Contemporary Christian/Pop artist Lauren Moscato is all too familiar with the streets and venues of Memphis, Tennessee. From an early age, she would join her family on the church stage, singing background vocals and learning her craft from accomplished musicians.

“My mom played the piano, and my dad and brother both played drums at our church. So right at the age of three, I was next to them singing background vocals. It was always just the four of us. I learned musicality and how to feed off not only my family, but a group of extremely talented musicians.”

This passion for music led her to embrace many facets of it, and today she studies Music Business at the University of Memphis. For the soulful worship artist, her big break came when she received the award for 2015’s Indie Music Channel Songwriter of the Year.

“I was in absolute tears and disbelief when I received a phone call at five in the morning saying that I had won,” shares Moscato with PPcorn. “There are so many talented indie artists out there, and they deserve to be recognized for the music they create. I’m still humbled by the award and opportunity to record at Capitol Records in Los Angeles, California.”

Releasing her single this year, Moscato found inspiration for the song in the most unexpected places.““He Gives Me Strength” was given to me in a dream, and little did I realize how much I would need it for the times where I felt I couldn’t stand up,” she says. “It’s a song of encouragement for others to recognize where their help comes from. Our help comes from the Lord, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Following the moving song, Moscato has her sights set on an upcoming EP. “You can expect to hear songs from the heart of someone who has been through times in their life, where they felt like giving up. It will be songs of Psalms for stories of grace and rejoicing even in the worst of times.”

Listing Kari Jobe, Meredith Andrews and Brooke Fraser as her musical influences, her deep faith drives her creative process. “I strongly believe each of my songs are given from God. It is my job to take these songs and give them to others. It could be in a dream or when I’m aimlessly driving the long commute from Olive Branch to Memphis. I get inspiration from my experiences but also get inspired from other people’s experiences around me and the happenings of our world.”

Ultimately, it is Moscato’s aim to engage the people around her in the truth of a song. “In crafting my songs, I make sure the listener can relate and feel something. I strive to create music that brings others hope and reels them in on an emotional level.”

For this young musician from Tennessee, her steps are already steadily following a path that will allow her to share her voice with the vast Contemporary Christian Music, or CCM, market. Living by the mantra, “Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I’ve learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice,” her search for authenticity is the definitive aspect of her music.

“Ultimately, I want people to feel the presence of something bigger than themselves. I would hope the very presence of God to fall when one of my songs is played,” she shares. “I want my songs to take people on a journey through the very depths and trials of life and restore hope in the simple fact that they are loved by someone who died to know them.”

You can connect with Lauren on her Website, Facebook and Twitter.