Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Smith.
Hi Tina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started writing music when I was a teenager. My dad was an incredible guitar player, and I would just practice freestyling hooks when we would jam out together. I went off to Bible college where I was scolded by a teacher in front of 100’s of students that I wasn’t good at leading people in “worship”. The embarrassment from that moment shut me down musically for a long time. I spent the next 20 years not doing anything that had to do with music for fear I would be told “you suck” again. In 2019, my dad was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. One of his last wishes was that I begin to write music again, record it, and release it for the world to hear. I was scared to death to get back into the music world. I went to therapy to finally face every fear I had. After some time of deep healing…lyrics started to flow, and I was hearing melodies again! I decided to learn how to record music in my house, and made a simple goal of just getting ONE song released. I started that journey about 2 years ago, and I haven’t stopped releasing music since.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are lots of ups and downs when recording and releasing music. I’ve had to face heart breaking betrayal, being taken advantage of, ghosted, lots of wasted money, disappointments with how a song came out, hard decisions on what direction to go in with a song that could make or break it. Finding the right producers that can deliver what you envision, finding other artists to work with that are good people, finding the right engineer that can mix your voice the right way, and not getting discouraged as you continue to find your sound are all difficult realities you face as a recording artist.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would say I specialize in my melodic sounds both in singing and rapping in spanglish. There aren’t many genres that I can’t do. My versatility is my greatest strength and my greatest weakness at the same time. It makes me a little ADHD in deciding what sound of music I have the mojo to do next. lol. I’m the most proud of the fact that I keep pushing the limits on what I can do, and that I don’t quit…I surprise myself! I would say what sets me apart is I bring sounds that are uniquely multi-cultured. You just never know what you’re going to hear next!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
God, family, integrity, good character. I’m inspired by people that have left legacies that mattered. I want to be remembered as someone that loved God and loved people deeply, never compromised their core values, was a voice of hope in the face of despair, and was a walking example of how faith can help us to be resilient no matter how difficult the circumstance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tinasmithmusic.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinasmithmusic/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@tinasmithmusica
Image Credits
DynamicFilmandPhotography
