(...continued)

An Awakening

To Gift A World

A Message

More Than Just a Cover

Iconic Venue ... Special Event ...Special moment

Loren Allred's Journey

A few notes of interest before continuing Loren's journey. Over time I've come to realize that those who follow Loren and comment on her uploads represent a community that's easy and comfortable to be a part of. Despite the immense diversity among her followers, each seems to share an appreciation for the person she is, as well as the artist she has become, which speaks volumes about themself. To those who've reached out to me, your comments and support are warmly received. For those lacking in appreciation, it's perfectly okay to disagree. There are far too many talented artists in this world for everyone to be in agreement about the same one. But please keep our main theme in mind ... that of persistence and newfound awareness leading to growth and transformation.

I return to the subject of Loren, the now independent artist and businesswoman. Watching some of her current behind-the-scenes clips, I'm reminded of other entrepreneurial artists who have taken control of their careers and broadened their roles, such as Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna. Another example is Lady Gaga, not only a savvy businesswoman but someone who's crossed into multiple music genres, as well as other media platforms. Loren has already shown her ability to impress as a singer in multiple genres, and will likely show that same ability in other roles as well. Now self-directed, she hires talented production people, quality musicians, selects boutique labels for distribution, performs where she chooses, and selects the most efficient pathways toward achieving her goals and ambitions. She literally just has to point her finger in the direction she would like to go next. Just to illustrate how easily she alters persona, take a moment to enjoy these delightful mini vignettes.

A gleeful spirit

A sophisticate

Brooklyn gal

In Part 1, just before the 2012 TV appearance of Loren on The Voice, I mentioned my focus on the Summer Olympics in London. The opening and closing ceremonies featured performances by rising UK singer Emeli Sande. There are more connections between the following three artists than most would suspect. Know that Emeli's first name is Adele, but she chose to use her middle name (Emily) because rising star Adele was already known at the time. Adele's "Chasing Pavements" was one of the songs Loren had uploaded to YouTube, which led to her early signing with a label. A common thread linking all three artists was the early influence of Lauryn Hill. Adele's insistence on remaining herself strongly coincides with Loren's decisions throughout her journey. Emeli expressed a similar show of strength by adding a tattoo image of Frida Kahlo. To my knowledge, Loren has never commented on her ink, but she has certainly shown her strength and resilience when needed. Then there is the fact that Emeli and Loren both entered the industry at roughly the same time, and both endured similar struggles within that process, although Loren unfortunately faced issues beyond just contracts and broken promises. By February 2012, Emeli Sande had debuted her first album, "Our Version of Things", containing the track "Clown", which portrayed those hardships and emotions experienced early on.

Aside from just interest, the connections above factor into the performance linked below, specifically the raw intensity and emotion seen and heard. The lyrics in "Clown" mostly reenact the struggles Emeli faced in trying to get signed by a label, while they portray the puppeteering and manipulation that Loren faced after the ink had dried. The memory of those moments alone is enough to account for the intensity seen and heard in this studio release. But there's an additional factor, which I'm left wondering about. During an interview, Loren stated that she would be releasing re-imagined versions of The Greatest Showman songs, along with a song from her recording industry days that was never released, and lastly an original song. Loren later confirmed that "Clown" was indeed that never-released song. I'd love to know what else was on that album. Backstory aside, this recording stands on its own, impressively demonstrating the power of a memory and a shared experience, and what it can evoke. The black and white format was the perfect choice for this video. The vocals, song lyrics, and story speak for themselves, so I'll simply suggest noting the number of shifts (20 or more) and the control throughout. This cover should've dropped 14 years ago. Enjoy Loren's version of "Clown."

"Clown"

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"Flying Without Wings"

It's important to recall Loren's starting point in order to appreciate how special this next event really is. That beginning, career-wise, was when Ne-Yo championed her signing with Island Def Jam via the joint venture with his Compound Entertainment in September 2010, having heard her on YouTube. Her first public appearance(s) were mostly promotional events for his new album. Her part of their duet remix, "Pot of Gold," was said by some to have outshone her mentor. The outlet streams of that remix, along with capacity-crowd appearances, should have marked the beginning of her rise to recognition, but Ne-Yo soon left Island Def Jam to join Motown, leaving Loren mired in a no man's land of complex contractual obligations. When her only other ally, L.A. Reid, left a few months later, Loren's career stalled, then came to a complete standstill. Exhausted and depressed, she endured the ordeal of The Voice, welcomed her contract expiration, and walked away from the recording industry. Pivot from this performance on October 28, 2025, to the one on October 29, 2012 (Round 3, The Voice) and you will surely view this upcoming guest appearance in a new light. Having lived the journey presented in this story, she will now stand on a stage shared by Winston Churchill, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and hundreds of other legends from Albert Einstein to Muhammad Ali, for a performance that will soon be shown on TV and Cinema Theater screens throughout Europe, and streamed worldwide. Hats off to Westlife for wanting to bring new life to this song, create a special dedication to one of their own, and selecting Loren to help do so.

Some Perspective

With a World Music Award, four Record of the Year Awards, and multiple world tours, Westlife needs no introduction to music fans. The group was formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1998, comprised of Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, and Brian McFadden. Their third #1 single, "Flying Without Wings," won Record of the Year. Following three world tours, McFadden departed, and the remaining four became the group now known to so many. Mark Feehily's temporary absence, for health reasons, didn't stop the trio from touring. In June 2025, they announced that their "The 25th Anniversary Tour" would launch in October with their first-ever appearance at London's Royal Albert Hall, on two consecutive nights. The first night's performance was constructed for filming a TV and Cinema Special, with the next night being a normal full concert. For that occasion, "Flying Without Wings" would be dedicated to the missing member, Mark Feehily, it being his favorite song, and to make it special, the group chose to add a guest artist to perform in his absence. They requested Loren, who was flown in from New York, and suddenly found herself performing in a venue and atmosphere treasured by all who have stood in her place throughout history. It proved to be a special night for audience members and performers alike. I've linked the highest quality clip I could find, although it's minus Loren's introduction. (available on a lower quality link).

Photo by Enrique

Royal Albert Hall, opened by Queen Victoria in 1872. Capacity 5,272

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Includes introduction

Thanks to TeamWestlifeWorld

Thanks to Betharie Cendera Arrahmani

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Royal Albert Hall during a calmer event