Lauren Nicole
Lead Singer/Songwriter
Born and raised in Raleigh, NC, Lauren’s desire to play music started early. “My mom was 8 months pregnant with me and was listening to Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark one day in her living room through a stereo system. She could feel my foot kicking in her stomach to the song's beat. My parents were so stunned that they turned off the song to see if I would keep kicking, but I stopped when the music stopped. They knew before I did that music was a huge part of me.”
Lauren’s musical inspirations include artists like Alanis Morrisette, Meg Myers, and Jenna McDougall. Lauren enjoys the energy Alanis brings to her live performances and admits it’s something she strives for as an entertainer. As an artist, Lauren has always been attracted to the uniqueness of Meg Myers and the “dark yet mysterious vibe she conveys to her audience.” As a songwriter, Lauren’s appreciation for Jenna McDougall’s lyrical writing styles in both Tonight Alive and Jenna’s solo project Hevenshe has only deepened over the years. “Jenna has a way of combining emotion with lyrics and a melody that I aspire to do through my music.”
Originally formed in 2011, LaureNicole has taken “many forms” over the years, Lauren says, but now feels like the project is “what it was always supposed to be.” She continues, “I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in a creative process with such talented and wonderful people. It’s truly about the journey and not the destination, and I couldn’t be more excited about the road ahead.”
When she’s not playing music, Lauren enjoys painting, photography, and mountain hiking.
“The final stage of healing is using what happened to you to help other people.” – Gloria Steinem
Jim Snyder
Drummer
Originally from Mount Holly, New Jersey, Jim relocated to North Carolina with his family at age 5. He grew up in a household where music was a constant part of everyday life, and a drum kit was always accessible. By age 13, playing drums became his primary focus after seeing his classmates perform Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana at an assembly in his school’s auditorium. “At that moment, I knew I wanted to be a drummer.”
Jim’s inspirations range from the musicality of Taylor Hawkins, the “powerhouse force” of Dave Grohl, and the “finesse” playing style of Matt Cameron. Learning from these artists at a young age helped Jim lean on, rely on, and depend on music to get through any trials and tribulations during his adolescence. He says, “Once I was awakened to the power of music, the kit became my voice, and the song became my language.” Being a member of LaureNicole, Jim embraces creativity in a way he says “isn’t common for most drummers. I can breathe life into a song far beyond a simple ‘2 and 4’, put my heart and soul into every beat, and create a sound that conveys emotion.”
Jim enjoys building computers, hiking, and spending time with his family.
“Because this life is a game I don't know how to play” - Tim Mcllrath
Rhet Thomas
Lead Guitarist/Backing Vox
Born at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC, Rhet grew up in a military family and moved frequently before settling in Raleigh. During his childhood, Rhet’s interest and appreciation for the arts were set into motion by his mother, who frequently listened to heavy rock music. At age 14, his 8th-grade friend Nick introduced him to the guitar and taught him how to play Metallica’s Enter Sandman. “I pretty much just never put it down after that,” he says. In high school, Rhet joined forces with his cousin Zack, who had newly taken to the bass guitar, and the rest became history. The two continued their development as musicians by jamming, writing, sharing influences, and being a part of several bands.
Rhet’s musical tastes are diverse, but his heart belongs to rock music. His top inspiration is the band Kansas, a fusion of symphonic/classical sounds and American rock. For Rhet, rock music is more than just a genre-it's a constructive outlet that helps him channel stress and energy in a productive way. As a member of LaureNicole, Rhet finds joy in the process of creating 'fun and interesting music while hanging out with friends.'
Rhet likes collecting Pokémon cards, playing chess, and making music in his spare time.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us” -J.R.R. Tolkien
Zack Thomas
Bass Guitarist
Zack was born and raised in Raleigh, NC. Growing up, he played the organ his grandparents had in their house and listened to his grandpa play the guitar. He never fully committed to playing an instrument until the summer between 8th and 9th grade when his cousin Rhet asked if he wanted to start a band. Two weeks later, Zack got his first bass guitar and never looked back.
When Zack started playing the bass, his main musical influence quickly became the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He would spend hours trying to learn every song on their Blood Sugar Sex Magik album. After high school, he explored other genres or bands like Slightly Stoopid, Dispatch, and Vulfpeck. When listening to these artists, Zack enjoyed how the unique melodies, rhythms, and riffs always came together to make a product greater than the sum of their parts.
Zack enjoys being a member of LaureNicole because “everyone works together to create songs that everyone in the band enjoys playing and listening to with no egos getting in the way.” In his spare time, Zack plays tennis, hikes in the mountains, and plays video games.
"Anger is the most useless emotion, destructive to the mind and hurtful to the heart" - Henchick of the Manni (Stephen King, The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah)