LoRen
2023 grant amount: $50,000 over two years
This grant will support NO COVERS, a songwriter-focused live music experience featuring Pittsburgh-based artists from various genres performing original music.
As a Black alternative singer-songwriter born in Homewood, LoRen is adamant about creating space outside of boxes. NO COVERS is a Black-founded event that is infused with diversity, sitting the local trap artist next to the folk singer, and seeing both as valuable and worthy of investment.
Six years ago, LoRen accepted an invitation to dance and sing a "cover" of a famous pop artist's song at an event. She says she was encouraged by the promoter to take the opportunity, since her original music was not well known, to sing a popular song at the event so it would resonate better with the crowd.
"During that performance, I had never felt so out of place and undervalued creatively," says LoRen. "I promised myself that I would never perform songs that hush my artistic voice again."
"NO COVERS" is the artist's attempt to ensure that other songwriters will never have to experience that either. Her hope is that they'll perform songs that support their personal artistic mission, and she is committed to creating space for them to do so. "NO COVERS" is now an annual songwriter-focused live music experience, where Pittsburgh-based artists from various genres, perform original music (ONLY) alongside a live band, in an intimate atmosphere.
WEB: https://www.lolandmusic.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/love_loren/?hl=en
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LoLandMusic
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@lovelorenmusic