From a small rural town in Australia to splitting her time between Sydney and Los Angeles, LAU is entering a defining new chapter with the release of her first 2026 single, “Bad For Me,” out today, May 28. The dark-pop riser has spent the last several years quietly building momentum, and as she tells InMusic, this new song is only the beginning.
“Bad For Me” arrives at a pivotal moment for the Australian independent artist, who has steadily transformed from an emerging name into one of pop’s most intriguing self-made prospects. Following the breakout success of 2025’s “Drippin,” which surpassed one million Spotify streams and marked a major milestone for an independent Australian act without label infrastructure or management, LAU is stepping into this new era with sharper clarity and bigger ambition.
“I had just come back from a writing trip in LA, and this song really felt like the perfect door into everything that’s coming next,” she says of “Bad For Me.” “It’s confident, it’s fun, and it sets the tone for what’s coming next.”
That confidence has become central to everything LAU creates. Raised in Mudgee, New South Wales, she grew up far from the traditional pathways into the music business. “I’m from rural Australia, a small town called Mudgee where the music industry felt like another world entirely,” she says. “I’m now based in Sydney and LA, which has become the places where everything has started to come together for me.”
Her artistic identity — a sleek fusion of dark pop and dance-pop — reflects years of self-discovery. Though she released her debut single “Dead To Me” in 2021, the path toward finding her creative voice was far from immediate. After appearing on television that same year, LAU stepped back from music for nearly two years to recalibrate. “That period of stepping back was probably the most important thing I ever did for my career,” she explains.
That shift laid the groundwork for songs like “INMYHEAD” (+70K streams), which helped her connect with listeners far beyond Australia. Seeing her streaming numbers surpass the population of her hometown became a tangible reminder that her music was reaching real people worldwide. Follow-up singles such as “SUPERNOVA” and “Devil I Know” continued to mark LAU’s upward trajectory. Then came “Drippin,” a track that elevated both expectations and visibility.
Creative control remains non-negotiable. LAU is deeply involved in every visual and sonic detail, from Pinterest moodboards to branding concepts to production decisions. That hands-on approach has become a cornerstone of the project. “It’s everything to me.”
Her close collaboration with producer James Guido has also been key to refining that vision. Together, they’ve developed a sound rooted in tension, confidence, and sleek electronic edges — qualities that pulse through “Bad For Me.”
At its core, the single explores emotional contradiction. “It’s about being confident enough to know that something isn’t good for you and kind of loving it anyway,” she explains. That push-and-pull dynamic mirrors an artist stepping into bigger rooms while remaining grounded in the instincts that got her there.
Offstage, LAU remains deeply grounded, knowing when to switch the popstar off and on and just be Lauren. “At home I’m just Lauren, and that’s something I really value.”
To mark the release of “Bad For Me,” LAU chatted with InMusic, taking us through her path, her evolving music, her new song, and offering just a little tease of what’s coming after “Bad For Me.” Keep reading for the full interview.
How would you describe your music?
Confident and unapologetic. I think that comes from always knowing who I am as a person and as an artist. That said, when I first started out I did feel lost. I didn’t really know what I wanted to say or how I wanted to say it. I’ve had to look really inward and figure that out, and I think that journey is what makes the music feel real.
Before you released music professionally, there’s usually a moment where things shift from interest to intention. What was that moment for you?
Honestly? I was five years old. I’ve always known that music was what I was supposed to do – it was never really a question for me. I decided to do a TV show in 2021 and after the show had ended it made me really open my eyes in terms of actually making it happen. I needed to turn my dream into a reality. The show didn’t really provide me anything but instead it changed my mentality and I told myself that I can do anything.
After the show I took two years off, worked on myself, found what I wanted to do, and then pursued it seriously. That period of stepping back was probably the most important thing I ever did for my career.
Your music feels confident and unapologetic, yet starting out independently often comes with uncertainty. What were your first steps into the industry like?
It was such a learning curve. I had just come off a TV show and quickly had to figure out who I was as an artist and I really didn’t know back then what that looked like. So the first steps were a little rough, honestly. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. Everything I went through shaped the artist I am today.
Being independent also means full creative control. How important is it for you to shape every part of your career?
It’s everything to me. I am hands-on in every single aspect – the music, the visuals, the branding, all of it. I’m constantly making Pinterest boards, constantly thinking about how every element connects. I love that process. I never want to hand that over. We live in a time where everything is so uncertain so I love that my art is something I can control.
Which artists have had the strongest creative influence on you?
Charli XCX, Madison Beer, and Slayyyter. I love how free they are and how unapologetically themselves they are, and I think their music really reflects that. That freedom is something I strive for in my own work.
Since your debut single “Dead To Me” in 2021, your sound and identity have evolved quickly. What feels like the biggest shift when you look back?
I think it’s just an element of growing up. Working with new people, travelling, experiencing more of the world and more of the industry,all of that changes you as an artist. My sound has evolved because I have evolved. I don’t think I’d want it any other way.
The release of “INMYHEAD” marked a turning point, with the track reaching audiences well beyond Australia. How did it feel to suddenly have your music move beyond the context you started in?
It felt incredibly cool. I grew up in a small town, and when the number of listeners surpassed the population of my hometown, it became very real. These are real people all over the world hearing my music and connecting with it. I was flooded with messages and people making videos to my songs. That was a moment I’ll never forget.
In 2025, “Drippin” became your first track to surpass one million streams on Spotify. Did that milestone change your confidence or expectations?
It really did. I’ve always cared about my songs, but hitting that milestone added a different kind of pressure because for the first time it felt like my music truly mattered to people. In Australia, getting to one million streams is not easy especially with no team or management behind you. For that to happen in such a short amount of time was truly incredible, and it absolutely raised my expectations for everything that comes next.
Your new single “BAD FOR ME” marks your first release of 2026. Why was this the right track to introduce this new era?
I had just come back from a writing trip in LA, and this song really felt like the perfect door into everything that’s coming next. I loved how it made me feel when we finished it. It’s confident, it’s fun, and it sets the tone for what’s coming next.
What story or meaning sits at the core of the song?
It’s about being confident enough to know that something isn’t good for you and kind of loving it anyway. That push and pull between knowing better and not caring. I think a lot of people will relate to that feeling.
You’ve collaborated closely with producer James Guido across multiple releases. What makes that creative partnership work?
James just gets it. When you find someone who understands your vision without you having to over-explain it, you hold onto that. He brings out the best in the music and the best in me creatively, and that’s rare.
“BAD FOR ME” follows a breakout year. Did the momentum around “Drippin” affect how you approached this release?
Definitely. When something connects the way Drippin did, you feel it. It raises the bar, not in a way that creates fear, but in a way that creates drive. I wanted to make sure that ‘Bad For Me’ felt like a worthy next step, and I genuinely believe it is.
What does success mean to you at this stage of your career?
Happiness. For a lot of years I was unhappy, and so much of that was tied to statistics and not feeling good enough – especially coming from Australia, where the world can feel so far away. But I’ve come to realise that I can achieve anything. Success for me now is waking up and loving what I do and feeling like it’s all moving in the right direction.
Your visuals and branding are a key part of your identity. How hands-on are you in shaping the aesthetic?
Very. I am constantly on Pinterest – it’s basically my creative bible. I’m involved in every decision when it comes to how LAU looks and feels visually. The aesthetic is just as important to me as the music, and I want every era to feel intentional and cohesive.
As LAU, your music comes across as bold and unapologetic. How different is Lauren offstage?
Honestly, LAU and Lauren are the same person. There’s no real separation – I just know when to switch the popstar off and on. When I’m on stage something just takes over and LAU comes out. My family keeps me grounded. My dog keeps me grounded. At home I’m just Lauren, and that’s something I really value.
What’s next for LAU?
I wrote a bunch of songs in LA with some really incredible people, and I genuinely believe they are the best songs I have ever written.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know?
Just that this is only the beginning. Everything that’s happened so far has been building to this moment – and I’m just getting started. Get Ready xo
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