Meet TJ Smith | Singer-Songwriter, Musician, Creative Cultivator

We had the good fortune of connecting with TJ Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi TJ, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Though my own volition certainly played a role in the pursuit of my artistic work, I’d have to say that ultimately, creativity for me has always been less of a choice, and more of a force or muse that just kept calling out to me, tugging on my heartstrings, and consuming my mind. Even in seasons of life where I didn’t actively pursue it at all, it would continue to pop up around me, and gently encourage me to engage with it. So recently, I finally decided to surrender to it, and see where that may lead. The new space and permission that I’ve given to my creative self allows for infinite potential – it’s a very exciting place to be.

Creative work is deeply compelling and meaningful for me, and I view it as a lifelong practice, with opportunity for new discovery, growth, education, service, connection, and actualization around every corner. To start with essentially nothing, and bring something entirely novel and unique into the world (something that literally couldn’t exist without you, your perspective, passion, and efforts) is a powerful thing. I’m always blown away by the myriad of ways that other artists do it, and I’m constantly driven by the desire to find new sounds, stories, and perspectives of my own to share. It’s not much of a stretch to say that I feel most alive, most seen, and most ‘me’, when I am fully aware of the present moment during the creative process (whether that’s while writing a song, playing it, recording, mixing, sharing it with others, etc.), and this is especially true when the creation is a collaborative endeavor.

Another part of the ‘why’ for me, is the beautiful fluidity and multi-dimensional dynamic of the artistic world. Though I’m primarily a songwriter and musician, I also really enjoy painting, writing poetry, podcasting, and helping friends with their many creative projects. (For example, at present, I’m assisting with writing/acting on a friend’s tv show pilot.) I also relish the ‘art’ of armchair philosophy/sociology/spirituality. (I believe the traditional arts are intrinsically tied to these arenas of life.) And last but not least, a couple years ago, I started my own small craft coffee business, which I feel is an endeavor of artistry and community as much as it is a ‘business’ pursuit. So clearly, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that the multi-faceted, interdisciplinary nature of creative work is inspiring, interesting, and life-giving for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Music’s been in my bones in one way or another as far back as I can remember. I’ve been in a number of bands over the years, my bachelor’s degree is in Music Business, and I’ve written more songs than I care to recall. But Sooth – the name of my current project – is a new chapter of my musical story that feels totally distinct and uniquely valuable, because it’s much more personal, vulnerable, and liberated than anything that has come before. The lyrical content digs deeper and stretches wider than anything in the past, considering that it’s informed by 32 wild and wonderful years of life, across Texas, New Mexico, Oregon (where I currently live), France, and beyond. In addition, almost every song is an exploration of new instrumentation and composition, and I’m primarily taking the helm of the recording and mixing process (which is a huge leap for me into the DIY musician-verse).

I chose the stage name “Sooth”, because I liked the idea of a bold-yet-mysterious alter-ego through which I can share my thoughts on Life (experiencing beauty, truth, hardship, curiosity, and everything in between), as well as sharing the things that I’m working through on my own personal journey (mentally, emotionally, metaphysically) in a way that’s more raw, poetic, and potentially provocative than I could in everyday conversation. Soothsayers are known for being a little wild and strange, but also prescient and wise. In old English, soothsayer translates to ‘truth sayer’ or ‘truth teller’. So Sooth is just my way of putting some of those (maybe wiser?…definitely weirder) ideas of mine into song, while I’m on the hunt for truth.

As far as my approach to music, I often tend to feel like an outlier. These days, it seems that a lot of people think of music as a ‘throw-away’ flavor-of-the-week kind of commodity (can you even remember what was on last week’s Release Radar playlist?), but as a music fan I still consider it a deeply valuable, transcendent, and powerful artistic form. I’m very particular about what I spend my time listening to, and I usually want to immerse myself in a captivating/diverse album (from start to finish), not just a single. I want to delve into the album art, read the lyrics, liner notes, and thank yous. I have an insatiable appetite for any and all write-ups or interviews with artists/bands, and I strive to unpack/comprehend everything about the thematic/conceptual and practical elements that went into an album, to hopefully understand the people behind the music a bit better. Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one that feels this way, but regardless, as a songwriter I also feel a sense of responsibility and dedication to make sure that I honor the musical muse that’s guiding me, and consider other listeners out there that may share that same deep affinity and detail-oriented appreciation for music. This nuanced lens inspires me as an artist, and it’s how I show up most authentically in my work, even if it’s not the most commercially viable or popular approach. This comprehensive mindset (some might call me a ‘purist’) may or may not help set me apart from others out there, but either way, it’s what makes sense and works best for me.

A notable creative quirk of mine is that I thoroughly enjoy making music that has a sense of storytelling/narrative, or is otherwise conceptual. My friend Kylan summed it up well when he said “It’s less that you write songs, and more that you write sonic adventures.” Any time I’m working through a song, album, or anything in between, I strive for it to have a cohesive feel, rhythm, symmetry, or poetry, even if the individual parts are each unique and disparate. There’s a fine line there, and that liminal space is where I like to hang out. A perfect example of this would be my recently released Fractured Fables EP (March 2021). It follows a loose narrative with an introductory ‘fable’ track, which sets the scene of a party happening inside a weathered mountain cabin. Every character at the party is connected to a song on the EP, and the listener can then interpret it any number of ways. It’s a bizarre choose-your-own-adventure sonic story, and I’m proud of it, especially considering it’s over 5 years in the making. My extremely talented friend Jon Cannon did an amazing job on the graphic design and formatting for a gatefold print of the album art (for sale on my bandcamp page for anyone interested — includes a full EP download, plus bonus tracks, commentary, and more), and it’s designed so that listeners can ‘color-your-own’ album art, while listening. Did I mention that I enjoy conceptual, immersive music experiences?

Looking back on that project now, and comparing it with the music I’m working on currently, I’ve realized that my songwriting style has become simultaneously more detailed, yet also much more straightforward. I could probably write a novel on the nuances of songwriting, and the lessons I’ve learned from so many mentors, friends, and professionals out there, but here’s the summed up short version.
The core values in my approach to songwriting presently are:
1. Writing with honesty/vulnerability (maintaining authenticity in my music is important to me – I believe this is where the substance and resonance comes from)…
2. Crafting something that I would find sonically compelling/interesting as a listener (whether this is an interesting song structure, a melodic line, a catchy riff, a strange vocal style, an unconventional mixing technique, etc.)…
3. Creating some kind of connection with the listener (an element that will resonate deeply, cause a question to arise, or even shock the listener somewhat). I feel a level of responsibility to do my best to serve the song as both the medium AND the message, so I often have to stop and listen to my music with ‘audience’ ears, and see if both medium and message components can stand up on their own.

An additional critical component (that comes into play more specifically when I’m recording with another musician/songwriter) is that of spontaneity, and what I’m going to call ‘present moment magic’. This is the unexplainable energy that – if you’re lucky – shows up in a recording session, and makes it onto a recording, forever imprinting itself on the song. Whether this is a funny outtake vocal part, a fluke of a drum fill or guitar line that surprisingly ended up making the song better, or even a weird mic pop or bit of compression, this is the life, the juice, the moment that a listener gets brought into — and in this, there’s a thrilling feeling of intimacy or winking vulnerability, almost like sharing a secret/inside joke, that allows the listener to feel even closer to the song and artist than they did before that moment, because it’s a moment of shared humanity. The flaw creates the connection, and therefore IS the perfection.

My most recent recording project, with my friend Michael Broun (stage name Johnny Silent), is full of moments like this. We stayed at this delightfully eclectic property out in a desert canyon a few hours outside of LA, and we built out our own little ramshackle studio inside this old camp lodge building next to the residence. We began referring to the lodge as the Reliquary, because it was full of the wildest assortment of junky treasures, knick-knacks, and random relics of bygone days. The name stuck, so we decided to call the record ‘The Holographic Reliquary’, because it also became the birthplace and altar of all of these spontaneous sonic relics of ours, that ultimately morphed into 5-6 very distinctive songs. We hope listeners will take us up on the invitation into this strange sacred space, and take a metaphorical walk through the Reliquary with us. I’m very proud of the work we created, and excited for people to hear it (singles are being released throughout summer 2021, full EP out in August). We had a blast leaning into that spontaneous energy, and I think that really translates into the music. We brought some mostly formed song ideas to the table, but we also wrote a lot of it on the fly – including one song that we literally wrote and recorded in about 20 minutes! That whole recording session was a cathartic 5 day whirlwind, and I can’t wait to do it again. Some of my favorite moments are the ones spent with fellow creatives (not to mention best buds!), making music together, and this was no exception. I’m so grateful for that experience, and I hope the joy I felt at the Reliquary comes across in our EP when it comes out in August!

I’ve also got a handful of other songs that I’m hoping to craft into a full length album sometime in 2022, so keep an eye out for that! The working title is ‘Spiritual Successor’. I’m stoked to see how it takes shape!

When I was younger, I hoped I might somehow be fortunate enough to ‘live the dream’ of writing, recording, and touring for a living. If that still worked out somehow, I’d be thrilled, but my perspective on the primary purpose of making music has definitely shifted quite a bit. My creative practice these days is much less motivated by attaining ‘commercial success’, and much more about an earnest passion that I can’t ignore or refuse. It’s about personal growth, processing life experiences, making sense of the world around me, and (hopefully!) connecting with and bringing joy/hope to others. There have been times where I really wanted my music to reverberate around the world and change millions of lives, but these days I’m coming into a state of acceptance, contentment, and peace in the knowledge that if my music reaches one other person, then it was worth making. It’s funny to me that even as I share this thought, I wonder if it will come off as radical or offensive to traditional Western sensibilities. Honestly though, I do think there is still a toxic mindset around what ‘success’ looks like for any given person. We’ve often been told that success is synonymous with money, fame, power, bliss, the seemingly ‘perfect’ life. And I think that’s bonkers, because it can create a lot of unnecessary stress/anxiety/frustration/disappointment, and I’ve known so many people who never attained any of those ‘successful’ things, but who I would consider as being highly successful in their own way (and who’ve led very happy, full lives).
So for some time now, I have been working on (and am continuing to work on) redefining the word ‘success’ for myself. It’s a lot more about finding fulfillment and my own acceptance of myself and my life, the people in my life, and the greater world (even in spite of the flaws and imperfections all around and within), rather than being about any of those other goofy metrics. This has brought me a lot of freedom, and a very real – if simple, and quiet – peace! I’ve actually written some of my favorite songs from this sort of ‘mental headspace’.
Along with pursuing the (ever elusive) posture of acceptance, success for me these days includes finding simple ways to bring variety into my day-to-day and month-to-month rhythm. It looks like slowing down to enjoy the present moment (there’s a world of joy to be found in even the most simple tasks like doing the dishes, or watering the garden), choosing to view everyone in my life as a teacher, and following my own curiosity (even if it seems unorthodox). This change of definition has come with its fair share of challenges, but it’s also been refreshing and it feels right, on a soul level. This new perspective has altered how and why I make music, and it’s been a new source of lyrical inspiration. I’m no longer thinking so much about how a song will be perceived by an audience, whether it’s ‘catchy’ enough, or if the mix/master is pristine. I’m focusing more on ensuring that the lyrical themes are the most authentic and resonant to me on a human level (and therefore, to others!) that they possibly can be, and exploring and honing the sonic elements in a way that sound/feel good, interesting, or compelling, to the heart, mind, and body. I’m almost always pretty happy with the results, when I approach things this way.

With all of that said, however, I certainly see potential for forging my own path with music in a way that ‘makes a living’. I’m a collaborative artist at heart. I’ve always greatly valued the relationships I’ve made with other artists, and I’m constantly humbled, challenged, and inspired by the passion, skill, and perspectives found in their work. In light of this, my long-term goal is to cultivate and manage a creative space and collective of artists. Equal parts creative sanctuary, community hangout/hub, and performance space, I envision it as a place that anyone could come to create and share their art, whether it be musical, visual, performative, or any other form! The reality of this goal is still somewhat far off, but I’m laying the groundwork for it now, and with every step I take in that direction, I become both more excited and more purposeful. I see this as the natural fulfillment and synthesis of many things in my life: My general education/growth goals in regard to songwriting/recording/musicianship/mixing/etc., the future of my craft coffee business, the further evolution of my own music project(s), my love of a diverse community, and primarily: a focus for my restless collaborative spirit that loves to see other creatives flourish and thrive. The main speed-bumps on the path are location logistics and funding. I’d love to connect with anyone interested in joining in and helping bring this vision to life! I look very forward to stewarding a thriving and sustainable artistic community in the future.

I’m enjoying being a pathfinder for my own creative fulfillment these days, I’m thankful for those around me that I’ve been able to partner with and learn from, and I look forward to what the future holds. In closing, I just want to say a sincere thank you to anyone out there reading this, for taking an interest, and to the Shoutout folks for giving me the opportunity to share about my work and creative journey so far! It’s humbling, a great privilege, and it means a lot. Cheers!

That’s very nice of you and we appreciate how forthcoming and open you’ve been with us about your story and journey!  So, moving on to the next part of the interview are there any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I loved living in Dallas for the number of years that I did (2007 – 2013, then 2015 – 2016), but admittedly, it’s been awhile since I’ve called that my home, so…hopefully these locations are still open!

I’d head straight for Davis St. Espresso for coffee. I’ve been an Oak Cliff fan since they started out, so that’s a no brainer.

Chicken and waffles for brunch at Oddfellows, because it’s never let me down. Poke around at Wild Detectives if you need somewhere else cool to go.

Not sure if Good Records is still around on Lower Greenville, but if so, you’ve got to go peruse their bins for some vinyl.

Wander Deep Ellum (Unless that’s not cool anymore? Sorry I’m so out of touch.)

Go to Peticolas Brewing Taproom. Try everything.

Rodeo Goat for a burger, or…

Cane Rosso for pizza. Phenomenal.

Veritas Wine Bar is a great go-to for great wine/knowledgable staff.

If possible, I’d catch a show at the Granada!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Kylan Savage – One of my best friends, and favorite people to creatively collaborate with – not to mention a creative genius in his own right – Kylan is absolutely deserving of a shoutout, not only for the many times and ways that he’s generously volunteered his unique ‘jack-of-all-trades’ creative skills, passion, and smarts to projects of mine (and many of his other friends / peers), but also for just being a wonderful human being. He’s a true talent, and a gem! He makes his own music (under his own name on streaming platforms), as well as being an all-around one-stop-shop for any recording/mixing/producing needs. I’ve learned a lot from Kylan, and I’m very grateful for him.

Simeon Williams – Obviously you’re already familiar with Simeon, but I have to mention him here, as he’s also an incredible person, a great friend, a distinctly talented songwriter and musician, an encouraging and supportive fellow creator, AND a delight to work with (we collaborate every so often, and it’s always a blast!). I’m thrilled to see his ‘indie’ production enterprise grow and help foster more creative community in DFW.

Homer Ruiz – Homer is another great buddy of mine who now lives in Nashville, and works primarily as a mixing/mastering engineer, recording studio manager, and does live sound production work as well. He has helped mix/master some of my tunes, assisted as a sounding board for me many times as I’m working on music, and he’s also an amazing singer-songwriter. Check out “Jimmy Carpenter The Mason” for a taste of his sound.

Michael Broun – Another one of my bffs, Michael is an old bandmate and ongoing musical collaborator. He and I quickly and organically locked into a very edifying musical partnership when we met in college. (We seem to naturally exist on similar wavelengths when it comes to songwriting, recording, mixing, and the like.) Michael has a refreshingly unique, raw approach and sound to music making, and I see this as a huge strength of his. He’s a gifted musician, and an impressive self-taught studio engineer, and mixing whiz. I’m always hoping to be a supportive creative buoy for him, since he’s so great at playing that role for others, so I’d love to see him to get a ‘spotlight’ opportunity. He’s now making music under the name “Johnny Silent”, and it’s his first foray into sharing his own tunes with the world, since our days in a band (2011-2013). I’m really excited to see him pick it back up again. The two of us recently got together for a week-long songwriting and recording retreat, at a property in a desert canyon a couple hours outside of LA. It was a hugely cathartic experience, and we’re currently releasing the series of songs one at a time, then all together, as a record called ‘The Holographic Reliquary’. I have a deep respect and gratitude for Michael, and it’s always deeply rewarding when we get together to find that perfect blend of our complimentary styles and talents, and bring something wholly unique to the table as a team.

Website: https://soothtunes.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soothmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOOTHTUNES/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QqSrjWVuqw&list=PL5-VTcFUueTInOmTviDeTu3FX_mR4W6Fn

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1aVU40NC1qbSJAE0yEa2PY