Ulidia student gets ‘Lost in the Music’ with new CD

A young musician from Ulidia Integrated College has struck a chord with her peers after recording her first CD ‘Lost in the Music’.
Lauren Craig (centre, with guitar) with the school choir.  INCT 52-724-CONLauren Craig (centre, with guitar) with the school choir.  INCT 52-724-CON
Lauren Craig (centre, with guitar) with the school choir. INCT 52-724-CON

Lauren Craig, a year 14 pupil at the school, released the three-track compilation earlier this month.

As well as covers of I See Fire by Ed Sheeran and Riptide by Vance Joy, the CD also includes one of Lauren’s own compositions, the eponymous track Lost in the Music.

The album was recorded at Cloud 9 studios in Belfast in late November.

Lauren, who studied music to GCSE level, plays the guitar and the ukelele.

The latest CD is the second recording experience for the 18-year-old, from Ballycarry.

Speaking to the Times last week, she said: “My mum and her husband Gordon got married a few months ago in Mexico but I wasn’t able to go. My mum had suggested that I record All Of Me by John Legend for their first dance.”

The Belfast recording session, meanwhile, came about after Lauren received vouchers for the Cloud 9 studio.

“My dad knew I always wanted to record, so he got me the vouchers,” said Lauren, who is heavily influenced by acoustic performers from Ed Sheeran and Lucy Spraggan to Hozier.

“I have taken part in guitar lessons through school for six years but have been playing for eight years in total.

“I haven’t had any singing lessons but have been writing my own original songs for the last two years.”

Amazingly, Lost in the Music was written over one lunch period in the school’s music room.

“I remember being in a great mood that day and just wanting to write a song about music and how it makes me feel,” Lauren said.

Such was the popularity of the track, the talented student was asked to play the song at the Ulidia prize-giving ceremony on Thursday of last week.

“I’ve had lots of people come up and say that they heard my song on the school website and that they wanted a copy of the CD,” she said.

Having performed in the past at Billy Andy’s pub in Larne and Sozo’s in Carrick, where her mum Trish is manager, Lauren has hopes of talking her music further afield.

“Up until recently I wasn’t able to take part in some open mic sessions and things like that because I wasn’t old enough,” added Lauren, who turned 18 earlier this month.

“Playing music and singing has always been my hobby, so I’d like to keep recording and do a CD of all my own songs.”

Lost in the Music can be heard on the Carrick Times website at www.carrickfergustimes.co.uk.

Meanwhile, more on Lauren’s music can be found on her Facebook page Lauren Craig Musician.