Lauren Christy, a talented singer, songwriter, and producer is getting ready to reignite her career. As part of her upcoming project “Their Hits My Way,” she will be releasing a newly reimagined version of the popular song “Sk8er Boi.” This marks the 22nd anniversary of the hit record which Lauren co-wrote with Avril Lavinge.
Lauren‘s journey began at the age of five when she found a piano buried in her parents’ garden in South London, this was her gateway to music. At 19 Lauren signed her first publishing deal with Allen Jacobs at EMI followed by a record deal with Mercury Records at age 21. She then moved to LA and started working on her first album with producer Tony Peluso. Lauren’s first album, self-titled ‘Lauren Christy’, received recognition at the 1994 American Music Awards, earning her a nomination for Best New Artist. Additionally, her single “The Color of the Night” was not only a top 10 hit on adult contemporary radio, but it also earned her a nomination for Best Song in a Motion Picture at the Golden Globes. This particular song was featured in the mystery thriller film Color of Night.
As the chameleon she is, Lauren reinvented herself once again as a co-creator of the writer/producer trio known as The Matrix alongside her business partners Graham Edwards and Scott Spock. The trio co-penned Avril Lavigne’s career-breaking album “LET GO,” which featured the international hits “Complicated,” “Sk8er Boi” and “I’m With You.” The Matrix trio was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of The Year for ‘Complicated’. This recognition was accompanied by seven Grammy nominations, including a nomination for Song of the Year in 2003 and another one in 2004 for their hit songs ‘Complicated’ and “I’m With You”. In addition to these impressive accolades, The Matrix also received a nomination for Producer of the Year. This led her to work alongside several well-known artists such as Shakira, KORN, David Bowie, Britney Spears, and Rihanna, among many others.
Now that everyone is on the same page let’s take a look at the cover itself. If you grew up during that period, Avril’s music likely spoke to you as a teenager. Her punk pop resonated with many -myself included- and paved the way for many other artists and bands such as Fall Out Boy, Panic at The Disco, Simple Plan, and Paramore to name a few. There are two types of covers in my opinion. On one hand, we have the “very similar” type where a band pretty much tries to mimic the sound and style of the OG, not changing much. On the other hand, there are complete reinterpretations. Laure’s song falls into the latter. While still retaining the rebellious lyrics that made the original so great she gives a truly astonishing and refreshing spin to the tune. With her seductive voice and calming rhythm, we’re basically at the opposite end of the spectrum. This is a good thing. Why? Well, we now have two incredible versions of the same song. This demonstrates the power of music and how it can be adapted to suit different tastes. It’s a reminder that one song can be interpreted in an infinite number of ways. And the best part is that we get to experience both versions.
“It’s such a blessing to get to make records for a living and help people achieve their vision, I want to keep doing this until I die. Just bury me with my piano! – Lauren C
“Sk8er Boi” is the first single from her upcoming greatest hits project “Their Hits My Way.” We’re delighted to share Lauren’s return with the world and are looking forward to joining her on this stellar journey. Stay tuned for what’s to come!