Lauren Spencer-Smith said her goal has remained the same but performing on American Idol has opened up several new paths in her singing career. (Lauren Spencer-Smith)

By Alex Rawnsley

BRIGHT FUTURE

Nanaimo singing star eyes next steps after American Idol exit

May 6, 2020 | 7:55 AM

NANAIMO — Her American Idol dream may have come to an end a few weeks early, but Lauren Spencer-Smith still has her sights set on singing stardom.

Spencer-Smith became the first Canadian to make the top 20 of the popular singing competition. She failed to garner enough votes to advance into the top 10 but told NanaimoNewsNOW she looks back on the experience fondly.

“I’ve learnt so much from being on American Idol. I’ve met so many people, friendships but also other people in the music industry that are really great connections for future possibilities.”

Due to COVID-19, Spencer-Smith and the other contestants were forced to continue the competition with live-to-tape performances from their homes.

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Spencer-Smith set up at her dad’s place overlooking the water near Port Alberni.

“Initially (the American Idol producers) didn’t know I lived on that lake, but the second I sent them a photo they said that needed to be the backdrop.”

Rules for the performance were rigid to create a level playing field for contestants.

Each performance was done in three takes, the second of which served as the audio track for air and a majority of the final music video.

“We had different takes to set up the cameras in different places. Normally with the show you have 20 cameras film you but we only had three,” Spencer-Smith said. “If you messed up in your second take, that was still your take.”

Spencer-Smith plans to translate her post-Idol momentum into creating new, original music.

She had been nominated for a Juno for her album Unplugged which consisted of covers performed at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre in July 2019.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley