Lauren Laverne On The Joy Of Music & Speaking Up For What You Love

2 days ago

Lauren Laverne loves living near Alexandra Park for the perspective the views offer

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BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Lauren Laverne will broadcast from the 6 Music Festival in Greater Manchester from 26–29 March. We caught up with her to talk all things joy.

Interview: Lauren Laverne

What’s bringing you joy at the moment?

Music, which has always been a huge part of my life. Last year I had a period of illness and for a while couldn’t listen to it – it was just too much emotionally. When I found the joy in it again I knew I was getting better. Now I’m back on 6 Music every weekday 10am–1pm and discovering new music all the time. I love it more than ever.

What’s annoying you most right now?

That the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.

Advice you’d give to your 15-year-old self?

Keep going, you’re doing great. You’re capable of more than you know. Learn to sit with your feelings.

What keeps you awake at night?

Waiting for my 17-year-old son to get home.

Best life hack you can share with us?

If you’ve got something good to say, say it. Speak up for what you love, praise people when they deserve it, give compliments. It makes other people happy and it makes your own life better.

A moment that changed everything?

Meeting my husband. We worked together on a TV show. That day it was his job to throw a bread roll at my face (don’t ask) but for budgetary reasons the roll was stale. It cut my nose and we had to film the rest of the day in profile, but it did mean I noticed him.

Where do you go to escape?

Alexandra Park. Seven acres with the most beautiful views overlooking London. Having grown up with easy access to the beach I always loved the perspective sea views give you. This is my city equivalent.

What’s the best way to put a smile on your face?

Stick on some frightful oompty-boompty.

You wouldn’t know it but…

My private joy is HGTV. Give me Jasmine Roth remediating someone’s DIY plumbing disaster and I’m a happy woman.

What does sustainability mean to you?

In my own life it’s about keeping things simple, enjoying what I already have and understanding what ‘enough’ looks like.

How can we save the world?

By choosing to. When I interviewed the climate scientist Corinne Le Quéré for her episode of Desert Island Discs she told me that we already have the scientific innovations and means, what we lack is the will to implement them.

Your greatest failure?

I didn’t go to university. I was supposed to take up a place at Durham University to read Medieval Studies but signed a record deal instead. I still daydream about going back sometimes.

Your greatest triumph?

My children. They bring me more joy than I could ever have dared to imagine.

What does a life in balance mean to you?

Embracing imperfection, enjoying what I can, being where my feet are.