Michele collaborated with many songwriters and producers on the album, including Stargate and The Monsters and the Strangerz, both of whom have previously worked with recording artists such as Rihanna and Demi Lovato.

Songwriters who worked on the album include singers Sia and Christina Perri, and Academy Award-nominated lyricist Anne Preven.

"I set out to make a really pop-heavy album that was fun and empowering – I love Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson!

[7] Michele collaborated with a number of big music figures, including producers The Monsters and the Strangerz, Stargate, Kuk Harrell, Colin Munroe, and Chris Braide.

Michele completed vocal recordings in June 2013, and the album was set for release in late 2013, however, Michele's boyfriend died in July 2013, so the release date was pushed back to March 2014. Notable songwriters on the album include Australian singer-songwriter Sia, American singer-songwriters Christina Perri and Bonnie McKee, and Academy Award-nominated songwriter Anne Preven.

Michele has said that she had a number of musical influences on this album, including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson.

[6][9] Talking to Billboard about Louder, Michele said artists such as Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus were also sources of inspiration.

[9] It was reported that Michele and her team consciously decided on "big, splashy, anthemic pop" theme for her debut, "a cross between Evanescence and Kelly Clarkson without a whiff of a show tune".

[10] New York radio station WHTZ revealed via their Twitter page that Michele would be debuting the song on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show on December 10, 2013.

[12] On December 27, 2013, a second track from the album titled "Battlefield" (written by Furler and Larry Goldings) premiered on the Just Jared website.

Originally, this song was not meant for Michele; it was introduced to her a month after her boyfriend's death and she had an instant connection with its lyrics because they encapsulated her feelings in that moment.

[citation needed] Talking about the title track "Louder", Michele has said, "It's a song that, no matter what, I can play in my car with the windows down.

Michele challenged her fans to unlock the cover art for the album by tweeting the hashtag: #LeaMicheleLouder.

Once the cover art was unlocked, a short sound teaser of "Cannonball" was also released via Michele's website.

Michele performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on March 19, 2014, after revealing on her Twitter account that "On My Way" would be released as the album's second single.

"[24] Mike Ayers from Billboard gave a mostly positive review, saying, "Lyrically, Louder is rather one-sided, as she often sings about the perils of relationships, over and over, in ways that we've all heard many times at this point.

"[25] Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe gave the album a mostly positive review, writing, "The Broadway veteran puts her mighty soprano through its paces on bouncy dance tracks, soaring ballads, and midtempo pop tunes where she straddles the line, mostly comfortably, between Katy Perry and Celine Dion.

"[34] Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B−, writing, "It's hard to be that mad at Louder, because it's so admirably and lovingly crafted.

While well curated and exquisitely executed, Louder is missing the visceral oomph that defines the gulf between superstars and the rest of the top 40 chum.

"[26] At USA Today, Jerry Shriver rated the album 2.5 stars out of four, and stated that "softer would have been a better approach."

Club gave a C− rating, writing, "Louder, Michele's debut solo album under her own name, does feature her distinctive talent as a vocalist.

But the record is caught in an unfortunate stylistic limbo between fun-loving, youthful pop and the maturity of adult contemporary artists.

"[29] Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone also gave a negative review, stating, "This album of insta-dated EDM-pop anthems and half-cocked bass drops probably won't help [Michele's] cause.