Meet Lauren Samonte | Keyboardist & Music Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Samonte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
What initially drew me to pursue a music career was the serotonin-inducing experience of live music. I grew up listening to music of different genres and cultures, but regardless of whatever I was watching or listening to, I always had a feeling of sheer bliss overcome me. I love how one song has the power to make me feel sad, angry, and excited all in 3 minutes. Moreover, the messages a musician can send their listeners are extremely powerful. I couldn’t help but go after this experience and learn what it was all about.

In hindsight, I have really come full circle in choosing music. Accompanying soloists lets me help other musicians evoke their own artistry. Playing with The Deadly Beloved and Byway allows me to play with my friends on stage to my friends in the audience. Teaching private piano allows me to show others how to express themselves. I’m really thankful for where music has taken me over the years.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
First and foremost, I am a keyboardist who loves collaborating with others through live performances and teaching music. I have found that music is the most effective way to introspectively deal with my life, and I would love nothing more but to share this with others.

I play around town with my alt-rock band The Deadly Beloved. I started this band with our lead singer Xavier Bernazard. We met when I began performing her solo music, loved it, and began a group project. We went on tour in October 2022, which was one of the most transformative experiences I have ever had. We write our songs about the queer experience and complain about life in the style of Paramore, Willow, and Evanescence.
I also love my indie-pop band called Byway with Alyssa Gillen and Sabela Bee. We have a great time playing our songs with atmospheric synthesizers, bold electric guitar, and hard-hitting drums. Even though we’ve been less active as performers to focus on songwriting and recording, we are aiming to return to performing this summer to promote our upcoming EP.

During the day I teach my private piano students. I quit my last job this past January to independently manage my private studio because it felt like time to go after my dream of owning a music-related business. This was a not-so-unexpectedly difficult choice, and it challenged me to no end. I struggled to pay my bills during this transition, so much so that I learned how hard it is for me to ask for help. The slow process of building my student clientele was no help either.

Despite my lack of stability, what really kept me going was the community of supportive musicians around me. I have new students who are smart and learning to love music like I do. On long days that I spend building my business, I head to rehearsal and feel the stress leave my body once we start playing. The inside jokes thrown around between songs help lighten me up. Outside of band practice, I found many ways to keep my head on straight on my own. I have learned lots about budgeting, advertisement, and other entrepreneurial essentials during this process. I make sure to take care of myself as well through healthy eating and working out, which was something I had neglected for a while. I found that by stabilizing myself, I was able to reach further into myself for those moments I felt low and turn it into something way better.

I want the world to know that through sharing my music, I aim to help others feel as though they are not experiencing life alone. If I am able to do so, I can achieve that shared feeling and bring a new tune to their ears that they love like I do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d start by taking them to brunch at Dream Cafe on Mockingbird. I love the Perot Museum with its architecture and exhibits, so we’d go there during the day or for their Thursdays on Tap with food trucks and locally made beer. I’d also make sure to stop at Ascension Coffee for their delicious craft coffee. Live music would be an essential for the itinerary. It’s not uncommon for me to have a gig on the weekend, and those venues vary from live music lounges to house shows to auditoriums. It would make me happy to have a visiting friend get a glimpse of what I do. I’d also like to be able to watch my partner play in the Oak Lawn Community band and have someone to sit with me in the audience.
I’d scour the internet to see which local or touring artists/bands are playing the area. If the show is at The Factory in Deep Ellum, we would walk across the street after the show for drinks and *more* live music to the Free Man- they always have someone playing past midnight.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m dedicating my Shoutout to my bandmates in Byway and The Deadly Beloved. These people are not only my closest collaborators, but also my support system. I have had the privilege to perform with these wildly talented and creative individuals, and I’m lucky to have learned so much from playing music with them. I’m grateful for the chaotic, yet exciting experiences we have had together, and I’m looking forward to the many more to come.

Instagram: @lavender__keys

Other: TikTok: @lavender__keys