Lauv in Raleigh

About Lauv

Ari Staprans Leff, known as Lauv, emerged from the bedroom pop era with a particular talent for crafting sad songs that somehow work in any context. His 2018 EP 'Feline' caught streaming momentum before his debut album 'How I'm Feeling' landed in 2020, anchored by sparse production and lyrics about feeling disconnected. He's built a catalog that reads like private voice memos set to beat loops—songs like 'Paris in the Rain' and 'Modern Loneliness' hit specifically because they're so conversational and understated. Beyond the bedroom recording aesthetic, Lauv's collaborations with artists like Troye Sivan and Julia Michaels have expanded his reach into more polished pop territory. His music operates in that weird middle space between meme-culture relatability and genuine emotional processing, which is probably why teenage fans have latched onto him so hard. He's never been cool in a conventional sense, but that's kind of been his brand all along.

Lauv shows are quieter than you'd expect—lots of phone lights out, people genuinely engaged with the words. He's a solo artist who commands a room without trying, which means the energy is contemplative rather than explosive. Crowds sing every word back to him.

Known for 26, Paris in the Rain, Breathe, The Story, Modern Loneliness

Lauv in Raleigh News

• Khalid Announces 2026 It’s Always Summer Somewhere Tour Live Nation · Dec 12, 2025
• Khalid and Lauv Announce Major ‘It’s Always Summer Somewhere’ Tour That Eric Alper · Dec 11, 2025
• Khalid Sets It’s Always Summer Somewhere Tour 2026 JamBase · Dec 10, 2025
• Khalid Announces It's Always Summer Somewhere North American Tour Featuring Special Guest Lauv Stereoboard.com · Dec 10, 2025
• Khalid Announces Huge North American ‘It’s Always Summer Somewhere’ Tour That Eric Alper · Dec 10, 2025

Live Music in Raleigh

Raleigh's music scene leans indie and alternative, with venues like The Ritz and Red Hat Amphitheater pulling touring acts. Pop isn't the city's natural habitat — most nights you'll find guitar-driven indie or hip-hop getting real attention. Lauv's bedroom-pop sensibility and polished production should stand out here, assuming people show up.

Raleigh road trip to see Lauv?

Stay in the Warehouse District downtown—it's the only area worth being in, with converted lofts and actual walkability. Dinner at The Grocery or Second Empire, depending on your mood. Spend the next day at the North Carolina Museum of Art, which has decent permanent collection and rotating shows, then walk the trails on the museum's grounds. If you want to stay within the classic rock headspace, the local record shops on Fayetteville Street have decent used vinyl, though the selection is hit-or-miss. Make the 30-minute drive to Chapel Hill if you have time—better music venues, better energy.