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
Mitch Rowland's Spark Is Charles Mingus' The Clown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:49
Of all places, Mitch Rowland discovered Charles Mingus' seminal jazz album The Clown at a pizza restaurant. The singer, songwriter, and Harry Styles collaborator was scrolling through his coworkers iPod when the album ju…
The Beaches' Spark Is True Romance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Duration: 31:03
On this episode of The Spark Parade, Atmosphere’s DJ and producer Ant discusses seeing a live performance of Herbie Hancock's instrumental hip-hop classic "Rockit" at age 13, a performance that ultimately led him to beco…
Justin Tranter's Spark Is Ani DiFranco's Swan Dive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:51
On this episode of The Spark Parade, Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated songwriter, producer, and activist Justin Tranter talks about feeling completely entranced the first time they heard Ani DiFranco’s song "Swan Dive."…
Aryan Simhadri's Spark Is The Devil Wears Prada [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:02
Percy Jackson and The Olympians star Aryan Simhadri was a bit skeptical when he first saw The Devil Wears Prada, but he quickly became enthralled with the incredible acting and sharp storytelling. On this episode of The…
Max Burkholder's Spark Is Airplane! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:04
Ted star Max Burkholder might have been born in the '90s, but the 1980 cult classic Airplane! still resonated with him like few other comedies before or since. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Burkholder gushes about…
Sleater-Kinney's Spark Is Patti Smith's Horses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:23
When Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker discovered Patti Smith's legendary debut album Horses, an artistic earthquake occurred in both of their lives. They were blown away by Smith's fearless, challengin…
Peppermint's Spark Is Janet Jackson's janet. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:45
As a lifelong Janet Jackson stan, actress, singer, and drag superstar Peppermint loves Janet's entire back catalog. But her self-titled fifth album has a special place in Peppermint's heart. It represents a major leap fo…
Sam Song Li's Spark Is Whiplash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
Actor and content creator Sam Song Li (The Brothers Son, Never Have I ever, and Better Call Saul) was bowled over when he first saw Damien Chazelle's frenetic music school nightmare Whiplash. Li was even compelled to see…
Holiday Encore: Bob The Drag Queen loves The Color Purple [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:45
Happy Holidays! The Spark Parade is off this week, but, in honor of the release of the movie musical version of The Color Purple, we are doing an encore presentation of this amazing interview with the one and only Bob Th…