Lawrence Rothman

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Born in St. Louis, MO and now based between Los Angeles and Nashville. Lawrence is known for their genre-bending work, which includes their most recent album, 2021’s acclaimed Good Morning, America (feat. Lucinda Williams, Amanda Shires, Marissa Nader, Girlpool, etc) as well as their work as a producer and songwriter for artists including Angel Olsen, Margo Price, Amanda Shires, Kali Uchis, Bartees Strange, Courtney Love, Kim Gordon, SASAMI, Soccer Mommy and more.

For this next chapter in their ever-evolving artistic career, Lawrence arrived at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios to make an album that stands as a testament to resilience—capturing the strength and lessons salvaged from their decade-long struggle with body dysmorphia and a two-year battle with anorexia, while addressing themes of addiction, gender identity and societal pressures. Recorded primarily live, with an emphasis on first takes, the 13-track album was produced and mixed by Lawrence Rothman and Yves Rothman (Yves Tumor, Blondshell), with contributions from Isbell, Amanda Shires and S.G. Goodman. Rooted in Lawrence’s upbringing surrounded by folk and country music in Missouri, The Plow That Broke the Plains is a snapshot of their most unfiltered self.

Describing the recording process, Lawrence shares, “The Plow That Broke the Plains is me not hiding behind any persona or mask and just being myself and putting that uncensored self into the words and recordings no matter how painful the confrontation was.”

The album began taking form when Lawrence reconnected with their first instrument, the guitar, which led to a profound writing session with friend, Jason Isbell. The session resulted in the emotionally charged anthem, “Poster Child,” which addresses the urgent issue of gun violence and sparked an unyielding period of creative catharsis, with Lawrence writing dozens of songs. Of the song, Lawrence shares, “‘Poster Child’ is about a 2005 attack that happened to me outside a Dallas club. I was dressed in makeup and style of clothes that I guess some random audience members did not like. I was jumped and shot at after the gig. It had a profound effect on my identity and who and what I would take a bullet for. From that point forward, I found myself wanting to lift up others who struggle with gender identity.”