Meet Michael C. Smith | Singer/Songwriter &. Performing musician

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

Hi Michael C., any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I have been writing, almost daily since 5th grade. Sometimes stories, a few attempted novels, essays, the occasional news paper article, poems, and most often, songs. I began playing live gigs in 1995, and I’ve never stopped. I wouldn’t know how. I’ve not had the career success that I thought I’d have. I’m not rich, or famous, I have no Grammys or other awards, and I’m not very well known outside of a small circle of folks in this region. However, those above listed accomplishments are not the only measures of success. I have written hundreds of songs, and played hundreds of shows. I see people react to my music, my lyrics and my performances. I’ve seen people laugh, I’ve made people dance, I’ve seen people captivated by the mood of a song or story. I’ve certainly been known to make an audience member cry. Moving people through my songs, taking them by the hand to lead them through my experiences and observations, and seeing them recognize themselves, their lives, their experiences through the sharing of music, is breathtaking. In that way, I’ve been extremely successful.
My songs are my therapists, my priests, my lovers, and my best friends, and I can share them in real time with others.
There is no way I’m ever giving that up. I couldn’t if I wanted to. Plus, I enjoy the craft so much. I love learning new ways to present, or to interpret my emotions and experiences.
There’s a sacred aspect in what I do, a concrete understanding that what I do is vital and transcendent and holy and at the same time, of the earth, a part of this shared human experience.
How would I ever give that up?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was a weird kid.

By the time I was in the 5th grade, I had committed myself to memorizing long poems and songs, such as The Raven by Poe, (I made my parents, teachers, and classmates listen to my recitation, regardless of interest.) Most important, I discovered that I was a writer. I was melodramatic about everything in my life. Coming from a white, middle class, nuclear family, I had very little to feel so dramatic about. Still, I felt everything, as intensely as I knew how. I was as awful as you can probably imagine, spouting all varieties of 10 year old nonsense into couplets and awkward rhyme schemes. I began filling page after page, notebook after notebook with virtually every thought that passed through my brain.

As this began transitioning into songwriting, the rhymes grew tighter, and the verses less awkward. Working within the parameters of chord progressions and an under 5 minute time limit, was certainly helpful in nurturing a kind of efficiency that had been previously lacking.

In 1999, I wrote the first song that made me stop in my tracks. I played it again and again, and knew that I had finally written something good.

Hundreds of bad songs, and even worse poetry later, I had finally been able to put forth something that I wasn’t eventually embarrassed by.

And so began the pursuit of quality.

I’d love to tell you that it’s different now, but it isn’t. For every one song I think is worth pursuing to an eventual end, either recorded or played live, there’s at least 10 clunkers.

But, that is the process.

I studied a lot. In High School, I’d often skip classes and bury myself in the back left corner of the library, the poetry section, reading through every book they had in the ridiculously small collection. One day, I stumbled on Lyrics 1962-1985 by Bob Dylan. That was a game changer. Chimes of Freedom, for instance, just kicked the proverbial mental door wide open. How do I get myself from writing terrible poetry and rudimentary lyrics about the girl in my Spanish class, all the way up to something of this rarified caliber? I’m still pursuing that.

Allowing that I’ll likely never write anything as profound or grand as Chimes of Freedom, but still trying has been the real secret to any success that I have had in my chosen craft.

From there came Springsteen. The mechanic in the back of the building, retooling the engine and laying out lyrics like film. Cinematic, often simple, and somehow larger than life. Springsteen gave me John Steinbeck, much the same as Dylan gave me Woody Guthrie and the Carter Family. The Rolling Stones gave me rock n roll, and blues music. Son House, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and most important of all, Chuck Berry.

Chuck took me a good 10 years to get my head around. Smart. The smartest guy in rock n roll. Amazing riffs, and absolute, teenage, gasoline fueled, sexy songs about simple things.

I look up to my collected musical and literary heritage as a fan, and a student.

I always think of myself as someone just outside of this upper echelon of artists, only a few which I’ve named here.

I don’t really know if my work can ever be as good as theirs, but just like the comparison to Chimes of Freedom, maybe I’ll never be that good, or working on that level, but as long as I keep trying, I’ll be better for it.

I’m a writer, who loves music and singing and performing. That’s my brand.

I’m most proud of the songs. My new album “Taken” is about love. It takes on the types of relationships I and my friends and family really have. Love, divorce, heartbreak, are as real to the human experience as food, sex, and death. It’s all part of how we grow and move forward and navigate each other and the world around us.

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?
Oh, wow! There’s so much to do in this city and their surroundings. I’m really a Decatur guy. I’d take them down to the square. We’d have to visit Warren at Decatur CD, work our way through his vinyl. Then, we’d walk down to Little Shop and around the Marta Station visiting Homegrown and the other stores around that area. Then, I suppose it would depend on the friend, but we’d either hit Brickstore or Leon’s for dinner. But that’s just one evening. A week would get us Oakland Cemetery, Little 5, Vortex, High Museum, Botanical Gardens, Blind Willie’s Blues Club, Book Nook, and Northside Tavern.
I got to give a shout out to Jason Waller over at Waller’s coffee shop while we’re on this question. We’d definitely grab a cup at his place, maybe check out a show one evening.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a daughter and a son, and everything I do, all of my work, all of my writing, all of my performances, all of it, is way more intense than before they were born. Everything is amplified. I understand that I am setting an example for them. It’s important to create, and to share, and to communicate. Our ideas are worth sharing, our thoughts are only as good as how well we can present them to others. Our lives are, by design, meant to be shared. I want them to understand the good kind of pride that can only come with working hard, and sharing that work with a community. My first, and most important shout out is to Harper and Riley Smith. All things are better because of them, and my responsibility to them.

I have an amazing, supportive, and beautiful wife, who believes in me, and encourages me, challenges me, and inspires me. She’s the ocean to my land, the sun to my moon, the light in my darkness. She’s honest enough to let me know when a song or idea isn’t working. She’s a better singer than me, and points out when I need to rework a melody or reconsider the key of a song. She makes all I do, better. So, Amanda Owens. This is for you!

Lastly, I must thank a few musicians who have truly shaped the player, and performer that I am. Brandon Reeves, who is an incredible local songwriter, and a master guitarist. We’ve been friends for something like 20 years. I send him my voice memo recordings of new songs and he sends me his. He’s greatly affected my guitar playing, and my singing.
Jordan Armstrong, another local singer/songwriter, and musician has worked closely with me for about 10 years. If you listen to my records and hear a unique, atmospheric, clever guitar part, it’s probably Jordan. He’s a fantastic harmony singer and has a real ear for arrangement. I wouldn’t sound like me without him.
Kelly King. The greatest bass player, harmony singer, and bandmate I’ve ever had. He’s also a wise guy, in all the ways one can take that. I love him and love working with him.

Website: https://michaelcsmithmusic.com/

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaZOxqIcyRi9lfltoWfjcPg

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mcsmithmusic https://music.apple.com/au/artist/michael-c-smith/214208280 https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCHNyMdUpislHC4h7rtg34xQ

Image Credits
Daniel Hensley