Please introduce yourself, what you do, why you do it, and what you want people to know about Scott Smith Musician.
Hello! My name is Scott Smith musician, and I make music under the moniker, Deep Forest Drive. I started writing songs back in 2011 and released my debut album, In Memoriam, in 2018.
Music has always been something I have retreated to when facing difficult moments in my life. Whether I’m finding comfort in songs by artists that I love or writing in order to process and work through my emotions, I know I would not be the person I am today without it.
In January of 2011, I lost my mother to suicide after a long battle with bipolar disorder. My hope is that my songs can comfort anyone who has experienced something similar and help people who haven’t had close encounters with mental illness empathize with those who are struggling.
As someone who has to put a lot of work into my own mental health, I want to be an advocate for treatment and protection for those who are struggling with these invisible illnesses.
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
I was incredibly lucky to grow up in a small town just outside the southern gate to Yosemite National Park. I have had so many healing moments while out exploring the sierras, and I want to bring some of that comfort and inspiration to people through my music.
There is endless imagery and metaphor to draw upon from that corner of the world, and blending those elements with my personal experiences has allowed me to communicate deep feelings in a way that is more accessible and larger than myself.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you wanted to do what you do now. Who did you tell first? What has it been like since that moment?
I always enjoyed writing songs and playing music with friends, but my mom’s passing was the first time I felt like I had something worth saying that many others could not. Having any sort of platform to speak from is a massive privilege, and I would not be able to justify this pursuit unless I truly felt I could help people through my music.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to face and how did you overcome it?
Experiencing such intense grief at a young age really tore my world open. I had to grow up so much quicker than many of my peers, and trying to keep up with school and the general hardships of being a teenager while feeling such pain was a massive challenge. I truly owe so much to my friends and family for carrying me through that time and helping me get back on my feet.
If you had to pick the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could take your career (or business) to the next level…who would those 3 people be?
I’ve been lucky enough to produce for some wonderful artists lately, and I’ve been learning so much from the process. Being able to collaborate with different people has pushed me into musical corners I would otherwise have never explored and brought about the discovery of new sounds and techniques that currently don’t have a place in my personal projects.
My goal is to keep working with artists that challenge me and inspire me to keep growing and learning for as long as I am able to create art. I will also say that I recently had a song mixed by Jay Pellicci and mastered by Alan Douches.
Having people who have worked on several of my favorite records lend their talents to my song was a huge honor. Look out for my new single, “Let Go” that will be released on August 20th to hear their great work!