Independent artists are the backbone of the music industry. While artists signed with record labels are usually the ones to make it big, independent artists help to hold the quieter ends of the industry together. They work exceptionally hard to build a reputation. With Lauren Freebird, that reputation is becoming something exceptional, with her first single release of 2026, "Real Deal." (Image/Lauren Freebird/Instagram) Lauren Freebird has released her first single of 2026, "
