Lauren Spencer Smith at Kentish Town

Lauren Spencer Smith was a marvel at Kentish Town’s Forum last night, captivating fans from the first line to the last and showcasing faultless vocal ability throughout. 

Never Been In Love is the first song, setting the tone for the rest of the night. The drums kick in and add such depth to the live version that it outshines the studio recording, and the audience eat it up. She follows with Bigger Person and Best Friend Breakup and by now it’s no doubt that this is the night of all nights for this crowd – they somehow get louder each song and she sings not a single word alone. It’s impressive. Indeed, this gig is like therapy for the audience. Narcissist plays and it’s a release, you can feel the fans let go and belt the lyrics to this vulnerable and honest song.

The opening chords for her break-out track Fingers Crossed set the place alight as fans get ready for the moment they’ve waited for. She then sits with her guitarist Johnny Murray to play the stripped-back back Hey, a story-based song that showcases her enchanting vocals. 

Fantasy, an angrier song, is a highlight as she shows some attitude and has fun onstage. She also plays a cover of One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful, which goes down a storm. It may feel a little out of place in the set, but it’s a classic and provides something upbeat. Spencer Smith is a self-proclaimed “sad-girl” singer: most of her songs are torn-up ballads or heartbreak anthems. She even asks the room during the gig, “Who likes to be sad?” It may make for a bit of a slow show for some, but for those who like to revel in their emotions, it’s the perfect place to be.

There’s often an assumption that those who soar to notoriety after their song goes viral on TikTok are one-hit-wonders and will never go further than that, but Spencer Smith breaks that mould. It’s clear from the way the crowd reacts to her, the way they belt every lyric, that she has a dedicated fanbase who resonate with her music deeply. The audience is pretty young, with plenty of accompanying parents dotted around, and it feels like this concert will be imprinted on them for a long time. It may just be the loudest show they’ll ever see.

Talitha Stowell
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit Lauren Spencer Smith’s website here.

Watch the video for the single That Part here: