Lauren Spencer Smith on Her Sophomore Album, THE ART OF BEING A MESS
Songwriter and vocalist Lauren Spencer Smith has quickly made her mark on the music industry, amassing millions of monthly streams. And it seems she won't be slowing down anytime soon.
She began releasing music in 2019, and her debut 2023 album, Mirror, featured breakout singles such as “Fingers Crossed” and “Flowers.” Those singles combined have accumulated over 875 million global streams. Almost instantaneously, fans were drawn to her dynamic vocals, relatable lyrics, and emotional storytelling, all of which are amplified in her sophomore album, THE ART OF BEING A MESS. As she continues to evolve artistically and personally, Smith’s latest album serves as a reflection of life’s complexities, imperfect transitions, and future hopes.
I sat down with Lauren Spencer Smith ahead of the release of her latest album, THE ART OF BEING A MESS.
You began releasing music in 2019. Could you briefly talk about your musical background?
I started just from singing cover songs all the time. But I didn't really start putting out music until I had a viral video when I was 15 of a Lady Gaga song. So then after that video blew up, we were like, “okay, let's put a cover of it on Spotify.” So that was my first time going into the studio. And then after that for a year or two, I was just putting covers on Spotify. Until I started posting on TikTok and went on American Idol. Then I had other things blow up and started songwriting my own songs.
Your new album coming out, THE ART OF BEING A MESS, features twelve tracks. There’s a lot of themes such as acceptance, moving on, personal growth and hardship. So walk me through the initial inspiration for that album.
Honestly, I didn't have the concept initially at all. I was just writing to write. I had been writing for a year, so I was like, “I have a lot of songs. What is the album?” I realized there was really no through line conceptually or even sound wise, a little bit. And then I realized that was kind of the cool thing, that life is so up and down, sometimes we’re sad, sometimes we’re angry and it's kind of all over the place. So that was kind how I came up with the title at the end.
The first track is, “What a beautiful day.” I love the line, “Sad girl on a bench looking for silver linings.” Throughout the album, what was the lyrical process?
Normally I'm very honest and whatever is in my head and whatever I'm going through, I just write. I always try to refrain from saying anything that feels untrue. Or if someone else in the room is like, “what if we said this,” and that didn't actually happen, I'm like, “we can't say that.” And especially with that song, I was in Nashville writing it. Before that I was in the park crying and I was thinking of this “sad in a park” thing. And we were then like, “oh, sad girl on a bench.” So we kind of just say whatever actually happened.
The chorus in the third track, “bridesmaid,” reads, “I finally found the man I adore, but you won't be my bridesmaid anymore.” I assumed that was about a friendship breakup. What was the inspiration behind that song?
It was just one of my best friends that I totally thought was going to be my maid of honor in my wedding. She has known me since the beginning of my actual relationship with my boyfriend. And when we stopped being friends, my first thought was, “oh my goodness, I thought you were going to be in my wedding. That's so weird.” And I think the older you get and the longer you've been in a relationship, you actually start to think about, “oh, what does my wedding look like and who's going to be in it?” And then to think that all kind of disappeared when we stopped being friends, that's something I'd never thought before when I had lost previous friends.
“Pray” was the first single to be released off of the album. Why did you choose that song to be the first single? And what insight do you think it provides into the full album?
Honestly, it's kind of funny we put that song out first because then we put angry songs out afterwards and everyone's like, “wait, what? I'm so confused.” But I feel like the point was to start people off on something that sounds nice, and then kind of flip the switch and go the absolute opposite direction because that's kind of what the whole album is. But honestly, with that song, I just loved the vocals. Even everyone on my team was like, “oh, this song just sounds so big and so fun.” And I kind of wanted to start it off with just a big vocal song.
The last song on the album, “someday…” seems to be an ode to yourself in the future, which I thought was a beautiful way to close the album. Do you find the songwriting process to be somewhat therapeutic and healing? Do you ever have a hard time putting your own personal experiences into your music at all?
I find songwriting so easy, because it really is like therapy. I love talking. I love talking about my feelings and telling everybody. Thankfully, all of my songwriters are just as emotional as I am. They feel like my therapist, they love to also talk everything through. So I love talking about my feelings, and I love putting them into songs. I think it's a little more scary sometimes to then actually put it out into the universe. Because obviously when you're just writing it in a room, you're like, “oh, who even knows if it's going to be on the album?” And then you're like, “okay, what is this about? Who is it about? Should I put this out?”
Your debut album, Mirror, released in 2023, and features some of your breakout hits such as “Fingers Crossed” and “Flowers.” Comparing how that album was written versus this one, what has really changed in your creation process? Did your headspace have to change when you were writing?
Honestly, I don't even think anything changed. I feel like I write the exact same way that I always have. I just go to the studio, and think “what has happened in my life recently? Here's the concept, let's write about it.” I tried not to be too hard on myself like, “oh, I need to reinvent the wheel and do a million different things and come up with a new cool way.” I feel like my process is honestly exactly the same.
You began on American Idol, and had viral success on social media. Having your musical journey very public and visible to people, what's one of the most important lessons that you've learned through that process?
That's such a great question. Probably to not care what other people think or have to say. Normally a hater is like a bald, old short man or like divorced. It's always someone who really hates their life and is super down bad. I feel like confident people don't say mean things to other people. That's a really big lesson I've learned. I mean, just being on social media literally since I was a teenager, I've gone through so many up and down phases of caring what people think and not caring what people think. And then finally being like, “okay, all haters are miserable.” I can't take what they say seriously. I really have to remind myself that people don't know me.
What are the experiences like writing and producing in LA versus in Nashville?
I think Nashville's a little more calm and a little more like home style, just because the energy there is so family friendly. Everyone has a dog or a kid they want to go home to. LA definitely has more of a hustle. We're going to get everything done even if it takes till 1 AM. But I like both energies. I feel like I am also very, let's get it done and a big hustler. But at the same time, I love going for walks in the park and feeling like a family when I'm songwriting. So I think the contrast of both was really helpful.
Are you still big on manifesting?
Yeah, I write everything down over and over and over. The stupidest things, like I will write, “I am viral,” over and over and over. But then also I'll write, “I love myself.” Whatever it is that I'm trying to put out into the universe that I'm like, “Ooh, I need some extra help with this one.” I'm writing it down in my journal over and over and over.
What's the next big thing that you're manifesting? Or are you not supposed to say it out loud?
No, because my boyfriend is always saying, “oh, if you say it out loud then that's bad.” I'm like, “no, that's good.” I feel like the next big thing I'm manifesting is just a great tour. We haven't done all of the rehearsals or all the design, and all that stuff yet. So I'm just manifesting all of that becomes everything that I'm envisioning.
What's one big goal that you want to accomplish this year?
I mean, my next goal is hopefully finishing more songs for potentially a deluxe album. That's my next goal to cross off my finish line.
Follow Lauren Spencer Smith on Spotify, Instagram, and her website for tour tickets. Stream her latest release, THE ART OF BEING A MESS.
Photos by Alec Ilstrup
