This weekend, 16-year-old Nanaimo singer and recent Juno Award nominee Lauren Spencer-Smith will appear on American Idol.
Spencer-Smith auditioned for the televised vocal competition in Oregon in November. She said the atmosphere was B次元官网网址渟uper positiveB次元官网网址� and she made lasting friendships.
B次元官网网址淭he best part is not only getting to sing in front of the judges and getting critiques and getting help from them, but just all the people you meet and all the families,B次元官网网址� Spencer-Smith said. B次元官网网址淵ou just instantly have a connection with everyone because you all love music.B次元官网网址�
On March 1 Spencer-Smith will get to be in her own audience when she tunes in to see her performance on her best friendB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渉uge TV.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been watching the first two episodes at her house with a whole group of people. We have a huge watch party,B次元官网网址� Spencer-Smith said. B次元官网网址淏ut this one B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be so many people there.B次元官网网址�
Two weeks after her Idol debut, Spencer-Smith will be in Saskatoon for the 2020 Juno Awards. SheB次元官网网址檚 up for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for her debut album, Unplugged, Vol. 1, recorded live at the Port Theatre in July.
Unplugged, Vol. 1 is up against Shine A Light by Bryan Adams, Both Sides by Marc Jordan, Melt by Nuela Charles and Empower by Ren茅e Lamoureux.
Spencer-Smith said she was B次元官网网址渋n shockB次元官网网址� when she heard she got the nomination.
B次元官网网址淚 just immediately phoned my mom and she wasnB次元官网网址檛 answering and I was leaving messages like, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 nominated for a Juno AwardB次元官网网址� and I was freaking out and I was telling all of my friends and no one was answering me,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪till I donB次元官网网址檛 believe it. ItB次元官网网址檚 super surreal.B次元官网网址�
The Juno Awards will be held on March 15, one year and one day after Spencer-Smith posted a now-of her rendition of Lady GagaB次元官网网址檚 song Always Remember Us This Way, from the film A Star is Born. Coincidentally, that video, which has since amassed more than 31 million views, put Spencer-SmithB次元官网网址檚 own career in motion.
B次元官网网址淓verything just started to immediately happen right after that,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 got a manager, I went on , we started , started . We just had a huge social media following. Everything just basically fell into my lap. I didnB次元官网网址檛 go out and reach for it.B次元官网网址�
She said managing such a busy schedule was stressful at first. She was attending Dover Bay Secondary School during the day and working at a restaurant until 10 p.m. on weeknights.
B次元官网网址淎t the time when I was having all the things going on like school, my job and music my teachers we like, B次元官网网址榃e were concerned. You seemed very on edge all the time, you seemed really stressed out,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut now that music is my job, itB次元官网网址檚 a lot easier.B次元官网网址�
Spencer-Smith said she always envisioned that she would pursue a career in music after she graduates from high school. She said the Juno nomination has added to the excitement she has for her future, but she doesnB次元官网网址檛 know what sheB次元官网网址檒l say if she wins.
B次元官网网址淚 think it has to be an in-the-moment kind of speech,B次元官网网址� she said.
American Idol airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC. The Juno Awards will be broadcast on March 15 on CBC.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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