Lauren Daigle (album) explained

Lauren Daigle
Type:	studio
Artist:	Lauren Daigle
Cover:	LaurenDaigleFullAlbum.jpg
Recorded:	2020–2022
Studio:	Phantom Studio (Gallatin, Tennessee)
Genre:	Pop Neo Soul contemporary Christian
Length:	77:00
Label:	Atlantic Centricity
Producer:	Mike Elizondo Jon Green Tedd T Tofer Brown
Prev Title:	Look Up Child
Prev Year:	2018

Lauren Daigle is the eponymous fourth studio album by American contemporary Christian music and pop singer Lauren Daigle. Atlantic Records (in partnership with Centricity Music) released the first volume of the album on May 12, 2023^[1] and the second volume (the complete album) on September 8, 2023.^[2] It is Daigle's first album to be released as a mainstream pop record.^[3]

Background

In an interview with Relevant Magazines Emily Brown, regarding the inspiration for the album, Daigle said that the writing started in October 2020 and the time period was influential. Daigle further echoes how she felt powerless and voiceless due to the state of the world and her personal life at the time, and that God orchestrated the right people at the right time, seeing this album as her "rebirth" and considering it an "incredible musical journey".^[4]

Title and artwork

While discussing the album with Zane Lowe from Apple Music 1, Daigle explained the reason for the album being self-titled. During a dinner with two of her friends, she talked about the struggle to name her album after two years of work. Her friends suggested it should be a self-titled record because Lauren had poured herself into it, and they witnessed a transformative journey throughout its creation. The decision to make it self-titled reflects the realization that it took her previous records to find her voice and express her love for the sound and recording process. In her own words, she stated, "It's because it took those records to find my voice, to find the voice that I can stand on in front of people and say, this is what I love. I love this sound. I love the way that we recorded this record."^[5]

Release and promotion

Singles

"Thank God I Do" was released as the lead single from the album on March 8, 2023. The single failed to enter the US Billboard Hot 100, but reached number 11 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.^[6] It also peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart on the issue week of May 20, 2023. The single was released to Hot AC radio on March 13, 2023.^[7]

"Waiting" was released as a promotional single on March 30, 2023. The song peaked at No. 38 on the Christian Songs chart.^[8]

"These Are The Days" was released as the second single on September 8, 2023. It was accompanied by a music video posted to YouTube on August 22, 2023.^[9] The song peaked at No. 16 on the Christian Songs chart.^[8]

"Turbulent Skies " was released as the third single on November 3, 2023.^[10] The song peaked at No. 22 on the Christian Songs chart.^[8]

Critical reception

Jesus Freak Hideout's Alex Caldwell gave a favorable review of the album, saying: "Daigle's return after a few years away is a welcome, refreshing moment and this is a great album to turn up". While calling it "musically as interesting and wild as the spectrum of colors on the album cover." Timothy Yap of JubileeCast said, "'In sum, Daigle's eponymous album does show growth but more importantly she doesn't let her label dictate what she should sing. She still sings about Jesus loud and proud and more." He highlighted the songs, Kaleidoscope Jesus, To Know Me, and Thank God I Do.

Commercial performance

Lauren Daigle Vol. 1 debuted at No. 21 on the US Billboard 200 with 25,000 album-equivalent units, of which 20,000 were pure album sales. The album also debuted at No. 1 on Billboards Top Christian Albums chart, being her fourth consecutive chart-topping album.^[11] Following the release of her full album, Lauren Daigle reentered the Billboard 200 chart at No. 72, simultaneously securing the top position on the Top Christian Albums chart for a second week.^[12]

Accolades

Organization! scope="col"

Year	Category	Result
	2023	Top Christian Album		^[13]
Grammy Awards	2024	Best Contemporary Christian Music Album		^[14]

Personnel

• Lauren Daigle – vocals, backing vocals (3, 4, 6, 8-13, 16, 20, 23), percussion (16)
• Mike Elizondo – acoustic piano (1, 3, 16), synthesizers (1, 3, 6-10, 12-14, 16, 23), Mellotron (2), acoustic guitar (2, 13), upright bass (2, 14), electric guitars (3, 6, 7), electric bass (3-7, 10-13, 19, 23), drum programming (3, 6, 9, 12, 16), Moog bass (6, 8, 9, 14, 17), percussion (14), "rubber bridge" guitar (15), handclaps (23)
• Philip Towns – acoustic piano (1, 3, 5, 8-12, 18, 19, 23), clavinet (2, 9, 23), Wurlitzer electric piano (3), Rhodes electric piano (6, 7, 12), synthesizers (8), Hammond B3 organ (9-11, 22, 23), handclaps (23)
• Jon Batiste – melodica (2)
• Jon Green – acoustic piano (4), synthesizers (4), electric guitars (4), percussion (4), strings (4), backing vocals (4, 19)
• Will Herrington – Wurlitzer electric piano (13), synthesizers (13)
• Tim Lauer – acoustic piano (14)
• Tofer Brown – acoustic piano (17)
• Grant Pittman – acoustic piano (21)
• Max Townsley – acoustic guitar (2, 5, 12, 19), electric guitars (3, 4, 6, 8-11, 23), nylon guitar (4, 7), handclaps (23), backing vocals (23)
• Julian Lage – electric guitar solo (7)
• Trevor Lawrence Jr. – drums (3-11, 16), percussion (4, 6-12)
• Nate Smith – percussion (1, 23), drums (13, 19, 23), handclaps (23)
• Tedd T – drum programming (16)
• Austin Hoke – cello (1, 9, 10, 17)
• Rob Moose – cello (1, 5, 8, 13, 14, 19), viola (1, 5, 8, 13, 14, 19), violin (1, 5, 8, 13, 14, 19), string arrangements (1, 5, 8, 13, 14, 17, 19), horn arrangements (21)
• Nathaniel Smith – cello (2)
• Betsy Lamb – viola (1, 17)
• Avery Bright – viola (9, 10)
• Alicia Engstrom – violin (1, 9, 10, 17)
• Annaliese Kowert – violin (1, 9, 10, 17)
• Jordan Lehning – horn arrangements (3, 9, 10), string arrangements (4, 9, 10)
• Timbre Cierpke – harp (6, 7, 12, 14), harp arrangements (14)
• Evan Cobb – saxophones (3, 9-11, 16, 23), flute (6), alto saxophone (21)
• Jimmy Bowland – baritone saxophone (21)
• Jeff Coffin – soprano saxophone (21)
• Rashaan Barber – tenor saxophone (21)
• Roy Agee – trombone (3, 9-11, 16)
• Desmond Ng – trombone (23)
• Emmanuel Echem – trumpet (3, 9-11, 16, 23)
• Natalie Hemby – vocals (2), backing vocals (2, 3)
• Kara Britz – backing vocals (6, 8-11, 16)
• Charles Jones – backing vocals (6, 8-11, 16), Rhodes electric piano (20), Hammond B3 organ (20)
• Rachael Lampa – backing vocals (6, 8-10)
• Blair Whitlow – backing vocals (6, 8-11, 16)
• Justin Timberlake – backing vocals (13)

Production

• Steve Bartels – executive producer
• Justin Francis – engineer
• Erica Block – additional engineer, assistant engineer, tape operator
• Alex Wilder – assistant engineer, tape operator
• Adam Hawkins – mixing at Periscope Sound (Franklin, Tennessee)
• Chris Gehringer – mastering at Sterling Sound (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Greg Gigendad Burke – art direction, design
• Connor Dwyer – art direction, design
• Rachel Dwyer – art direction, design
• Sandra McDougall – set designer
• Terry Mitchell – set designer
• Jeremy Cowart – photography
• Ashley Mae Wright – additional photography
• Hannah Donohue – wardrobe
• Fitch Lunar – hair stylist
• Karen Wallace – hair stylist
• Mollie Gloss – make-up
• Maddjett – management

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Peak position
UK Christian & Gospel Albums (OCC)^[15]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Position
US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)^[16]	90
US Christian Albums (Billboard)^[17]	7

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	May 12, 2023			^[18]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Grammy-Award-winning, multi-Platinum artist Lauren Daigle releases self-titled album. May 19, 2023. Niagara Frontier Publications.
2. News: Lauren Daigle releases complete self-titled album, 'Lauren Daigle'. September 15, 2023. Niagara Frontier Publications.
3. News: 'It's in my blood to see barriers break': Christian pop star Lauren Daigle on Trump, trolling and abortion. Emma John. May 19, 2023. The Guardian.
4. Lauren Daigle Releases Self-Titled Album: 'It Was a New Beginning For Me'. Emily Brown. May 19, 2023. Relevant Magazine.
5. Lauren Daigle Tells Apple Music About New Self-Titled Debut Album, Collaboration, Songwriting, Evolution & More. The Christian Beat. November 17, 2023.
6. Bubbling Under Hot 100 . Billboard. July 1, 2023.
7. Web site: Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates. All Access. April 23, 2023. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20230313161239/https://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases. March 13, 2023.
8. Lauren Daigle – Chart history (Hot Christian Songs). July 17, 2018. Billboard.
9. News: Lauren Daigle – These Are The Days (Official Music Video). YouTube. December 1, 2023.
10. Watch: Lauren Daigle Performs Latest Single "Turbulent Skies". American Songwriter . November 17, 2023.
11. Lauren Daigle on Topping the Christian Albums Chart: 'I Found Myself Coming Alive Making This Record'. Billboard. Asker. Jim. May 22, 2023. May 24, 2023.
12. Billboard 200 - September 23, 2023 . Billboard. November 17, 2023.
13. Web site: Willman . Chris . 2023-10-26 . Taylor Swift, SZA, Morgan Wallen Lead Billboard Music Awards Nominations . 2023-11-03 . Variety . en-US.
14. Willman . Chris . November 10, 2023 . 2024 Grammys Nominations Full List: SZA Leads With 9 Noms, Phoebe Bridgers Follows With 7 . Variety . November 10, 2023.
15. Web site: Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Top 20 Official Charts Company . May 20, 2023 . . May 20, 2023.
16. Top Current Album Sales – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 21, 2023.
17. Top Christian Albums – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 21, 2023.
18. Web site: Lauren Daigle by Lauren Daigle on Amazon Music . Amazon.com . May 20, 2023.