Lauren Spencer Smith's Spark Is Adele's 21

Lauren Spencer Smith's Spark Is Adele's 21

Author: Adam Unze - Music & Film Interviews July 2, 2025 Duration: 28:20

Singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith joins Adam to talk about her biggest musical inspiration: Adele’s breakthrough album, 21. Lauren shares how hearing “Rolling in the Deep” as a kid changed everything for her, why Adele’s powerhouse vocals and honest songwriting became her comfort zone and how 21 shaped her own journey as an artist.


Lauren opens up about singing Adele songs at every competition, learning every vocal nuance and how Adele’s ability to blend genres and emotions inspired her to find her own voice. Adam and Lauren also discuss the impact of 21’s massive hits—like “Someone Like You,” “Rumour Has It” and “Turning Tables”—and what makes the album a timeless classic for songwriters and fans alike.


About Lauren Spencer Smith:

Lauren is a chart-topping singer-songwriter known for her raw vocals and relatable lyrics. She first gained major attention as an American Idol finalist and has since built a global fanbase with her viral singles and debut album. Lauren's new album The Art Of Being A Mess is out now!


About Adele’s 21:

Released in 2011, Adele’s 21 is one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, featuring hits like “Rolling in the Deep,” “Someone Like You,” and “Set Fire to the Rain.” The album blends soul, pop, blues, and country influences, earning multiple Grammy Awards including Album of the Year. 21 is praised for its emotional depth, unforgettable melodies, and Adele’s stunning vocal performances.


In this episode:

  • Lauren’s first memories of hearing Adele and buying her music
  • Why 21 became Lauren’s comfort album and creative blueprint
  • The influence of Adele’s vocals, songwriting, and genre-blending on Lauren’s own music
  • How personal storytelling and emotional honesty make 21 a modern classic
  • Favorite tracks from 21 and the stories behind them




The Spark Parade is a podcast that dives deep into the films and albums that have inspired today’s creative icons. Hosted by Adam Unze, each episode features a unique conversation with an artist about their chosen film or album, and how it sparked their artistic journey.


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What single piece of art-an album, a film, a television show-fundamentally altered your creative path? That's the central question of The Spark Parade, a podcast hosted by Adam Unze. This isn't a standard interview format; it's a focused excavation of a singular, transformative work. Each conversation with an actor, musician, or cultural icon revolves entirely around that one catalytic piece of culture that ignited their journey. The discussion delves into the personal history and emotional resonance of the work, whether it's a cult classic or a mainstream hit, tracing how its influence continues to echo through their life and career. Listeners are invited into these intimate reflections, hearing stories from artists like Margaret Cho and Maya about the moments of inspiration that sparked everything. The podcast operates at the intersection of music, film, and personal narrative, offering a unique lens on the creative process. By concentrating on a single artifact, each episode provides a deep, nuanced portrait of both the artist and the art that made them. You'll come away from the podcast not just with a recommendation, but with an understanding of how art shapes identity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Spark Parade
Podcast Episodes
JJ Perry's Spark Is Jackie Chan's Armor Of God [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:32
The Killer's Game director JJ Perry has idolized Jackie Chan's work throughout his adult life, but it was Chan's career defining film Armor Of God that cemented Perry's devotion to his work. Chan's dedication to his craf…
Ashe's Spark Is Carole King's Tapestry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Singer/songwriter Ashe sits down with Adam to talk about her Spark, Carole King's record breaking, earth shattering, emotionally devastating masterpiece Tapestry. Ashe talks about the direct impact Tapestry had on her so…
FOALS' Yannis Philippakis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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FOALS and Yannis & The Yaw front man Yannis Philippakis was hooked on the singular sounds of Pixies legendary debut album Surfer Rosa from the first time he heard it. Since becoming a musician himself, Surfer Rosa has in…
Sam Evian's Spark Is The Beatles: Get Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:56
Singer, songwriter, producer and engineer Sam Evian has always loved The Beatles music, but seeing Peter Jackson's epic Beatles documentary had a profound effect on the way he makes music. The live to tape recording styl…
Medium Build's Spark Is Weird Al Yankovic's Running With Scissors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:41
Nick Carpenter, better known as Medium Build, has been a huge Weird Al Yankovic fan since childhood and he clearly remembers getting Yankovic's tenth album Running With Scissors as soon as it was released. Carpenter love…
Sarah Hester Ross' Spark Is School Of Rock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:55
Musical comedian Sarah Hester Ross loves School Of Rock's... music and comedy, which has (perhaps obviously) had a huge impact on her career path. She really admires Jack Black's warm, funny performance, but also recogni…
Bethenny Frankel's Spark Is The Handmaid's Tale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:29
Bethenny Frankel doesn't really watch much TV, but she found The Handmaid's Tale during the pandemic and was so drawn to its compelling performances and topical themes that she breezed through the entire series. Bethenny…
Judith Hill's Spark Is Captain EO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:15
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Judith Hill has loved Captain EO, the Michael Jackson starring short film that accompanied an attraction at Disney's theme parks, since she was a small child. She loves it's m…