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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Inspection Review

Lauren Béa

Lauren Béa
Wildflower

Street Date: October 9, 2018
Style: Pop / Dance / AC
Buy It: iTunes



To say that Austin native Lauren Béa isn't quite a household name just yet would be something of an understatement. Indeed, unless you happened to attend one of the women's conferences for which she provided music, you've probably never heard of her. Luckily for the members of the listening audience, an exhaustive knowledge of her back catalog isn't a requisite for enjoying her debut effort. Purveying a sort of dance/pop/adult contemporary hybrid, Wildflower is aimed at fans - of both genders - who happen to favor those particular musical genres.

Things start off nicely with the toe-tapping dance-pop cut, "Sovereign Still," which transitions seamlessly between its laid-back verses and more bracing chorus. Bookending the proceedings is the closing cover of Hillsong Worship's "What a Beautiful Name," which shows Béa to be equally proficient at slower, worship-based material. In between its beginning and end, though, the record is filled with too many tracks whose rhythms are either awkward ("Everything"), lumbering ("What If We Loved") or simply mismatched to the cadence and pace of their lyrical accompaniment (the title song).

To its credit, the album's themes of positive self-image, aloneness and the loss of an unborn child are bound to resonate with a large portion of her audience. And Béa sings with a strength, clarity and conviction that go a long way toward offsetting her first project's shortcomings. Even with those assets taken into account, though, it's hard not to wish that her freshman outing were graced with tighter beats, a stronger set of melodies and just a little more oomph.

That being said, those who caught her at any of her women's events and liked what they heard will almost certainly find Wildflower to their liking. And its limitations, in the broadest sense, are certainly easy enough to correct. All of which means that, while the majority of dance and pop music purists will want to cherry pick one or two tunes, at most, from her inaugural release, her undeniable talent and admirable conviction bode very well for her sophomore outing and may just well make Béa one of the artists to watch in 2019.

- Review date: 11/1/18, written by Bert Gangl of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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This Tuesday, September 9, 2025
DC3 Bake Off - A COLORS SHOW - Single (independent)
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John Van Deusen Hallelujah Story - Single [Anotherland]

This Friday, September 12, 2025
ALBUMS
Jervis Campbell Good Grief! (independent)
Demon Hunter There Was A Light Here [Weapons MFG]
Roxanne Grace Try Again [DREAM]
The Heritage Home (Acoustic Sessions) - EP [Capitol CMG]
Ellie Holcomb Far Country [Capitol CMG]
Malcom Christopher II Purpose and Plan (independent)
Q-Flo & IAMOPB The Flo Pack II [Syntax]
Sower Contemporary Christian Machine - EP (independent)
twenty one pilots Breach [Fueled By Ramen]
tylerhateslife MENTAL HEALTH [Syntax]
Phil Wickham Song of the Saints [Fair Trade]
Matthew West Don't Stop Praying (Deluxe Edition) [Story House]

SINGLES
Pat Barrett Hard Part Of A Dream - Single [Capitol CMG]
BASECAMP Under the Blood (feat. Knaladeus) - Single [Polished Arrow Music]
Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson & Christine D'Clario No One Like The Lord [Nadie Como El Señor] (Live) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Dan Bremnes Find Yourself - Single [Curb]
Vince Gill Go Rest High On That Mountain (Extended Version) - Single [UMG]
Matt Hammitt Days God Gave - Single (independent)
I.A.N., Jordy Sam & OnBeatMusic GOD DID IT - Single [Syntax]
Amy Jay Margins - Single (independent)
Jeff Deyo & Lisa Nicole I Could Sing of Your Love Forever - Single [NWN]
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Jordan L'Oreal Wildflowers - Single [Capitol CMG]
Perry LaHaie Thy Kingdom Come - Single [Frontiers]
Myles Maestro Time Bomb (Until I'm Gone) - Single [Syntax]
Tommee Profitt A Hero's Return (Instrumental) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Redman Praise To The Most High (feat. Joe L Barnes) - Single [Integrity]
Lexly Nirvana Mood ft. Michael Luis - Single [Syntax]
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Next Friday, September 19, 2025
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Dave Barnes The Songs That Got Away (independent)
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Zane Walls Dry Bones - EP [DREAM]
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SINGLES
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