Lauren Mikki returns with ‘In Between’, a song that begins before the hurt has had time to make sense. She is not writing from the far side of healing, and that is exactly why it rings true. Old patterns are still there, trust is still being rebuilt, and the future remains a little unclear.
Lauren calls it the ‘in media res’ opening to the story she wants to tell, and the whole song carries that uncertainty without trying to tidy it away. ‘In Between’ does not tie a bow around the hurt. It keeps walking. That unfinished feeling is what makes it so convincing from the start.
Jazzy soul warmth and a gorgeous laid-back groove
A rich, laid-back groove runs through the whole thing. There is a real 1960s warmth to it, caught somewhere between jazzy indie-soul and an easy, almost Motown-like sway, but nothing feels forced or dressed up as retro theatre. The track settles into that rhythm so naturally that it is hard not to go with it.
The Clairo, Olivia Dean and Laufey touchpoints all make sense, but what stands out is how naturally Lauren Mikki brings those different shades of soul into the same song. The warmth never turns sleepy, the groove never gets overworked, and the arrangement has enough bounce to keep the song light on its feet even when the subject is bruised.
Lauren Mikki ‘In Between’ review
Lauren Mikki has the kind of vocals that could dominate every second of a track like this, but she never lets them. They are powerful, genuinely beautiful and full of feeling, yet there is real restraint in the performance. She settles into the groove instead of climbing over it, and that control gives every part of the song room to breathe.
That balance is what makes ‘In Between’ irresistible. The vintage-soul warmth, the easy sway and the space in the arrangement all feel completely natural, while Lauren sounds utterly at home inside it. Nothing is overplayed, nothing is crowded, and the song never has to force its charm.
This is stunning. ‘In Between’ carries its unfinished hurt with grace, and the whole performance feels carefully shaped without ever sounding calculated. Somewhere along the way, I stopped pretending to be sensible about any of this and fell for Lauren completely.
I am completely gone for this. The song understands that healing does not have to be finished to feel true, but it is Lauren Mikki herself who stays with you most. There is so much warmth in the performance, so much confidence in the restraint, and such an easy emotional pull that you could listen to her forever.
You can listen to ‘In Between’ here and follow Lauren Mikki on Instagram.
