Toronto musician and Burs member Lauren Dillen is stepping out on her own with her debut EP, Blue Star, out now via Victory Pool Records.
Across these songs, Dillen creates a beautiful world of soft ambient folk-pop that puts her songwriting and vocals front and centre.
There is something incredibly gentle and intimate about Blue Star, but beneath that softness is a songwriter who has clearly grown more confident in telling her own story.
The EP comes from what Dillen describes as a “very passionate and difficult” period in her life, particularly her early twenties, when she was constantly working toward perfection and putting obligation ahead of joy.
Now, she is learning to listen to her body, advocate for herself, and accept that life doesn’t always have to follow a predetermined path.
That sense of acceptance runs throughout Blue Star.
These are songs about life, love, growth, and becoming more comfortable with who you are.
Dillen isn’t afraid to sit with uncertainty or vulnerability, and that honesty makes the EP feel deeply personal without ever becoming overly heavy.
There is also a wonderful connection between Dillen’s music and her love of plants. Her songwriting grows outward like branches, while her work as a tattoo artist focuses on vintage botanical designs, and even the artwork for Blue Star incorporates plant cyanotypes.
It all feels connected to the natural imagery within her songs.
One of the EP’s most striking ideas comes in the line, “we watch the leaves shoot up as the roots shoot down.”
It’s a perfect reflection of what Blue Star feels like: growth happening both above and below the surface.
Musically, Dillen allows plenty of space for her songs to breathe.
The ambient folk-pop arrangements complement her delicate vocals rather than overpowering them, creating an atmosphere that feels warm, reflective, and quietly immersive.
What makes Blue Star especially compelling is how honest Dillen sounds throughout. As she puts it, “My channels are clear, and I can be honest.” You can hear that clarity in these songs.
With Blue Star, Lauren Dillen introduces herself as a thoughtful and compelling singer-songwriter with a distinctive voice and a beautiful ability to turn personal growth into music.
This is an artist you definitely need to check out.
Lauren Dillen’s Blue Star gets: 📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷/10.
Lauren Dillen’s Blue Star Is a Beautiful Portrait of Growth and Acceptance
