Welcome back to Artist Of The Month.

At the end of each month, I’ll spotlight one artist I genuinely enjoy listening to: usually someone still on the rise, still building their space, and deserving of a few more eyes (and ears). So, without further ado:

The Artist Of The Month for February 2026 is Lauren Spencer Smith.

Who Is Lauren Spencer Smith?

The LA Times describes her as “one of those natural wonders”, while the New York Times calls her “a real boomer of a voice.” And honestly, both feel incredibly accurate.

The UK-born, Canadian-raised singer-songwriter is far more than just another TikTok discovery. While Taylor Swift has eras, our girl Lauren has emotional colour palettes: blue, purple, green, and red. Each one represents a different chapter of life: sadness, confusion, happiness, and anger.

At just 22 years old, Lauren feels incredibly approachable, both in her music and in the way she connects with her audience. She doesn’t create distance between herself and her listeners. She invites them in.

Her Beginnings & Music

Lauren started out with cover songs on YouTube nearly a decade ago and started releasing on Spotify in 2019. In 2018, she appeared on Season 18 of American Idol, where she made it impressively far before her elimination.

Her breakout moment came about three years ago, when her song “Fingers Crossed” went viral on TikTok. While this might have been a one-hit moment for many artists, it wasn’t for Lauren.

Her debut album, Mirror, was released in 2023 and is a reflection of everything that has happened in her life at some point. It’s a story about breaking up, hurting, and trying to fall back in love. While that might sound generic, it really isn’t. While breakup albums are nothing new in pop music, Lauren approaches these topics with a level of honesty that feels direct rather than dramatized. While Lauren is also a Swiftie, Mirror was heavily inspired by Olivia Rodrigo, JP Saxe, and Lewis Capaldi.

Her second studio album, THE ART OF BEING A MESS, released in 2025, builds on those same emotional foundations but in a more mature, grown-up way. The Deluxe Version of this album was released just this month. About the deluxe track “Thick Skin”, Lauren says:
“I wrote ‘Thick Skin’ during a time when I felt both anger and power. It’s about realizing that every setback was actually building my strength—that what was meant to break me only made me tougher. My hope is that this song inspires people to embrace their resilience and recognize that true strength is the best revenge.”

What sets Lauren apart is her voice. Whenever I swipe through Spotify and listen to new artists, I mostly can’t recall who they were afterwards, and many of their voices sound the same – but not Lauren. Her vocal range is extraordinary, and I‘d say she is one of the few artists who sound live even better than on record. Her delivery feels raw, unfiltered, and deeply human. Lauren Spencer Smith is straightforward with the truth, her feelings, and shows how painful a woman’s scorn can be. She doesn’t shy away from crying, frolicking, or raging. And who doesn’t love a raging queen?

Milestones

Several of Lauren’s singles from Mirror, including Fingers Crossed, Flowers, Narcissist, and Bigger Person, charted across both the US and UK, with some remaining on the charts for up to 19 weeks.

She currently has over 5.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and that number continues to grow.

Lauren Spencer Smith As A Touring Artist

The Art Of Being A Mess Tour

The “The Art Of Being A Mess” tour is Lauren’s second headlining tour. The European stint is already finished, and now she’s playing her North American leg until the end of this March. The setlist includes songs from both her albums, Mirror and THE ART OF BEING A MESS.

Now here is my honest, truthful confession: seeing Lauren live was my favorite concert experiences ever. And yes, I am fully aware that I attended The Eras Tour twice … but maybe I’m biased because I had really delicious Czech McDonalds right before.

Something about Lauren’s show felt different. It felt intimate. Personal. Like spending time with a friend rather than watching a performance, whether you were in the first row or in the back. Her concert moved effortlessly between emotional vulnerability, powerful vocals, and genuinely funny, human moments. I really felt on top of the world. I can’t imagine how she must have felt up there on stage.

Upcoming Tours

Lauren is booked and busy for the next few months. This summer, she will open shows for Teddy Swims, and in early 2027, she will join Hilary Duff’s the lucky me tour across Canada.

It feels less like she is emerging and more like she is arriving.

Why She Is Worth Watching Out For

It feels inevitable that this girl will sell out arenas like the O2, the Uber Arena, Madison Square Garden, or the Qudos Bank Arena sooner rather than later. Choosing just three favourite songs feels nearly impossible, but if I had to, I would recommend starting with:

• Worse
• Pray
• Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones, in particular, carried me through some difficult months last year. And that, ultimately, is what makes Lauren’s music so powerful: it stays with you.

If you’re someone who falls a little too deeply for stories, characters, and the worlds they live in: welcome! Join the community and let’s experience it all together.🤍 You can explore more music discoveries in my Musik category.