Lauren Barus trained in Jazz Vocal Performance and holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Canterbury. Through years of personal research and careful experimentation, she has developed a vocal approach rooted not in pressure, but in comfort, gentleness, and embodied awareness. This philosophy underpins her teaching, offering students a solid technical foundation while empowering them with freedom and choice in how they use their voice.
Performing as L.A. Mitchell, she has long been a quiet force within New Zealand music. She has performed in support of international icons including Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and Guy Sebastian. She has collaborated with some of Aotearoa’s most respected artists, including Sir Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga, Tim Finn, Anna Coddington, Sola Rosa, and Dukes. Lauren’s most recent work is with her husband Matt Barus in their duo project Terrible Sons, finalists for the 2024 Folk Artist Tui. Together they have quietly amassed over 21 million streams, carving out a global audience for their acoustic indie-folk sound. She has also been nominated for the APRA Silver Scroll Top 20, and her recent single “Mother” spent eight weeks on the NZ Alt Charts, peaking at #4.
Meaningful Work, released in February 2026, debuted at #8 in the NZ Album Charts; it is a 12-year project made in the margins of motherhood, doubt, and a long career spent supporting others. Produced with Mark Perkins (Marlon Williams).
