Covenhoven w/ Lauren Frihauf

Covenhoven is internationally recognized indie artist Joel Van Horne, a multi-instrumental singer-songwriter whose rich harmonies, reedy baritone and commanding falsetto have found a home with critics and fans since 2013. 

Through 4 full length albums (and a fifth on the way) and 2 EPs, Covenhoven has forged a signature style; layered acoustic arrangements that roll with momentum into orchestral peaks, accompanied by lyrics that contrast hard-won wisdom with the inherent hope of the natural world—from Big Sur to his native Colorado.

Covenhoven’s fifth album "The Color of the Dark" is slated for an early spring 2025 release and will feature collaborations with notable musicians and engineer/producers from Colorado and beyond -- including Dave Wilton (A Boy and His Kite), Brian Joseph (Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens), Andrew Berlin (Gregory Alan Isakov, etc.), Max Barcelow (Gregory Alan Isakov), Sean Carey (Bon Iver), etc.  

Covenhoven’s previous full-length "IV" (2021), was his most collaborative and rock forward to date—taking a producing partner in Ben Wysocki (the Fray), who also performs on the album. IV features over a dozen musicians including Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, Luke Mossman (Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats), and Bluebook’s Julie Davis. 

Bandwagon magazine writes that on IV, Covenhoven reaches “into chamber pop territory, and revealing a wider vocal range…sheltered by a gorgeous, rich string and piano accompaniment, whisks us above the campfire folk…”  

Covenhoven’s live performances capture the spirit of his recordings—whether its conjuring cascading loops in his solo shows or backed by a full band—Covenhoven’s sound fills the breadth of outdoor spaces, auditoriums and club stages.

Regularly touring the United States, Covenhoven has shared the stage with Grammy winners and nominees, Jose Gonzalez, Gregory Alan Isakov, S. Carey, and John Paul White (Civil Wars). Covenhoven has also performed with genre bending artists Lord Huron, Leif Vollebekk, Joshua James, Blind Pilot, Esme Patterson, John Craigie, Daniel Rodriguez (Elephant Revival), Shook Twins, Reed Foehl, Rainbow Girls, Joan Shelley, Sierra Hull, and host of others. 

Covenhoven songs have been streamed over 7 million times and reached over 14 million people through television shows including: 13 Reasons Why, Nashville, Teen Wolf, Home Before Dark, Flaked, Kevin Probably Saves the World, and Private Eyes—Canada’s most watched show for 5 years.

https://www.covenhoven.com/

Lauren Frihauf grew up on a 1300-acre farm an hour and a half outside of Denver, CO. Alongside her homeschooling, Lauren pursued her passion for music by taking singing and piano lessons from a young age. While the charm of farm life was undeniable, the solitude that accompanied it weighed heavy at times. Because of this, she was overjoyed to find a vibrant community at the School of Rock Aurora. Here, her talents rapidly flourished as she began touring with the School of Rock AllStars in 2018.

Lauren first gained public notoriety after her cover of "California Dreamin’" with School of Rock went viral, amassing over 17 million views. Not long after, Lauren’s voice drew national attention on NBC's "The Voice" Season 19, under the mentorship of Gwen Stefani and John Legend, where critics praised her unique vocal style and emotional depth.

Since then, Lauren has been featured on NPR Music’s 2022 Tiny Desk “Top Shelf,” performed at the Dripping Springs Songwriter Festival (2023) and the Panama City Songwriter’s Festival (2022, 2023), placed in the top three of the Red Lodge Songwriting Competition (2023), finished second in the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest (2023), and was a finalist in the Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase (2024). 

Most recently, in May 2026, NPR Music named Frihauf a Top 5 finalist in its Tiny Desk Contest for her song One Thing Always Leads to Another, praising the exceptional songwriting and “gold-record melody.”

https://www.laurenfrihauf.com/