Lauren Spencer Smith Finds Strength in Vulnerability on THE ART OF BEING A MESS
Written by: Keyali Mikaela
Lauren Spencer Smith’s sophomore album, THE ART OF BEING A MESS, is a powerful reflection of what it means to be young, heartbroken, healing—and human. Through a mix of confessional songwriting, soaring vocals, and fearless emotional honesty, Spencer Smith captures the turbulence of your twenties with pinpoint precision.
From the moment the album opens with “What a beautiful day,” listeners are plunged into the duality of life’s outward appearances versus internal battles. The song sets the tone: this is not a record built on pretending everything’s okay—it’s about accepting that sometimes it isn’t. “What a beautiful day to feel lonely,” she sings, effortlessly capturing that specific ache of being surrounded by people but still feeling unseen.
Across 12 tracks, Spencer Smith moves through the full emotional spectrum—grief, anger, longing, empowerment, and self-love. What makes this project so compelling is how naturally she allows these feelings to coexist. THE ART OF BEING A MESS isn’t about picking yourself up and pretending the pain never happened—it’s about feeling it all and choosing to move forward anyway.
Songs like “bridesmaid” and “things you never say” lean into her roots as a storyteller of heartbreak, while “Lighting the flame” and “IF KARMA DOESN’T GET YOU (I WILL)” showcase a darker, edgier evolution in her sound. On “Sticks & Stones,” she fully leans into vengeance with biting lyricism and layered vocals that erupt into a chilling, unforgettable bridge. It’s a defining moment for Spencer Smith—one that proves she can do more than just make you cry. She can make you feel furious, too.
But for all its grit and grief, the album doesn’t leave listeners without hope. “Long Story Short” is a sweeping love song about finally feeling safe in someone’s arms, and the closer “Someday” is a soft-spoken ode to self-acceptance—one of the most emotionally resonant moments on the album. “I love the girl, I love the woman, I love me,” she sings, bringing the project full circle.
Sonically, the album blends atmospheric pop with stripped-down moments that let her vocals shine. Whether she’s belting or whispering, her voice carries a rare sincerity that makes every lyric feel lived-in.
THE ART OF BEING A MESS is less about perfection and more about permission—the permission to feel, to break down, to grow, and to do it all on your own timeline. In a world that often demands we have it all figured out, Lauren Spencer Smith reminds us that it’s okay to be a mess. In fact, it might just be the most beautiful thing we can be.
