Although Fifth Harmony effectively kept the concept of the girl group in mainstream pop music alive in the United States for a solid chunk of the 2010s, the X Factor-bred quintet only boasts one member with at least one full-length studio album to their name. Eight years removed from the release of the group’s debut studio album, only Camila Cabello has released a proper LP — three to be exact. Fans are still eagerly awaiting solo LPs from Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Normani (who has several successful singles to her name including “Motivation” and the Cardi B-assisted “Wild Side”), and Lauren Jauregui.

Two years after making her first formal statement as a soloist with her Prelude EP, Lauren has returned with In Between — another EP that boasts a more fully-realized sonic universe as well as a more singular sound for Lauren: muted echoes of dembow riddims, vulnerable songwriting, and increased ease in the smokier depths of her lower register.

Introduced by lead single “Trust Issues,” In Between quite literally encapsulates the various gray areas Lauren has found herself in — and pulled herself out of — since the release of Prelude. She employs a conversational tone over contemplative guitars as she croons, “When I was young, my momma told me, ‘Loving can be lonely / Not everyone's like you, ain't got the heart that you do.’” The song follows a familiar template until Malay’s strings help introduce a bridge that doubles as an abrupt, but effective, outro. Malay, who has worked on records with Frank Ocean and ZAYN, also contributed to “Always Love,” a late 2022 single grounded by pristine background harmonies in the bridge. Although Malay’s moody tonal flourishes only appear on these two tracks, the entirety of In Between sits in that emotional and sonic space.

The title track kicks off the project with a staticky intro that soon gives way to semi-self-serious spoken word poetry. Akin to a BANKS or Tinashe interlude, “In Between” sets the mood well. The haziness of the production effortlessly evokes the opaque instability of life’s gray areas. “Em(oceans)” is EP’s chief songwriting triumph. Lauren plays around with rhyme schemes and homophones (emotion/ocean/motion) as she unpacks the darker side of being an empath and the heaviness that so much emotion can add to her life. The refrain, “Empathy, empathy, empathy / I wanna, I wanna be free / From all this weight I carry,” sources its power from its simplicity. “All In My Feelings” continues the uptick in tempo “Em(oceans)” teases with tinny background synths and steady percussion. The specks of Spanish guitar brighten up the murkiness of the overall soundscape while highlighting the influence of Lauren’s Latin heritage on her sonic profile. There’s also “The One,” an impressive mixture of subtle brass, an extra smoky tone that deepens the Amy Winehouse parallels, and a Latin pop foundation that fits Lauren’s voice well.

In Between closes with “Wolves.” Arguably the track most obviously manicured for commercial success, “Wolves” features the reunion of Lauren and ex-boyfriend Ty Dolla $ign, a guest verse from Russ, and writing and production credits from Grammy-nominated Victorious alum Leon Thomas III. With “Wolves,” In Between veers into a bit of a boom-bap lane, again, setting up a clear parallel to the way Amy Winehouse incorporated hip-hop elements on her Frank album. “Life is all about decisions / Should I stay or should I go up on this mission? / I lost so many to the system / Only two ways out, dead or in prison,” Lauren and Ty sing, reminding us of their fiery chemistry. “Wolves” is a strong track with a melody that sticks, but, structurally, Lauren is relegated to feature on her own song, and the general concept of working from survival mode is an awkward fit for this particular combination of artists.

Lauren’s latest solo body of work is easily her best. Not only are her vocal choices more interesting and unique, but she has also grown as a curator of moods and tones. In Between will surely hold us over until the release of her proper debut LP, but, more importantly, the EP is proof that Lauren is taking her time to craft a strong, layered body of work.

Key Tracks: “Trust Issues” | “Em(oceans)” | “The One”

Score: 72