Lauren Daigle’s Live EP ‘Sessions’ Teases Future Projects

Lauren Daigle has just achieved a long-time dream. The Grammy-winning singer shared with The Tennessean that creating an acoustic record has been a goal of hers. The result is “Sessions,” an eight-song EP that’s mostly acoustic and was recorded live at Sirius XM in New York City and Apple Music in Nashville.

“I’ve been wanting to do an acoustic record for a while, but we were on tour for a long time,” Daigle said. Fortunately, when Apple Music and Sirius XM invited her for an acoustic performance, she saw it as the perfect opportunity. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! This is amazing.’ It all worked out. We recorded those sessions and turned them into an album, and I’m beyond excited.”

The EP “Sessions” includes new versions of her recently gold-certified hit “Thank God I Do,” her current radio single “Be Okay,” and a fresh recording of her six-times platinum smash “You Say.”

Daigle also chose to include a cover of Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful.” “I’ve loved that song for a long time,” she said. “We went through about 50 songs trying to find a good cover. I wanted something that complemented the record. We often tell ourselves narratives that can be either painful or hopeful. Singing a simple, profound lyric like ‘you are so beautiful’ is powerful.”

She noted that with social media, there are countless messages telling people to measure up to unrealistic standards. “It’s a simple message, but it’s one I want the world to believe in, especially with everything we’re going through.”

Daigle’s 2018 album “Look Up Child” included “You Say,” her most listened-to song with over 550 million Spotify streams. For this new EP, she chose to re-record the hit for the first time. Despite not being nervous at the time, looking back makes her more anxious. “Listening to the original makes me realize how much my voice has changed. The tonality, vowel shapes—everything is different,” she said.

She admitted to critiquing the original recording and wishing she could change things. “But then I remind myself it was a time stamp of that moment. I have to honor where I was emotionally,” she said. This perspective came from producer Mike Elizondo, who emphasized letting the human experience shine through instead of seeking perfection.

“Before working with Mike, I would do countless takes to perfect the style or hold a note longer,” she said. “But you learn that the human expression has its own perfection. Letting that natural experience reach people’s ears is beautiful.”

Daigle describes “Sessions” as a “hat tip” to things that might come in the future. “I’ve always wanted to make an acoustic record, and this feels like a bridge. It’s more stripped-down than anything I’ve recorded before. This could be a hint at what’s to come.”

“Sessions” will be available as a numbered limited-edition vinyl variant and on digital platforms. The EP releases on August 16.

Sessions tracklist:

Side A (SiriusXM)

1. “Thank God I Do”
2. “You’re All I’ll Take With Me”
3. “Be Okay”
4. “These Are The Days”

Side B (Apple Music)

1. “You Say”
2. “You Are So Beautiful”
3. “21 Days”
4. “Thank God I Do”

Source: The Tennessean