Give us a little bio about you.
My names Riley Smith. I was born and raised on a Quarter Horse ranch in Iowa. Moved to NY a month after I graduated High School. And finally to Los Angeles six months later, where I have lived for the past 18 years. In that time, Ive acted in over 75 TV shows and Movies. While also playing in a band with three of my best friends in LA for the past decade. In 2015 I had the opportunity to move to Nashville to play Markus Keen on the ABC show ‘Nashville’. While I was living there I had the tremendous opportunity to write with some of the best writers in Nashville. I ended up leaving Nashville with two songs on the Nashville Soundtrack and 14 demo’s of my own. I slowly worked the songs until I chose six for my upcoming EP out July 21st.
Are you signed?
Not yet
What instruments do you play?
Guitar
What is your genre of music?
Country fused with pop and rock
What made you go in to music?
Ive always loved music. I was the kid performing concerts at every family get together since I was born.
You have a new single out ‘Im On Fire’, tell us more about the single
Im on Fire was written with two amazing talents Nashville has to offer in Tim Lauer (Executive Producer of the music for “Nashville”) and Mattew Perryman Jones (singer songwriter)
What was the writing process like?
The writing session really represented the synergy in the city that I was looking for. It just flowed out of us and was a really clear vision from start to finish.
What was the recording process like?
I learned something from this particular process that Ill always try to use from here on out. A lot of times, you end up recording the song fairly soon after I write it. Sometimes your cutting the vocals as soon as its written because your so excited to get it down. With Im on Fire we wrote it, I lived with it for almost six months. Playing it alone at home, playing out at gigs, playing it for family and friends. By the time I went back to Nashville to cut the vocals, I knew the song so well. I had found things in it that I only could by living with it. And I think it payed off immensely.
You are soon to release your new anticipated EP, what can you tell us about it?
It was all written and recorded in Nashville. It represents and It was inspired by my time in Nashville.
Describe each track in 2 words.
Im On Fire- Passion and Pride.
I Cant Keep Missing You- Time and Space
Break Something- Physical and Physical
Mad Love- Sad Love
Selfish- Honest and Self aware- Its worth three words;)
Change Of A Season- Chapter Closed
Do you have any gigs or tours coming up?
Im head lining my annual Charity Music Festival in my home town of Cedar Rapids Iowa July 15th. The charity is the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy. A non profit space for kids up to 18 and special needs to come and learn the arts. There are amazing teachers that offer there time after school to give the kids lessons, help them record in the studio, or offer help in the rehearsal spaces they have. All the kids in the program get the chance to play during the music festival and after, I will be heading the day. All the profit goes to keeping instruments in their hands and keep the creating artistically.
For tickets to the show or if anyone wants to donate to the cause the website is-
http://eiaaprogram.com
Do you play any instruments?
Ive played guitar for 15 years now. A little piano and love messing with the harmonica on a good jam band song.
Who are your influences?
Every thing that has a melody.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
If Im writing alone, I usually wait until the idea has to hit me. If its a co write, I love finding a story any chance I get. I have a home studio that I pretty much live in.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
I plan on doing what Ive been doing for 18 years, the rest of my life. Im in it for the marathon, not the sprint.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Act.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
There can’t be just one song for me.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Its about the journey, not the destination .
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Its about the Journey, not the destination:)
Where can your fans find you online?
Rachel Crenshaw
August 21, 2018 at 6:30 am
My Name is Rachel I Love your song Iam On Fire when I first heard it I fell in love with the song awesome.