dig dis!cover with Lauren Mia

Hello Lauren, I can already see you're in your studio surrounded by all kinds of instruments and gear. So how did your music journey begin? Do you have a musical background?
Oh, that’s a loaded question, haha. First of all, thank you so much for having me. Yeah, I started with music at a very, very young age. My parents were both really into music— not professionally, but as a hobby. They were just deep music lovers, always listening to different bands. I think I was around four years old when my parents bought a piano and signed me up for lessons with a teacher named Stella. She was my teacher for about 12 years. I had weekly lessons, tons of recitals—basically from age four into my teens. But once I hit high school, you know how it goes—I wanted to socialize, go to parties and raves. I kind of drifted away from classical training. I stopped playing for a long time—pretty much through my 20s. I was still attending raves and festivals and very involved in the electronic music scene, but I wasn’t creating or nurturing my musical gifts. I’ve always felt I have a talent for writing melodies and acoustic pieces, and now, for producing music. But yeah, there was that break. Then, in my early 20s, while I was finishing college, I started playing piano again. I was going through depression and anxiety and had moved back in with my parents for a while. I saw my piano, reconnected with it, and started writing again—acoustic pieces. I ended up creating a full album of piano compositions, which I published on Apple Music. It’s not up anymore—I took it down when I started my electronic music project—but it was out there at one point. That’s really what reignited the whole process of writing music for me. I wanted to go deeper, so I enrolled in a couple of music programs—one was about a year long, and the second one lasted a year and a half. So I did about two and a half to three years of schooling, specifically for music production with Ableton. That’s when I started buying my first gear—synthesizer, sequencer, audio interface, hard drives—and everything started to develop from there. I completely fell in love with it. I was so dedicated—I didn’t even have a social life. I wasn’t dating anyone. I was just obsessed with music. Having that classical training as a kid really was the biggest gift. It gave me rhythm, pitch control, and the ability to write harmonies. Even now, I can sing in pitch and build harmonies vocally—all because of that foundation.

It sounds like your parents played a big role in your musical journey. How did they influence or support you along the way?
I thank my parents every day—they’re my biggest fans. I’m super close to them and really grateful. My mom used to mix vinyl at a radio station in her home country, and both of them have always been supportive of my music. They’re immigrants, so I’m a first-generation American, and they worked really hard to give me the chance to even have piano lessons. Now, in my 30s, I can really see how much that shaped me. And the music schools I went to later were also a huge help—learning Ableton, building a workflow, understanding mixing techniques. I’m so thankful for those teachers too.

We’re really glad to support you. How did your connection to our distribution come about in the first place?
First of all, I love dig dis! I’m so grateful I made the leap to switch distribution companies. It was definitely a process—moving an entire catalog over is tedious and stressful, especially when the user interfaces are so different. Honestly, I don’t see myself switching distributors again after that. But it was the best decision I could’ve made. I finally feel at home. With dig dis!, I feel supported by a team that really cares about every artist, every label. You guys actually show up, you support us, and you invest time and effort to make sure every release is successful. You don’t get that kind of personal attention at bigger distribution companies, at least not in my experience. Since switching, I’ve had more success landing features and getting proper guidance on how to release music independently. I’m really thankful I found my home in dig dis!. I came across dig dis! through the network of artists I work with—many of whom are based in Germany. I lived in Berlin for a while and made a lot of friends in the scene. I’ve collaborated with artists like SKALA and Pretty Pink,  and saw that they were working with dig dis!. So I started noticing the name pop up and had known about you for a few years. At the time, I was with another major distribution company—I won’t name them, but it’s a big one used by thousands of people. Still, I wasn’t getting the support or care I needed. Eventually, I had this gut feeling that it was time for a change. I decided to stop everything—take a break from releasing on my old label, put out an album, rebrand my whole project, and restructure the label system. That’s when I chose to switch to dig dis!. With that new album, I brought the whole catalog over, and rather than revamp the old label (which I ransince 2019), I decided to start fresh. That’s how Halcyon was born—it launched this year as a part of this new chapter in my life. My manager is helping with label management, we’ve built a beautiful team, and our creative director is based between Portugal and Berlin. Since dig dis! is German-based, I think that connection just naturally fell into place.

Thanks so much for your kind words—we’re really happy we’ve been able to support both your work as an artist and as a label. Switching an entire catalog must’ve been stressful, especially with the risk of losing stats or having releases go offline, even for a short time. Looking back, how was that transition for you?
It was definitely rough. Even though it was just a few days, I had to explain things to some artists who weren’t too happy about it. The whole process was super stressful and not something I’d want to go through again. But in the end, it was worth it—I feel completely at home with dig dis! now. I always tell Luca (dig dis!) and Oliver (dig dis!) how grateful I am. You guys are stuck with me—I’m not going anywhere!

Your first release on Halcyon Label, Sapiosensual, landed multiple editorial playlist placements—congrats on that! You briefly mentioned what inspired the change, but what really motivated you to start a new label when your previous one was already successful?
Thank you! I think it came down to growth. I started Ear Porn, my previous label, in my early 20s, and now that I’m in my 30s, so much has shifted—both personally and sonically. I felt the urge to evolve with my project, and instead of just rebranding everything—the artwork, creative direction, and even switching distributors—I realized it was time for a clean slate. I wanted a label that reflects who I am now, with a more mature, intentional vision.
My team also encouraged me, and deep down I knew I’d outgrown the foundation of the old label. Halcyon Label is a space that carries over the same values but feels more aligned with where I am today. I want it to be a home for artists who create from the heart. No restrictions, no chasing trends—just honest, authentic music. I’m not interested in TikTok numbers or Instagram aesthetics. What matters to me is supporting real artists, especially those working hard behind the scenes, and helping their music reach the right audience.

You’ve built a strong global following, but I noticed Germany stands out as one of your top countries on Spotify. What do you think makes your music resonate so strongly with listeners in Germany and Europe, especially compared to your hometown in L.A.?
First of all, thank you to all my amazing German fans—I love you so much! I’m seriously so grateful for your support. Germany has consistently been one of my top countries in terms of listeners. Honestly, I think Germany and Italy are two of the most influential countries in Europe when it comes to electronic music. Germany, especially Berlin, is a hub for innovation—whether it’s in software, technology, sound design, or the artists themselves. People there really get electronic music on a deeper level. They understand analog and digital synthesis, and I feel like they truly connect with the intention behind my sound.
In the U.S., electronic music—especially genres like techno, melodic house, progressive, trance, and hard techno—is only recently gaining more traction. We’re often a bit behind compared to Europe in picking up those trends. But I’ve always felt connected to this sound because I’m half European—my father is Polish—and I spent a lot of time in Europe, even living in Germany for a while. So I’ve been surrounded by this culture and sonic landscape for years. That’s probably why my fan base is primarily European. But the U.S. is also in my top five countries, along with Brazil and Mexico. So big love to all of you too—thank you!

You've mentioned your strong connection to Germany—not just through your fan base, but also personally. What originally brought you to Berlin, and how did that part of your journey shape your music and community?
I love Germany—honestly, if it weren’t for Covid, I’d probably still be living there. I moved to Berlin with the intention of staying long term, but the pandemic forced me to return to L.A. because I didn’t have the proper visa at the time. I had planned to go back after two weeks, but I got really sick with Covid—actually one of the first confirmed cases in the U.S. The Department of Public Health even contacted me because there weren’t testing centers yet. I was down for almost a month, had to cancel my return flight, and all my equipment was stuck in Germany for six months. It was a crazy time. But the story really starts earlier. Even before I was releasing music, I was deeply influenced by German artists—artists like Township Rebellion were a huge inspiration. I was already working with a lot of German producers from the U.S., which eventually led to collaborations with artists like SKALA and releases on German labels. My first trip to Germany happened after a promoter saw me play in L.A. and invited me to a party in Düsseldorf called Private Monkey. From there, I took a solo trip to Berlin, met amazing people like Martin and Hagen—who are still my friends today—and through them connected with SKALA and the Bennhausen collective. I became part of that community, playing shows, making friends, even dating a bit, haha. That’s when I decided to move—I packed up all my gear, literally twelve cases full of equipment, and relocated to Berlin. Now I travel to Germany multiple times a year. I’ll be back in Berlin in April,  and then again in June for a headline show, plus Ikarus Festival in Munich, playing alongside artists like Moritz Hofbauer and Boris Brejcha. It’s been such a meaningful part of my journey, both personally and professionally, and I’m so grateful for the friendships and connections that are still part of my life today.

With such a busy life—between DJing, producing, and performing—what would you say is the most rewarding part of being a musician?
For me, the best part of being a musician is the act of creating. That’s where it all begins. Writing music helps me process emotions, turn both pain and joy into something beautiful, and express myself freely. But it’s not just about creating for myself—it’s also about sharing it. That’s what makes it complete. Knowing that my music reaches people, touches hearts, and makes someone feel seen or understood—that’s the most fulfilling part. I might not have millions of listeners, but even the messages from those who do tune in and say my music made a difference to them… that means everything. It’s incredibly rewarding. This path isn’t easy—it takes a lot of courage and resilience. There are constant ups and downs, and every musician knows how tough it can be. So to anyone out there on this same journey: I see you, I honor you. But at the end of the day, the impact we can have through something we create—that’s the real magic of being an artist.

And that’s a wrap on our conversation with Lauren Mia. From her early classical training to building a transatlantic fan base and launching Halcyon Label, her journey reflects passion, growth, and authenticity. It was inspiring to hear how deeply she values creative freedom and emotional connection in music.
Thank you, Lauren, for sharing your story—and thank you all for tuning in!