Lauren Juzang: The Indie Voice You Need to Hear Live
May 27th, San Francisco CA, May 28th & 29th Los Angeles CA
The first North American leg of the Praying For Your Downfall Tour has officially wrapped, and opener Lauren Juzang proved to be the perfect way to start every night of the tour. The Los Angeles-based indie artist played 16 shows, 14 of them solo, and ended the run with two full-band sets in her hometown.
I had the privilege of seeing Juzang three times: first in San Francisco on May 27th for a solo performance, and then in Los Angeles on May 28th and 29th with her band. Across every set, she captivated the crowd with a stunning combination of vulnerability, talent, and charm, offering a glimpse into her upcoming EP, EITHER WAY ??!?, releasing June 13th, 2025.
Photo by Lia Hansen.
Each night opened with “Why’d You Ask”, a raw, emotionally charged song about the aftermath of a relationship. Hearing it performed solo in San Francisco felt deeply personal, stripped down and intimate, while the full-band version in LA brought new energy, transforming the track into something catchy and electric. The contrast was incredible, showing how dynamic Juzang’s songwriting can be.
In San Francisco, the second song was “Thursday in June”, released that same night. It begins with soft, everyday moments, walks, shared meals, conversations, before unraveling into the heartbreak of a relationship fading too soon. In LA, she swapped that out for a newer track, “All That !” a powerful reflection on emotional burnout and the struggle to grow past anger and pain. The vulnerability in her delivery made the room feel completely still. Both songs left the crowd entranced, and from there, she had us in the palm of her hand.
Next on the setlist was “Still”, a standout. It's a song about how hard it is to let go of someone when the memories refuse to fade. Small, intimate details are painted with emotional precision, and the hope that the other person might still remember is almost too tender to bear. This one hit hard, and resonated deeply.
Midway through her set, Juzang delivered a surprise: a cover of Owl City's “Fireflies”. She acknowledged its meme status with a laugh, but made clear she still thinks it’s a great song, and the audience agreed. With the room singing along, she transformed a nostalgic internet classic into something heartfelt and joyful. It was a playful, unexpected moment that only made her more endearing.
Then came “Yeehoo!”, one of her most beloved tracks. Before playing it, she asked the audience, “Anyone here in love?” When only a few cheered, she laughed and admitted, “I’m not either, we broke up.” The honesty was met with warmth and laughter. The song itself is a sweeping, spiritual take on young love, intense, transformative, and laced with longing. It compares romantic connection to religious faith, showing the surrender and vulnerability that come with it. On stage, it was breathtaking.
Photo by everythingtoanna via Instagram.
The second-to-last song was “Losing You”, an unreleased track from the upcoming EP. Vocally, it’s one of her most complex, and emotionally, it’s just as rich, a powerful ballad about the pain of heartbreak and slipping away from someone you once loved. It’s a standout in her set, and one of the songs I’m most excited to hear on the full project.
Juzang closed her set with her most popular song, “It’ll Be (Video Game Song)”, a perfect finale. While lyrically it deals with the chaos of a crumbling relationship, miscommunication, emotional fatigue, and that haunting uncertainty, it’s wrapped in an upbeat, catchy sound that had the whole crowd moving. The repeated line “If it is meant to be, it’ll be” felt like both a letting go and a kind of anthem. It was the emotional exhale the set had been building toward.
Lauren Juzang isn’t just a promising artist- she’s a fully formed performer with an extraordinary voice, astonishing songwriting, and the ability to make an entire room feel like they’re in on something intimate and rare. Seeing her live is an emotional experience, and one I can’t recommend enough. If you ever get the chance to see her perform, don’t miss it.
