The Museum of Pop Culture’s mission is to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities.
MoPOP Sound Off! 2022 - Meet the Artist: Lexi Lalauni
MoPOP’s Sound Off! gives up-and-coming artists mentorship from industry leaders, entrée into an artistic community invested in their growth, connections with peer musicians, and the chance to showcase their original music in MoPOP’s iconic Sky Church venue.
This years’ three live showcases — set for February 19, February 26, and March 5 — raise the bar for an all-ages show with a first-class experience at MoPOP for performers and the audience alike.
Lexi Lalauni describes herself as a dreamer, lover, singer, songwriter, and performer. Her soaring, dynamic voice and contemplative lyrics show that she is all those things and more. Drawing inspiration from the natural world and a desire to connect directly to her listeners, Lexi’s brilliant mix of dream pop and indie style invites you along for a musical adventure.
We took some time to get to know Lexi Lalauni ahead of the artist's Sound Off! 2022 performance on February 19 at MoPOP. Check out what they had to say!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background as an artist!
Lexi Lalauni: "I'm Lexi Lalauni, I'm from Tacoma, Washington. I've been singing since I was six. I got into musical theater and spent most of my years doing musical theater. That's what I think influenced me, seeing that singing is what I love, just from all that. I did choir and then I started singing at coffee shops and around [age] 16 that's when I was like, 'OK, so I'm going to focus on singing and we'll see what happens.' I went to college and it was just still like, you know, singing in my dorm room, writing. Then I went to a Residency show, saw it on Instagram. And I was like, 'OK, I want to check that out.' I went and I saw The Residency and I was like, 'That's the perfect opportunity.' So I got into Residency and I did that for two years and that really helped me get going on my musical career and helped me have more direction in where I was going and how to get to the point I wanted to be at."
What excites you most about being part of MoPOP's Sound Off! showcase?
Lexi Lalauni: "It's all of it. I love any opportunity I get to sing. I haven't performed in a while, so there's this part of me who misses that, especially with COVID and everything, just shows. So I was really excited to get to do a show and then also meeting different artists and hearing more music. But for me, I'm excited to just sing my songs. ... I'm really just excited to sing. It's what I love to do regardless of the scenario, the situation, wherever. I'm just happy to be doing what I love."
Lexi Lalauni
How do you find inspiration for your music?
Lexi Lalauni: "What inspires me is everything around me for how it makes me feel. So my songs are songs that mean a lot to me, I know what it means to me in my mind or my heart. And just day-to-day life things. Also personally I'm really inspired just by Mother Earth and by the ocean. I like to go sing in my parked car by the water, wherever, whether it's the river, or mostly it's been ocean."
What role does community play in your music?
Lexi Lalauni: "Community is connection. Connection is everything. I feel like everything's connected and people impact each other. It's like on a day-to-day basis, if you're walking down the sidewalk, you could smile at someone or you could just not even observe that their presence was there and whatever you choose to do. That's connection, and it's like passing [it] on. With community, when everybody has like-minded passions and feelings and they understand each other, I feel like that's important. For me, I've always felt like I didn't fit in, like I never had community until I did musical theater and felt a place where I was comfortable with myself. So that's where I think community is important to be around people who understand that."
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT SOUND OFF! 2022...
We know you may be curious about health and safety protocols, so here are the extra steps we’re taking for these in-person Sound Off! showcases in our 140,000 square foot museum:
- Performers will be separated from the audience by a 20-foot buffer.
- All guests 12 years and older will be required to show proof of full vaccination or a negative PCR COVID test taken within 72 hours prior to the event.
- Masks are required for guests 3 years and older.
- Please only bring what you need as coat check is currently closed.
- There will be no concessions sold during Sound Off! events. Please come hydrated and consider eating before you arrive.
- Hand sanitizer dispensers are available throughout the museum.
More information about our COVID policies is available on our website.
Can't attend the live Sound Off! showcases this year? You can still support MoPOP's youth artist development programs by making a gift.
Special thanks to our Sound Off! community partner KEXP.
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