ABOUT Lauren
Lauren Samonte (she/her), a.k.a. lavender__keys, is a Filipino-American pianist, keyboardist, accompanist, and music educator based in Dallas, Texas.
Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Lauren's earliest opportunities playing music began at age 6 when she started taking piano lessons. She later attended El Paso High School, where she became their choir’s piano accompanist at 16 years old. Lauren moved to Denton, Texas in 2017 to attend the University of North Texas College of Music, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in classical piano. She met many of her current collaborators during her time there, and her training eventually led her to the exploration of other genres like rock, R&B, pop, musical theater, and jazz. Lauren took classical piano lessons with Altynay Karsakpayeva and jazz piano lessons with Michael Clement, former pianist for the Grammy-winning UNT One O’Clock Jazz Band.
Lauren obtained her first private piano teaching position in 2018 and has been working with young musicians ever since. Lauren served as a staff pianist for the Irving ISD Choral Department for 3 years, in which she played piano for Irving High School’s choirs and those of its surrounding middle schools. She continues to serve as a freelance accompanist around DFW, having performed with both instrumentalists and vocalists alike. As a teacher, she combines her past performance experiences, her love for differing musical styles, and a nurturing teaching style to help young musicians seek out their unique personal goals.
After graduating from UNT in 2021, she performed on tour with then-solo artist Xavier Bernazard in October 2022. It was on this tour that the two formed their band, The Deadly Beloved, as they toured through the USA. They have since performed in places like Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, Houston, and New York City. Lauren also joined the cumbia band Yolanda Cruz & the Daydreamers in the summer of 2023, with whom she has performed all over Texas. Their most notable performance was recently at the 2026 South by Southwest Music Festival, and they will also perform at the State Fair of Texas this upcoming September. Some other artists Lauren has performed with include Rosy L, Deya’Soul, and Loners Club.