New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Female bass player LT uses her experience playing in Beyonce's all-girl band to inspire other young women to pursue their passions. She plans to use her relationship with PRS guitars to empower young women with rock star aspirations to become competitive with their craft and not against one another.
female bass guitar player LT jams with
Beyonce during Formation tour
Young women are taught to compete against each other as opposed to competing with their craft. You must be competitive to excel; competition makes us better—it shouldn't tear us apart.
Female bass guitarist
Lauren Taneil (otherwise known as LT) realized her wildest dreams had come true when she was chosen to play bass guitar for Beyonce' five years ago. Although, while growing up, she never would've imagined touring the world with Beyonce, LT knows she was preparing for the opportunity from the time she picked up a guitar at age seven. LT's sponsorship with PRS allows her to play a top-of-the-line bass guitar while on the Formation world tour. She believes the opportunity was given to her to teach other young women to chase their passion and to dream big. LT wants to use the opportunity to encourage female musicians to become masters of their instruments in order to prepare for their own opportunity of a lifetime. "I want to encourage young women stay focused on their goals, and stay spiritually grounded/connected in who they are and who is inside of theme �to make sure they take care of themselves first and foremost and never stop growing/learning. In addition to that, it's important to stay ready so you don't have to get ready," she says.
Since that life-changing call, LT's dreams have continued to manifest as she returned to Beyonce's all-girl band for the Formation world tour in spring 2016. "I've been playing bass for
Beyonce for going on 5 years now. The musical director at that time, Kim Burse, came to see my sisters and I perform and before I knew it, she called me to play on
Black Girls Rock, where I first met all of the ladies of Beyonce's all-female band. Shortly after, I got the call to play for Beyonce� and have been with her ever since," LT explains.
Over the last five years, LT has taken the opportunity to hone her craft even more, admitting her biggest lesson from
Beyonce has been that hard work yields an inevitable harvest. "I want young women to know they have to work hard for what they desire and realize they are responsible for their own life and no one else."
LT is excited to partner with PRS guitars to encourage young women to become masters of their art after the Formation tour wraps. "PRS has been such a great sponsorship partner and I'm really excited to work with them to empower young girls to find confidence in their art," LT says. She plans to launch a program with PRS, encouraging young women to pursue their craft competitively. "Young women are taught to compete against each other as opposed to competing with their craft. You must be competitive to excel; competition makes us better �it shouldn't tear us apart."
Although she is looking forward to doing great work back at home in her community, for now, LT is excited about touring the world with the second half of the Formation world tour. "My favorite part is when I come out for my solo. It's just a real, organic, fun moment for both Bey and I. I enjoy having the opportunity of exchanging that energy with her. It's an honor to share the stage with her and just have fun. I really do love what I do."
