11
Out of what?
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656? So, no, six. Yeah, six, six albums.
Unknown Speaker 2:20
So Lady Gaga, three for three all of your answers. Clearly, she's on your mind.
Unknown Speaker 2:25
I know. I feel like that couldn't have been my answers. If you guaranteed us did the fate or fame afterwards? I bet you all my answers would have been Lady Gaga.
Unknown Speaker 2:37
I don't know if I'll take that guarantee. But I was priming you. So there's
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my memory and do it again.
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Rounds two. For you specifically, everybody that knows you knows that Lady Gaga is a huge part of your life. So I don't know if you want to talk about her specifically, where like where it all began. Go for it. I
Unknown Speaker 2:56
mean that. I mean, Bad Romance really changed. The entire just pop culture scene when it came out. I believe I came out Gosh, was it like 2008 or something like that. And, I mean, I was young when it came out. But I remember watching a YouTube video of like the music video and just being mesmerized. And I remember Michelle fawn did a Lady Gaga Bad Romance makeup tutorial. And she used you know, special effects back in the day to like, make her eyes big. The same way Lady Gaga did and her music video and I just was like, Oh my gosh, was this woman? Like I was? I have no idea. Like really about anything. I mean, I did, but it just was like, insane, to say the least. And then just throughout my life and stuff, you know, especially since when her I discovered her was kind of before became a teenager, and then going into like my teenage years and stuff, just listening to her. And then more recently, I'd say within the last like four years, it's just made it a huge, like, huge part of my life.
Unknown Speaker 4:04
So I would say going on, is that past a decade. Like how many years would you say?
Unknown Speaker 4:11
Oh, yeah, I mean, because I mean, I first knew about Lady Gaga when I was like, nine, eight No, yeah. Yeah, definitely, like wasn't listening to her as often as I do now, but very young. I mean, I was more involved with my flute stuff when I was younger.
Unknown Speaker 4:27
Low casual name dropping a little plug. Yeah. So as far as like, me being like, personally, commitment issues, all the whole gamut, right? I don't know if I have been a fan of somebody for that long. And as far as like, your love for her and all of her work, all of her music, everything she does do and I know she's dabbling in other things like film and acting and makeup and just so much so So for you to be all immersed, like a true number one fan, that is, I'll steal your word. But that is mesmerizing to me because I'm like the commitment, the dedication, the love. It's there.
Unknown Speaker 5:13
Thank you. I do a lot of work. Yeah. I know a lot of information. I was just talking to one of our co workers the other day, Natalie, she asked me one question about Lady Gaga. And they turned 20 minutes and we talking about her. I mean, she learned a lot. She was like, Well, you know, a lot like, Oh, I know.
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You could do a TED talk you could do.
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I don't like it's been a 30 minute time frame on a radio show and talk about her the whole time.
Unknown Speaker 5:47
We always can. Is there anything that you want to say about her before I shift gears?
Unknown Speaker 5:51
I just think one of the I mean, people asked me like, I feel like karate, like are so much and I'm like, okay, for me, she's always been true. Like, the things that she's believed in, you know, back in the day, she's always stood by just the LGBT QA community. And I've just always appreciate that even now, and 2024 like she still says things, you know, she's not as out there as she used to be, you know, when the Meet dress, all that stuff was really popular, but and she's just always been kind. I mean, obviously, it's a parasocial relationship and everything. But she always puts a lot of dedication and work and just her soul into her music writing. And when her music videos are released, just her fat, like, there's just so much just thought and time and energy, even with her other hurt house of Gaga team that goes into everything that she does. And it's just incredible. And her music just means a lot to me.
Unknown Speaker 6:58
Yeah. As somebody who is a fake fan, or like a mediocre fan, right? I already tell like everything that she does is intentional, every single detail, like you say, and that's what provides this lasting impact. You're like, wow, like no other words like I'm shocked, to be honest. And I don't know. It's just a beautiful experience. And I just know, like 2% of it. So I really do applaud you. Well, you did mention that you played flute, right. So how many years? How did you get involved in that? Was that in Vegas? I know you've traveled quite a bit. So let us know. My
Unknown Speaker 7:36
older sister started playing the flute, I believe in middle school at Bob Miller. Shout out to Mr. Williams, but and she was taking lessons with Barney Bueller Chinoy. And I started playing lesson or taking lessons when I was in fourth grade. And I was doing like violin and piano when I was younger, never stuck with it. I did not do any of that. And that was when I lived in other places. But did that up until ninth grade. I was like a competitive flute player. I say I did recitals with the studio that I that private studio that I took lessons from I did about like two three competitions every year, sell on ensemble, Honor Band. I was in middle school, I was in Las Vegas youth orchestra. And then I was in my freshman year of high school. I was at Las Vegas Academy of the Performing Arts. And after my experience there I quit.
Unknown Speaker 8:43
Wow. Yeah. Well, from all of that experience, I could say like, clearly Music has always been a part of your life in one way shape or another. And so you mentioned you started playing flute in fourth grade. Correct. So like the average age for fourth grade is like eight 910 ish. So I would say I'm
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in fourth grade. Oh, really?
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I think I was nine. I didn't get held
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back but like, I was really old. I was loving Late
Unknown Speaker 9:09
Bloomer over here. No, I'm just getting your feet wet. know
Unknown Speaker 9:14
just the, the, I always have to say those I just have to always say at the start age of, I think like kindergarten or whatever was different in Virginia when I was around that age, but I also went to pre K. And that just like messed everything up. Like my friends in Virginia are all in the same boat as me like everybody's my age for my graduating class. But it's not like that here. Well, anyway, a
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nice disclosure. No, no.
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I know literally, though. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 9:46
It's part of you. Well, I brought that up because I'm like, Okay, wow, like Lady Gaga and flu like all of this was happening around the same time. And I just feel like, I don't know. That's a really it's a really important age for people to start observing. repeating things and start shaping the rest of their life, you know? Yeah, good and bad. Yeah. Well, I
Unknown Speaker 10:05
think the I think something that really contributes to why. I mean, just overall, I enjoy music. I mean, regardless of Lady Gaga, I mean, obviously, of course, I listen to other artists and I enjoy the Romantic era of music, which people would call classical, which, anyway, I'm not going to get into I also didn't musicianship, theory, music theory, musicianship exchange exams, my gosh, shout out to Barney, I took those exams in a UNLV in the, like, music place anyway, um, but I learned how to play the flute on my like, with my ear. And that's I didn't know how to read music until I was in like, seventh grade. And so my, I think my ears really trained. I, I'd say like a little bit more, I guess, just bored. Then, unless you went to college for, you know, music performance, or whatever, of course, your ears gonna be really trained. But I think just learning how to play an instrument by my ear, listening to my flute teacher play a song, and then I play it back because I did the Suzuki method. And that's all by your ear. And I think that I mean, that's still followed me to like, follow has followed me today. I mean, I can pick up my flute and start playing along to Lady Gaga. But I think just because of that, I'm so more like, just focused on everything else that's happening in songs.
Unknown Speaker 11:35
Yeah, having that experience, you're like, it opened your eyes, like you see all the different perspectives, all the different components that go into music. And like you mentioned, like even music theory, understanding all of those, it's just so much. So playing the flute singing, whatever it is, it is like a full body experience for some honestly, for most musicians and artists, because you have to, you know, control your breathing, your posture, your thinking, your timing, your, literally your auditory senses, you're like, Okay, I need to be like, if you're tone deaf, like it's not going to help, right, so would you say that you have like perfect pitch?
Unknown Speaker 12:14
Immediately? No, um, I took AP music theory ova. And that was an incredibly difficult class and contribute to one of the many reasons why I ended up just quitting music altogether. No offense, peace and love LVA. But you ruined my experience playing an instrument. All my friends now that my family knows that and I'm sure the faculty at LVA know that. But anyhow, the AP music theory class as a 15 year old freshman was not a cute moment for me. And one of the things I really struggled in that class was the teacher would play a note. And we'd have to like write it down. And I'm just I'm like pulling these from my pockets. I have no idea what these notes are. But I'll tell you, I could probably figure it out playing my flute. And I'd be like a note wrong, like a step wrong. I have met people with perfect pitch. You know, like, in high school when I went to my zone school. I mean, seeing people being able to like immediately save the note out loud. Can't do that. I will say I used to not be able to harmonize very good with songs. But I've, I've spent years just like singing in my car now. Now I can harmonize so. I don't know. They say I mean, they say that you can get perfect pitch for like practicing and seven. I'm sure you can. But
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it just comes naturally. Many people are like, that's
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an A flat. I'm like, what? Like, I can't. Yeah, okay.
Unknown Speaker 13:46
I've had the absolute pleasure of going to UNLV Symphony Orchestra, like all these different recitals and stuff with you. And I can clearly tell that you miss it. I
Unknown Speaker 13:59
mean, there's moments that I you know, like wish I was like still in it. But the I mean, playing the, you know, when I started playing the flute, it's a very competitive instrument. And when I went to LVA, I was in the middle band as a first chair freshman. And I've throughout my entire because in middle school, I was in the top band, my seventh and eighth grade, not my sixth year because I couldn't read music. And I got into Honor Band and the people in the band didn't. Anyway, I still hold a grudge on that anyway, but beside the point. But I've never been first because in my middle school, my band director didn't and I'm doing air quotes right now didn't do you know, like first chair second chair. So there was no label really on that. So when I got to high school at LVA, like being first chair as a freshman in the middle band, they rarely let freshmen in the top and they do sometimes but I mean, think about a flu in a band, there's like, you know, like nine to 11 instruments, they don't, they don't need to have a freshman in the top band, whereas they wouldn't be up soon. And cutthroat people were out to get me like it was, and like my best friend at the time was sat was second cheer, and she would always beat me in everything. So and you know, we're 15 or 14, our hormones going crazy, it's high school, it's new, it's everything all at once. And at the same time, too, I was taking that AP music theory class with my band director with my other friend and I got diagnosed too with my autoimmune disease at the same time, so my brains just like not really there anymore. And after I you know, was was pulling teeth getting out of that AP class, my parents had to get involved and which was like, so embarrassing. Just hearing my band director, like, rip me to shreds in front of my parents and then going to like the, you know, regular music theory, not the AP. But then still having to go back to my band class every morning, he moved me second chair and like, literally won't talk me for a year. And that's kind of when the it just escalated quickly that I was so miserable. And I look at these orchestra concerts and I'm, you know, I'm keeping time I'm like, the time signature, everything, you know, and I miss it. But then I think about just how traumatizing My experience was, like the obviously the most recent experience I had, in doing that, like, oh, like, I don't, I don't know, I tried, I there was moments where when I was like, thinking about going out of state for school that I like, went back to my flute teacher to take a few lessons to like, you know, brush up on my stuff, because I can still play Of course, my tone is not as great as it used to be, because I don't practice every day, but to you know, audition for the, you know, orchestra band, blah, blah, blah, like to get a little scholarship. And then even here, like, I am too intimidated to audition, because I think like it's a little ego thing where the where I left my, my flute playing when I was 15, I was really good. And almost 10 years later, like, playing with people who've been, like, either go to school for it, or they you know, don't go to school for it. But you know, they're doing stuff out of, you know, their school lives with it, like it would be, I just, I miss it, but I just I don't like it's, it's unfortunate. I just don't see myself being able to like, pick it up again.
Unknown Speaker 17:37
Well, I do want to say, I appreciate you being so candid about your experience, because yes, there was like such such highs and such lows, and you just look for that balance. And that's where it's so memorable though. And it's a very impactful part part of your life. And just like from my experience, being in education and stuff like that, and also going through bands not as intense as you but understanding that like the educator or like the instructor, the tutor, whoever it is, you look up to that person as a kid, right? And for them to shun you or move you or be like, just as dumb as the sounds, but their overall vibe like it really does affect it. And sometimes I'm not saying that you did this. I personally have but I tend to internalize all of that. And I'm like, You know what, maybe I'm not good enough for this or maybe I'm it's not worth it. It's not worth my time. I'm never gonna you know, proceed or Excel or whatever it is. And I put myself out a disservice because I just gave up you know, yeah,
Unknown Speaker 18:43
my I was talking to my dad like literally on Sunday about about some like deep stuff and he mentioned to me he's like, Well, you're not a quitter, and I was like I quit playing the flute like what are you talking about? Yes, I am. So I mean like even talking about this, like where's my stomach because it's like Gosh, but I mean, I think though, I mean, I have my I have the flute keys tattooed on me like it's even though my experience was and was like, just absolutely horrible and very traumatizing. I I'm still very appreciative. My flute teachers husband as a professor here and he also plays with Lady Gaga when she comes here for her Jasmine piano, which is so silly but just having those like you know, experiences and those good memories, especially with my flute teacher and stuff and just knowing that I have that like experience and background like just using that as a, I guess a reason to appreciate overall music and especially like orchestral music and bad music. I prefer orchestra though the strings really do add a little spice into the to the brass and the woodwinds and the percussion but I think that's Like I think that's why it's important to go support these and you know, our other friend John, we were in band together we weren't, we weren't all the way all together. And he didn't go to school for music. He had he left ova to I don't know why he left OVA, but I don't believe he played clarinet and his own school I could be wrong, but I know after high school he stopped but he's still a he still appreciates he eats it up, you know, like he, you know, fond memories and stuff, you know, playing together?
Unknown Speaker 20:26
Yeah. And I do want to attest that you are not a quitter, and playing the flute. It's always it's always a part of you, right?
Unknown Speaker 20:34
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's one once like, what would have happened if I stuck with? But I'm also like, really happy that I didn't. Yeah, because I would not be the person I am today. I have no tattoos if I stuck with it. Horrible is that they'll change
Unknown Speaker 20:48
you completely. We would not be friends. Clearly. Well, shifting gears a little bit. So yes, clearly flute still part of your life. At least I'm putting that on you. But I know you love to sing and you have a beautiful operatic voice and my opinion. And for me, it just comes naturally to you. I don't know if you've ever had vocal lessons. I don't know if you've ever like practice professionally, personally, whatever it is, or if it's just karaoke.
Unknown Speaker 21:20
Thank you. I really have a hard time. Taking compliments with lies the invoice because growing up and mom sent me if you're listening, sorry, maybe I hold grudges too much beak. I used to make fun of me when I was younger, but I couldn't say anyway. I know. You guys told me. No, I can't. Anyway, probably should talk about them in therapy. But um, I never had. I mean, I always wanted to take lessons and stuff and like, I look back, I'm like, gosh, even a theater kid. Are you kidding me? Loving on the opera and my flute teacher, let me sit down in the pit with her when it used to be the Venetian. And that was such a cool experience. But I think the first time I ever sang in front of an audience was like, barely two years ago. And just gaining more like, I guess confidence and stuff with it. I mean, I love singing I would like I just imagine what it'd be like if I actually was trained and went to does actual, like vocal exercises that I'm supposed to do. But I love singing and you know, you go you you said some stuff about like, like whole body type of thing. Like when you're producing any type of music or art. I mean, music is art. And I think that's what's so cool about singing. Because, like playing the flute. And singing is obviously so different. I think there's just way more freedom of of just body movement with singing versus playing the flute, which is like comparing apples and oranges. But it's so like producing music, you know, making music.
Unknown Speaker 22:58
That's where the true like theater kid does come out because you can see like, expressing yourself like onstage wherever it is with the microphone and not being tied to your seat right in this specific like posture specific chair wherever it is on on the stage. You can have that more like free reign to be theatrical. It would just be so beautiful. Yes.
Unknown Speaker 23:25
I used to do performances for my family during COVID. They got sick of it real quick. But
Unknown Speaker 23:33
so by performances, do you mean that you wrote directing? No,
Unknown Speaker 23:38
no, no, I would Spotify on the TV and like do stuff from like hairspray and then phantom of the opera or like weekend? I would love that on Yeah, I do. And sometimes when I go to my parents house because they don't have they don't share a wall with a neighbor
Unknown Speaker 23:56
within the Vegas scene, right? You've been here for quite a bit of time. I know that you've seen Lady Gaga a number of times. And you've seen several other artists and you've even traveled for those shows. So do you want to speak more about like who's your favorite artists live? Whatever speaks to you?
Unknown Speaker 24:13
That'll no one will be able to guess that one. Obviously I love Lady Gaga. The first time I saw her was here with Tony Bennett in 2015. i My dad worked for Caesars Entertainment. That's why we moved here. So I was really young like seen Celine Dion, which was like, Oh my gosh, it's really good Rod Stewart so random. Too young to be like seeing Rod Stewart. Barry Manilow share those like really iconic people back in the day. Not really back in the day. But you know, they're still iconic now. But when they were actually performing this weekend as they were I've seen the Jonas Brothers here like six times. I've always I've always gone to concerts and stuff. My first concert was Hannah Montana opening for the Cheetah Girls when I was like six So when I lived in Jackson or I live near Jacksonville, Florida, and it's always been really cool, because even seen performances at the Smith Center, or some types of artists come here and they like, utilize local musicians, it's really cool because usually my flute teachers out there and then her husband's in the pit too. And it's like, it's it's always really neat. And I haven't seen it Lady Gaga is a Nygma pop show. That stuff kind of shut during COVID. And she hasn't really revamped it. But the jazz and piano was exceptionally moving with how much movement and appreciation and just passion she has. And there's like, gosh, I mean, I top of my head, there's at least 20 musicians on that stage with her. Maybe a little bit less than that, but and their local musicians. Besides like the three people that she travels with, that's
Unknown Speaker 25:55
just mind boggling to me. Because imagine knowing that person like you're so well connected in the weirdest randomness ways. And I think it's, it like brings to light all the synchronicities of life and how we're all so connected. And if we like, open our eyes, yeah, I
Unknown Speaker 26:10
know, every time because I've seen the Jasmine piano twice here. And when Nathan, my flute teachers husband was walking out, obviously, they walk out before you know, Lady Gaga comes on stage and my friend and they're like screaming his name from the audience, and you can hear us and like wave. Oh my gosh, I'm so close to Lady Gaga. Let me perform with you. Let me think I'll play the flute nylon. I'll sing. I'll dance. I don't sing
Unknown Speaker 26:36
and dance and little number, you know. Well, thank you so much. And I just, I'm just so happy that you're here. Because, like here now, obviously, but here in Vegas, because we have so much access to entertainment and like, sports, live music, like all types of stuff that it's what would life be without it? You know? Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 26:59
there's, I mean, this city is just very, there's obviously not a place like Vegas, there's just a lot of opportunity to experience things to just look at and consume in a more positive way. Especially with all the entertainment we have. It's it's not just concerts. Yeah. Beautifully
Unknown Speaker 27:21
said. Is there any famous last words that you want to impart to our listeners? Or where can they find you on socials?
Unknown Speaker 27:29
I really want to pull this code that Lady Gaga says all the time, but I feel like I'm gonna butcher it. I think you know what I'm gonna say there's gonna be 100 people in the room and you only need one person to believe in you. Something like that. There's a compilation video of her on YouTube saying it like 20 times it's really funny, but it's true like I think especially coming UNLV I've definitely found my people and the people who really care about me and support me greatly and never in my life did everything I'd have people that care as greatly as I do. And very grateful very sleigh. And I think my instagram handle is house of Elysee my initials and then house like House of Gaga, H A U S. of Elysee. Beautiful. A lot of Lady Gaga posts on there.
Unknown Speaker 28:19
Yeah, it's a it's a Lady Gaga fan account. Or at least it used to be now it's now it's a Malika Bella fan account. But
Unknown Speaker 28:26
yeah, I got hacked.
Unknown Speaker 28:30
So thank you so much, Lauren, for today for this beautiful conversation for existing. And yeah, that's a wrap like that's been rebel Radio. Thank you all for listening. Make sure to tune in every Thursday at 630 and make sure that you follow our account as well on Instagram at rebel radio.fm Thank you for listening to rebel radio with Malika Bella lyrics locals love on the rebel HD two
Transcribed by https://otter.ai