LOLO On Writing For 2018’s “The 24 Hour Musicals,” Her Musical “Songbird” & Her Goals For 2019
Jackson, Tennessee native LOLO — more likely known to her parents as Lauren Pritchard — made her major label debut with Universal Music’s UK arm in 2010 with Wasted In Jackson. She moved along to DCD2 Records in the U.S. in 2013, also recording with the likes of Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco. Her first proper release for DCD2 was 2016’s In Loving Memory Of When I Gave A Sh*t. Since then, LOLO has written a produced musical (Songbird) and appeared in a film (Romance In The Digital Age).
LOLO is one of the celebrities who will be part of this year’s The 24 Hour Musicals. The marathon process for The 24 Hour Musicals begins at 9:00 PM the night before the performance. Writers, composers, directors, choreographers, actors, music directors, musicians and production staff — many of whom have never worked with or met each other before — gather for an orientation where they are asked to share one costume piece, one prop, a special skill, and to reveal something that they have always wanted to do on-stage, as well as some singing and dancing. At 11:00 PM, the composers and writers get to work crafting 15 to 20 minute musicals overnight. At 9:00 AM the next morning, the actors receive their roles and the directors, choreographers and musicians arrive to begin rehearsal. Less than 12 hours later, they must be ready to perform in front of a live audience. Aside from LOLO, some of 2018’s performers, you ask? Savion Glover, Jessica Hecht, Carol Kane, Norm Lewis, John Mulaney, Bebe Neuwirth, Molly Ringwald, Jordan Roth, Jonathan Coulton, and Aimee Mann.
I had the pleasure of doing Q&A with LOLO about The 24 Hour Musicals and more. Additional info on LOLO’s various projects can be found via following her on social media via @Lolomusic. More on The 24 Hour Musicals is online at www.24hourplays.com.
How did you first get involved with The 24 Hour Musicals?
LOLO: I had to opportunity to work with Mark Armstrong earlier this year and we had a blast! He reached out to me to be a part of the 24 Hour Musicals event.
Have you worked with anyone from The 24 Hour Musicals before?
LOLO: I’ve worked with Julia Mattison before and we’re getting to team up on this project too. There is an incredible group of creatives that are a part of the 2018 season and I’m so excited to work with everyone.
24 Hour Musicals aside, what is coming up for you in your career?
LOLO: I’m continuing to work on my musical, Songbird, which ran this June & July at Two River Theater. An album of the music from Songbird will be coming in Spring 2019. I’m currently writing new material for my next solo album, which I release under the name of LOLO. We’ll record the album at the top of 2019 and then I’ll hit the road again touring starting in April 2019 through the summer. I’ll play my final LOLO show of the year on December 2nd, 2018 at Rough Trade in Brooklyn.
Is there a career accomplishment you are most proud of?
LOLO: Being able to wake up every morning and be creative as my job has been a huge accomplishment for me! But one of my proudest moments was, I had the opportunity to work with a band called Panic! At The Disco and write songs for their last two albums, Death Of A Bachelor and Pray For The Wicked, and I received a GRAMMY nomination as a Songwriter for my work on that project. Receiving that recognition from Grammy community was a dream come true.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
LOLO: Life in this industry is a roller coaster. When it gets rough, don’t get off, keep riding! Keep shining! Keep curating yourself and remember that you have so much to give to the world around you. There’s no time limit to creativity, let your brain have space to bring your best work to light and the rest will follow. Lastly, my social media shenanigans can be followed at @Lolomusic.
About the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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