Discovering a new artist feels like winning the soul lottery, the exciting energy and presence of listening to new music; dropping into the essence of the sonic environment they create—can reset you from within. This was my first experience hearing Jesse Ray Smith and his band perform live recently at a local event here in San Diego, CA. I needed to know more about this down-to-earth guy who does what he does and lets music speak for itself. Meeting him and speaking with him at length, I am an even bigger fan now—not only because I got to preview the NEW music being released, but because he was even more genuinely cool than he seemed on stage, which is an all-over rarity with someone this talented.
Smith humbly shared about his newest music release, “The message is more about inspiring people to do good things and have an opportunity to lead their best life. I’m doing that for myself, and I hope that is what the music carries through.” I knew I was now a fan of the artist beyond the music when he answered my question about which lyric was his favorite from his newest released single, “The Show.” Co-written by Jesse Ray Smith and Sean Cox Briar, this song is more than just a groovy tune with a catchy chorus and undeniably deep emotional current. The co-writers both have daughters, and they wanted to write music as a life lesson book to give to their kids. “Something they can listen to as though we are speaking to them directly, from a place of wisdom, looking back at our lives as an interesting, twisting journey.”
Smith’s favorite lyric from “The Show” is:
“When you give me just a little helping of your loving, I finally feel like I belong.”
He dropped into the vision behind the song and took me on the poetic path through the intention behind the words. “When we are encapsulated by something that gives us the feeling that everything is right, and we are afraid it may have to end … there is a deep sense of belonging.” That is what this song is about. I listened to it on repeat after learning the depth of these words coupled with all the lyrics in this song and the vibe they created and concluded that it is pure Soul Nectar at its finest.
Wanting to know more about the music from the man himself, I asked for another lyrical deep-dive, and he brought it home. One of Sean Cox Briar’s lyrical contributions:
“Just throw it down the pipe, and let the hitter swing, you were born for the show.”
Smith said that on the surface this lyric is about playing a game of baseball – joking that he played, “11 years of terrible baseball as a kid.” But under the literal meaning of this lyric, it is about “being born for something.” For Smith, it’s music but for others it’s baseball. A song written not only for their daughters but for the world to unravel their best selves; the question is, what is that for you? Where do you encounter your sense of pure belonging and deep purpose? Perhaps this new song released recently and the upcoming EP collection to be released in 2025 can awaken your appreciation for what you have and inspire you to find what you need to live your best life.
His anticipated new album in its entirety will be available next year. His upcoming performance presented by The Six String Society at The Belly Up on November 7, 2024, is a North County celebration featuring two of his newest song releases, “The Show” (Now streaming!) and “Santa Ana Winds” (dropping November 1st).
“As an artist, it always feels new. I’m on the brink of what feels ‘right’ to me. What’s coming through feels like it’s getting to the core of who I am and what I want to express to the world.” In short, what we can expect from Jesse Ray Smith is an authentic enhancement across the board. He is bringing, “More love. More positivity. Uplifting messages. I tend to sing about love and the pain of losing it. These new songs are coming across in a way that feels genuine to me.”
Jesse Ray Smith’s music sounds like a new version of rock legends such as the Doobie Brothers, Tom Petty, and Jackson Browne, as well as the heartland rock movement legends like Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, & Bob Seger. “Artists that I used to listen to growing up shine through my music. My music is California-rooted music.” Smith is in the process of re-launching the look and feel of his website to align with the sonic integrity of the music and image—through and through—he represents a Southern California essence of down-to-earth sunshine vibes. Bookmark his website and stay tuned for more Cali swagger to come: jesseraysmith.com.
Smith is a huge fan of collaboration, which is apparent when you see him in concert and hear genuine gratitude shout outs to everyone who was involved with the music writing, recording, and playing—all the way down to the sound techs and the audience members themselves. (Read our last feature on his performance at the Belly Up here.) His music is an experience from start to finish and every part of the process from behind-the-scenes writing sessions to delivery is equally important to him—and it shows.
Smith loves the challenge of doing creative work with other people and noted that he, “Relies on a sounding board of people who keep him honest.” When he speaks about his team, the affection in his voice makes them sound more like a brotherhood or a family; it is apparent that his current collective of artists is the best incarnation to date. When talking about his collaborative efforts on his previous album, Back to Yesterday, he elaborated, “You become close with your inner circle—exploring collective dynamics… then, you can re-imagine those dynamics from your true self.” He emphasized that on his last album, “he found his ideal team and made a statement” that he wanted to make in the world … and they are just getting started!
Smith loved the process from the previous record and wanted to give the world a few iterations with a similar sound and players, “to give a full taste of what we’re capable of.” He insightfully talked about how many artists often change their sound just as people start to resonate with the vibe. This unique tribe that he attracted wanted to linger in that moment of music and enhance what they had created together and see it evolve now that they had the right people in the right places. Smith concluded his palpable excitement for the team’s collective efforts with a straightforward, yet deep sentiment, not unlike his overall character, “for the next album we are releasing 2 collections. The Show, one of the singles, represents more of who I am as an individual.” The simplified, balanced, complex tones bring the artists and the audience back to the root of California music. You can almost hear the golden tones of the sun setting over the sea when you drop into the energy of this album.
Expanding on the groovy vibes that Jesse Ray Smith, Sean Cox Briar, and Alfred Howard wrote on Back to Yesterday, the new album expands on what Smith himself learned through that collaborative process and has since integrated into himself. The closeness and affection for these peers and teachers were easily felt in his voice. And, interestingly, I learned that the connections run deep within this writing alliance when he shared that, “Alfred Howard is heavily in the San Diego music scene and was coincidentally Sean Cox Briar’s substitute teacher at one point.” It is no secret that he values their insight and that they both helped him grow into this incarnation of himself as a musician.
The previous record was 100% collaboration whereas Jesse Ray Smith wrote this new collection more independently. The first collection to be released is up-tempo, “ready for the full band to play on a big stage” which is where they’re going with more invitations to festivals starting to filter through as we speak. “The follow-up EP collection to be released showcases more vocals and songs, bringing the vibe back down,” Smith shared, not unlike the arc of himself as an artist on the path to its creation and release.
During COVID, Smith returned to his professional roots as an appliance repair man doing his “blue-collar skills,” as he jested, undeniably part of the reason that he is so genuinely relatable and consistent as a human and an artist. There is not an ounce of ego present while he plays or speaks, which is both rare and refreshing in today’s fast-paced world. Coming out of COVID, one thing was apparent to Smith, he wanted to focus on music. Letting things unfold naturally, he discovered a hidden treasure right under his nose. He recounted a good-natured, happy-ending story about his current bassist that further proves how grassroots, local, and alignment-driven Smith is as an artist.
Scott Eisman, his wife’s boss and neighbor at the time (who Smith had never met), had a son who had recently passed away. Eisman started raising his grandson as a result and Smith offered support as a fellow father. As luck would have it, Eisman, who is a doctor by trade, played bass like a boss that could be heard from the garage. The two connected and started jamming. They became very close with each other as dads and through emotional support and shared hobbies. Smith said, “He was so good and willing that it was hard not to bring him into the project, unexpected really…” and started playing in Smith’s band. Smith said with zero pretense, “When you can see someone’s ability to take on a challenge and deliver… it’s inspirational. He outperformed everybody else.” The already all-star band, comprised of John Varn on keys, James DePrato on guitar, and Michael Pinkham on drums has gotten better as a result. “Music is magic, and it brings people together.”
And so it is with this burgeoning local artist, his hand-picked band of uber-talented musicians, and the community he attracts just by being himself on and off stage. Music for the sake of music—masterfully composed to be grounding, alluring, thought-provoking, and soul-quenching simultaneously. Check out his new song “The Show” for yourself today on all streaming services and grab your tickets to the upcoming Six String Society show featuring Jesse Ray Smith along with San Diego Music Award Winning Artist, Kimmi Bitter—a homerun lineup for the Belly Up on November 7th. 2024.
LISTEN TO “THE SHOW”
Follow Jesse at https://www.jesseraysmith.com/