Le Ren returns home with new sense of joy in musical connections
Raised on bluegrass and the warmth of her Bowen Island community, the Montreal-based folksinger comes full circle with songs about deep emotional bonds
Lauren Spear, a.k.a. Le Ren.
Le Ren plays the McEwen Theatre at Kay Meek Arts Centre on April 3 and 4 at 7:30 pm
LE REN, THE MUSICAL alias of Montreal-based artist Lauren Spear, crafts heartfelt folk songs that delve into the complexities of human relationships, encompassing bonds with mothers, friends, and lovers. Characterized by the gentle strum of her guitar and her clear, emotive vocals, Spear weaves narratives that explore themes of love, loss, and personal growth.
Spear’s musical journey began in her home community on Bowen Island, where she grew up in a family of musicians, immersed in folk and bluegrass styles. Spear’s performance at Kay Meek Arts Centre marks a nostalgic return to her childhood, as she attended West Vancouver Secondary School, where the theatre is located.
“I didn’t really think about it when I initially booked the shows,” Spear says with a laugh in a phone interview with Stir. “And then I was like, ‘Oh, true—this is gonna feel some kind of way.’ I didn't have a super positive high school experience. I felt very invisible there. So it’s going to be interesting to go back and see if those feelings surface again.”
From an early age, music was a refuge for Spear to express herself and feel seen by others.
“The community on Bowen was very encouraging, and there were many music events happening that I would take part in, coffee houses and things like that,” Spear says of her childhood. “It felt easy to hop up on a stage and try something without being terrified, because everyone was clapping loudly, which is not the case for the rest of the world. I feel like I was very sheltered, and I had a comfortable experience performing because everyone was so sweet.”
Spear began studying bluegrass music in her teens under the guidance of her parents, who signed her up for workshops at the NimbleFingers Bluegrass Festival in Shuswap Lake.
“There was this band called the Breakmen that I was obsessed with when I was a teenager,” Spear says. “All the band members were teaching at the festival, so that was initially the draw. I was a fan girl of this Canadian bluegrass boy band, and that was the entry point. From there, I just fell in love with the music.
“It’s funny—kids my age weren’t listening to bluegrass. I mean, neither was I, really,” she continues. “But I think I had a funny combo of influences. I was really into Avril Lavigne and all the pop stuff that was happening, and then bluegrass.”
After completing high school, Spear moved to Montreal, where she expanded her artistry to include elements of contemporary folk, rock, and country.
“The first year that I lived in the city, I would go to Grumpy’s Bar every Wednesday or Thursday night, and there was a bluegrass jam and I would play with a group of people,” Spear recalls. “At the time in the Montreal music scene, Grimes and TOPS were popping, and all the bands that were playing here were electronic or indie rock–leaning. So I think because I was trying to fit in and figure out who I was, I experimented a lot.
“My first band was called Boy Clothes and it was me and my two friends,” she adds. “I was just hitting a sampling pedal, having no idea what I was doing, and it was so far from holding an acoustic guitar and playing a traditional song.”
Le Ren released her debut album, Leftovers, in 2021, a collection of songs that reflect on past experiences and their enduring significance.
“I made Leftovers during the early days of the pandemic,” Spear says. “I got signed just before things started closing down, and I was ready to go to America and record and tour, I was so excited. I ended up making the record by being with the producer and doing all my parts, but then getting all the other musicians to drop in their parts after the fact. So it was a strange launch. It was not perfect timing, but I also felt very grateful to have something to work on during lockdown in Montreal.
“We had curfew and I had roommates at the time,” Spear continues. “We had this little bubble, this world where it was just the three of us, and I was chipping away at the record in my room. The themes for Leftovers are friendship and family and love. A lot of the songs were about my close relationships at the time, and I feel like that’s something I continue to write about. I feel like there’s always room for reflection on interpersonal relationships.”
One of the standout tracks on Leftovers is “Dyan”, a tribute to her mother. Featuring soft acoustic guitar and Spear’s soothing vocals, the song reflects the tenderness of the bond between mother and daughter.
Le Ren’s following EP, the little italy demos, was released in 2024 in collaboration with experimental indie artist Jonah Yano. Now she is working on a new album and planning a European tour in the fall.
The newest chapter of Spear’s journey is marked by moving into a period of joyful connection. When speaking about her upcoming Vancouver show, she says she is most looking forward to having her 99-year-old grandmother see her perform.
“In this new record, I got to play with all my friends, finally, in the same room, and that really inspired me,” Spear concludes. “I feel like being a solo artist can feel really lonely, and it’s nice to have this new record be so full of life. It just makes me feel better being able to hear all my friends’ instrumentation surrounding me on all the tracks.” 
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