RadioAirplay.com Blog: Center Stage

Meet Radio Airplay's newest Center Stage artist, SMITH - Hailing from Baltimore, MD, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter is blending today’s R&B with 90’s soul music. Inspired by artists from D’Angelo to B. Slade (fka Tonex), SMITH has created his own unique sound, donning it “Church&B”. Already performing with, and impressing the likes of Faith Evans, Tweet and Kim Burrell, to name a few, SMITH is proving to become one of R&B’s most promising new acts.

SMITH's Tapestry, a mid-tempo R&B ballad, with lush vocal arrangements, silky smooth production and a soulful performance is a favorite among Jango listeners, and was chosen as one of Radio Airplay's winners in the recent Summer Song Contest. Get to know the up and coming artist in the latest feature and Q&A below:

Describe your sound in one ramble-on sentence

My sound is soulful, old school/90s R&B, with current production and arrangement elements.

What's your earliest music-related memory growing up?

My earliest music related memory growing up, is playing my Little Tykes Tap-A-Tune piano until I drove my parents crazy. Also, singing in my church youth choir.

What was the first tune(s) you learned?

My siblings and I used to write little songs and jingles about random things that we liked, or that made us laugh. We still sing some of those songs today!

Do you write/compose your own songs? Briefly describe your songwriting process

Yes, I write all of my material. My process is pretty consistent. I usually start with a theme or concept in mind. Then when I get some great music to match the theme or feel I'm going for, I listen to it over and over and over until the words come. I usually start with the hook.

If you were to cover another artist's album, which would you pick and why?

I think if I were to cover another artist's album, it'd have to be Faith Evans's debut. That album really is a blueprint for a lot of the music I make today.

What was the highlight of 2015, either for you personally or for the band? What was the low point?

One of my main 2015 highlights was writing and recording my most recent release, Tapestry. The lowest points were times when I really missed my family. They're still on the east coast while I'm here in Los Angeles.

What is 2016 looking like for you? Upcoming projects? Can you give us a little hint, on what we can expect for this year?

2016 has been a great year for me so far. I just released my newest single, and accompanying visual, Tapestry at the end of May. I'm currently working on my debut body of work, that I'm hoping will be available at the end of the year.

Any embarrassing on stage moments you'd like to share? C’mon, don’t be shy.

I'm horrible with words and lyrics. I always forget the words, and have to come up with something on the spot. Even with my own songs!

What do you enjoy doing outside of music? Does your hobby rejuvenate their creativity?

Outside of music, I'm really into visuals; video and image. I love creating stories, and directing photo shoots. I'm also pretty good at doing henna tattoos.

What do you like the most about Radio Airplay?

What I love the most about Radio Airplay, is that it gives indie artists like me another way to connect with a broader audience of people that I may not've been able to reach otherwise.