Rett
Smith
By:
Song River
Rett
Smith
By:
Song River
Song
River: Hey Rett, so glad we finally had the chance to connect! I know
we've been playing tag just a bit.
Rett
Smith: Yeah, we have. But it's great to finally make this happen!
SR:
I was looking back over some of your background information, and it
mentions you were born in Texas, but place you living in a few
different areas growing up.
RS:
I was in Texas and lived there until I was about 3 or 4 years old.
Then we moved to Southern New Mexico, not too far from the border, in
the town of Ruidoso, New Mexico.
SR:
That is a beautiful area to live in, a place that keeps you grounded.
RS:
Totally, I miss it. I was in New York off and on for the last seven
years, but now I reside in Nashville.
SR:
Does Nashville seem to be a better fit for what you're creating
musically?
RS:
Really where I live doesn't affect me it all with what I am playing.
New York is just so different now, it even was when I first moved
there, but now it has changed so much. I didn’t really want to even
have to leave, but I don’t know anyone who is really making music
there anymore and I have a responsibility to what I am creating... it
just wasn't there for me anymore.
SR:
Was there a female influential element to any of the decisions to
move?
RS:
No, not really. Neither a reason of influence to stay there or come
here really.
SR:
So this move was for music.
RS:
(paused) Yeah, I mean for me this move was personal and to me that
means music. And everyone has been priced out of the city (New York
City). You used to able to find some place to rent and it could be
handled, but now- there's no way. Now, it doesn’t matter you. You
can't get an apartment. It doesn’t matter if you are broke all the
time, you just cant do it.
SR:
Since your arrival there in Nashville, what have you been working on
and putting together?
RS:
I was very conscious to not, I mean I am put off by the old saying
of, “I came to Nashville to become a songwriter.”
I
came to Nashville to get my own space. That’s why I came here to
give me my own space to write and think. I don't want to hop all
over. I don't think you can manufacture a great song- it has to be
what it is.
SR:
At times music can feel as if it's been manufactured.
RS:
Yes, it does and that's no okay with me.
SR:
Are you familiar with Rick Hall founder/owner of Fame Recording
Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama? I was just talking to him recently
about the depth of music. If there isn't anything coming from
hard-work, struggles, there isn't a story.
RS:
Yeah, yeah. Actually I was on flight a while back and met Rick on a
plane. Cool, cool dude and so right.
I
think though in music if you go just below the surface the
credibility is still there and I think there is still great music
being made.
SR:
Since the industry is changing, how do you look at the financial end
of the music?
RS:
It's not going to come from record sales, (paused) but still you
can't replace, a real live show by “streaming” your music can
you? You can't download a concert experience. That's always been
what matters, as a performer. You get lost in those moments of what
you want.
There
is money to be made, as much as there was? No, but touring makes
money.
SR:
Do you feel bands then must rely now days on touring and merch?
RS:
Yeah. Touring for certain and merch has always played a big role in
the industry. Records though that has changed. The whole industry has
changed.
SR:
Yes, from the songwriters/performers/ album cover artists, managers,
lighting people, sound people to even the journalist and
photographers.
RS:
Yeah, I know and that's just bullshit. I think each person has to
decide in this industry how far they are willing to go within that
industry to 'give in' or 'sell out' that is a personal decision. For
me, I can't. I get you have to eat, but I just can't do it. I would
rather go hammer nails. I would, you know. There's a lot of
responsibility in this to me, and I think that’s getting lost on
some. Success, successful people who are long-term I don’t think
give in. I'd be a roofer, and go nail on shingles first.
SR:
Understood. We've all been at that 'selling out' moment. Maybe, more
than once. But, if you really love, and respect, what it is you're
creating, it has to be your passion. Plumber, garbage collector,
whatever... you give it 2000% and then some. We need to get back to
that way of thinking, instead of what satisfaction can I have in the
next second of my existence. Pay off comes from diligence, sweat and
hard work.
RS:
Exactly.
SR:
Now Rett, I was reading that you were involved in some serious
sporting. What was it?
RS:
Yeah, I was a ski racer. I don't talk about it much. All the PR try
to harp on it, but I don't talk about it much. I had moved to Austria
to attend a sports academy when I was 12 years old. And I was a ski
racer on the high level, international racing until I was 19. That
was really my whole life, devoted to that, at least on the surface it
was for sure.
SR:
Well, we can leave it right there and not go any further. I just
couldn't find anything on what sport you were involved in prior to
your songwriting and performing.
RS:
The reason I don't talk about it really is I have friends who are
still big in it, multiple Olympias, who still ski full-time and they
are very successful. And kind of like what we were talking about you
know, the integrity of things. I feel like, how dare I now use skiing
as such a positive influence or even a story there, because these
guys still work so hard everyday. I feel it discredits my friends who
are better than me at it.
SR:
Your dad had introduced you to some incredible tunes while you were
growing up, like Hank Williams Jr. for instance.
RS:
I remember I was at the Hollywood Bowl, and I was back stage and met
Buddy Guy. It was a cordial exchange of, “Hey nice to meet you.”
At that time I was writing like crazy, but it was still before I had
anything big going on in the music scene. Maybe no one else around me
knew it, but I did, and it was that pivotal moment I knew it was time
to jump in with both feet. Music's influences have a way of getting
into you.
I
know, personally I don't want to meet most of my heroes. I know there
is a difference in those who affected my life and who they might be
in real life. I don't need to know them personally. They’ve given
me enough, I don't care what they had for breakfast. What I care
about is the fact they can go and be honest. That's everything. It
doesn’t matter if you’re the mailman or selling out stadiums...
you’re fulfilled.
SR:
You had posted on your Facebook page awhile back something like,
“Fuzz is the most important meal of the day.” And as I have
listened to your music, yes the fuzz pedal is your best friend. Talk
about this passion you have with the guitar and the fuzz pedal.
RS:
You know, I have always, always wanted to be a guitar player. That
was it. I got a guitar when I was 12 and it was totally like Greek
to me. I hadn’t comprehended how it worked. I had a tuning fork and
didn’t know how to use it. I just thought people knew it. I think
my parents just got it for me to humor me. I was like shit, I'll
never be able to play guitar. The sounds were in my head, even
without being able to play at that time. So, when I picked the guitar
back up and really decided to learn a couple of songs, I knew I could
make this thing work. As soon as I could do that and get these songs
out of my head to my guitar it was just awesome. I dig it.
Actually,I
am really thankful, that I wasn't able to play when I was young. It
saved me from going through so many phases. I never had to conform to
anything. I was 19 years old just playing.
SR:
If I understand you right, you still don't feel any pressure.
RS:
No, zero. And I try to base everything I do now off of that. I’ve
learned no matter how hard I want to be whatever, my shit is still
going to come through whether I like it or not. So, I might as well
work on opening that up.
SR:
How hard is that for you really Rett, to open up. You've been
writing longer than you've been playing.
RS:
Oh yeah, by a lot. Opening up in the act isn't hard. Sometimes I
think I give people too much of me and it comes back to bite me. I
haven't been good at finding that balance, but I am now getting
there.
SR:
Perhaps for you it will be through your expression of music that
will be the catalyst to get there.
RS:
Oh yeah, exactly. I’ve battled depression as a teenager, really
hard. But the difference is that I know when I wake up I have an
outlet I don't take for granted. I can take a therapist for granted,
or going for a walk... but not my songs, writing, playing them. It
has changed my outlook on everything.
SR:
I love Arizona, and one of your first batches of songs actually you
ever wrote and recorded was the song, “Lucky Strike,” which is on
this latest album, “Tularosa.” Talk to me about this 'old' song
you wrote under Arizona skies.
RS:
Yeah, “Lucky Strike” was one of the first songs in a batch I had
written knowing that they were songs. When I was in Arizona I was
definitely trying to get my head clear. It's a song, that (paused)
whether I say it was about this or that doesn't really matter if it's
me. It's a song about being limbo.
SR:
Where in Arizona were you when you wrote the song?
RS:
Just outside of Tucson.
SR:
Your new album, “Tularosa” is available everywhere you can find
music. When are you looking to tour?
RS:
I was going to be on the road all this fall, but maybe right now do a
short run in November and then be on the road in 2016. Have it be my
year to hit things. With the response I have had it’d be great.
SR:
Well the press reviews have all be highly favorable.
RS:
Yeah, well it's just the first record... (humbly said) BUT I am so
thankful it's been well received.
SR:
Finally, what has been your favorite guitar along the way?
RS:
Actually it was a guitar my mom got me, and it's the one I really
learned and stretched on, it's a really pretty Gretsch. To play
though I have a 1962 Gibson es 335 and that took me 17 months to pay
off, I use it to record everything. And to use live, I am really into
the Les Paul's. I can ride the volume and tones... if it's a Les
Paul. And when you find a good Les Paul... you better hold on to it.
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