Lauren Mandel (born November 6, 1997), known by her stage name LØLØ, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Having built an audience via TikTok, she has released two EPs and one album with Hopeless Records. Her sound is influenced by pop punk and alternative rock.
Early life
Born and raised in Toronto,[1] Mandel was drawn to singing and performing from a young age and began playing guitar in her freshman year of high school.[2] At the encouragement of her guitar teacher, she began using her journal entries as a basis for writing songs.[2]
Mandel got her start performing at open mics around Toronto.[2] She initially used the stage name Lo Lo,[3] but later stylized it as LØLØ to avoid conflict with the preexisting American singer Lolo.[4]
During the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020, Mandel gained greater popularity on TikTok with a series of alternate POV covers of popular songs, including Taylor Swift's "Betty", The Kid Laroi's "Without You", and Adele's "Someone Like You".[1] In June of that year, she released the single "Dead Inside", and the following month she filmed an exclusive bedroom performance of the song for Ones to Watch.[5] This and two subsequent singles, "Hate U" and "Dear First Love,", were announced as part of a sophomore EP entitled Permanent Damage,[7][8][9] but the EP did not materialize. In September, People magazine included her on a list of "emerging artists making their mark on the musical landscape".[10]
In February 2021, Mandel signed a publishing deal with APG.[6] A new single, "lonely & pathetic", was released shortly after the announcement.[6] In September, she joined Simple Plan and New Found Glory on their joint Pop Punk's Still Not Dead tour.[11] The following month, it was announced that Mandel had signed to Hopeless Records, accompanied by the release of the single "u look stupid" and the reveal of upcoming EP overkill, which would be released November 12.[12][13][14] Also in October, she toured the United States with New Found Glory, Less Than Jake, and Hot Mulligan.[12]
In February 2022, Mandel collaborated with Maggie Lindemann on the single "debbie downer"; the song and music video reference the 2000 film Bring It On.[15][16][17][18] Two more singles were released over the next few months: "junkie", whose video pays homage to the crime drama Breaking Bad,[19] and "THE FLOOR IS LAVA!!".[20] Over the summer, she performed at Lollapalooza[21] and at Sad Summer Festival with Waterparks, Neck Deep, and Mayday Parade.[20] A third EP, debbie downer, was released on September 30 via Hopeless.[22] In October, she teamed up with Simple Plan for an Amazon Music-exclusive 20th anniversary rerecording of the latter's song "I'm Just a Kid".[23]
In January 2024, she was included on Kerrang!'s "The Sound of 2024" list of "new artists redefining alternative music".[35] That same month, she released the single "2 of us".[36][37] Another single, "poser" was released the following month.[38][39][40]
In April 2024, she released her single "u & the tinman".[41] She later released her debut album "falling for robots and wishing i was one" in June 2024.[42]
LØLØ joined JXDN's When The Music Stops Tour in July 2024[43] and the All Your Friends Fest in August 2024.[44]
In September 2024, LØLØ covered "Let It Go" for A Whole New Sound, a compilation album featuring pop-punk covers of songs from classic Disney films.[45]
In regards to her genre, Mandel has said, "I feel like I have a couple of different sides to me — one being upbeat, like pop rock, and another one being more singer-songwriter-y, and I try to get both of those elements in my songs. [...] Everyone always calls it pop punk, when I don't think that it's pop punk at all. But I'm like, you know what? Call my music whatever you want."[29] She has described her music as "psychotically sentimental".[29]
Personal life
Mandel lives in Toronto but spends lots of time in Los Angeles, CA. She suffered a fall in March 2023, breaking her nose, chin, and jaw and requiring four stitches and implants.[29] The incident left her unable to open her mouth for several months, and inspired her song "faceplant".[4][30][31][29]
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