Boston based singer/songwriter Lauren Bateman’s debut album, I’ve Been Waiting, released this February, is solidifying her role in the Boston Pop/Rock music scene. Lauren jumped into the studio last fall with producer Andy Bauer of Turnt Out Media to record her life’s work, a poignant and optimistic pop/rock collection channeling emotions of love, heartache, anger and redemption found within. 

Her oldest song, Linger, was written in the fall of 2003 after Lauren’s first relationship, a long distance relationship, did not work out: “It was a really tough time for me being my first relationship. It was actually the first song I wrote that I thought sounded good.” Other songs like Burning Bridges, a touching acoustic testament to moving on from your past, and Civil Again will move listeners with Lauren’s ability to lyrically portray life.

The most heart-wrenching and deeply emotional song on the album is Guardian Angel, a song that Lauren wrote for her aunt that passed away from pancreatic cancer in April of 2009. The violin and cello work so well to develop a sorrow that transpires into an uplifting crescendo in the chorus. “I just wanted her to know that we would never forget her and that she would always be in our hearts. It’s a very personal song and it touches so many people. I usually always see at least one person crying in teh audience whenever I play that song. Everyone knows someone that’s died of cancer and it’s never an easy thing.”

Lauren shows her edgier side on songs like I Gave and Everything’s OK, which have more of a rock feel to them. The musings of Micheil Boesel, her lead guitarist, gives these tracks real drive while the soft touches of bassist Richard Gentile can be heard on songs like Unsaid, adding an ambient layer that allows you to close you eyes and let the music flow through.

Even with its lower moments, I’ve Been Waiting has an overall pleasant feel to it, which is unusual for Lauren. Songs like Beautiful Face, Happy Ever After, Impossible and the title track are catchy tunes with great beats and an optimisitic feel: “I laughed that my first album turned out to by this overall happy project. I had told Andy [the producer] that if this album had been done 3 years ago it probably would have been an emo album.”

I’ve Been Waiting is definitely not a dark album and is very appropriately titled, as it is the culmination of all Lauren has worked for so far in life. “There are not very many things I want in life. I wanted to record an album to share my music with people and I wanted to be happy and be in love. And after years and years of waiting and many ups and down, I finally got what I was looking for.”

Look for the release of I’ve Been Waiting early in 2010.