Lawrence Burney is a writer, editor, critic, and the founder of True Laurels, an independent magazine covering Baltimore’s music and culture scene. His work has appeared in publications such as New York Magazine, GQ, Washington Post and Pitchfork. He has also held positions as an editor at The Fader, a staff writer at VICE, and an editor/reporter at The Baltimore Banner. His first book, No Sense in Wishing, a collection of essays, was published in July 2025 via Atria Books. No Sense In Wishing was named a Best Book of 2025 by Kirkus, The New Yorker, and New York Magazine. The book was also named the 2026 recipient of One Maryland One Book, a statewide collective reading initiative which places it in the hands of students, educators, and culture workers throughout Maryland. Burney’s second book Sing Back To Me — a narrative history of electronic dance music made across the Black Atlantic — will also be published by Atria Books on Instagram and X @TrueLaurels.

contact: lawrence.burney@truelaurels.com

literary inquiries: william@loturcoliterary.com