Get to know Americana country artist, Elisa Smith, based in Boston, Massachusetts!
She got her start in music at a young age and has had some struggles as an artist, but she continues to grow and pull through. She even got to sing for Garth Brooks! A dream, right?
Getting to know Elisa through this interview was such a refreshing feeling. She told us about her journey in music. Check it out below!
How did you get started in music?
I got my start from a very young age. My dad plays the guitar and my earliest memories are of me taking all my stuffed animals, loading them up in his guitar case, hopping in there with them and listening to him play guitar and practice for Sunday mornings. I started singing in church and I fell in love with music. My parents also took me to a music festival in Central Illinois every year since I was 8 months old and it was really formative for me. I loved performing. I enrolled at Berklee College of Music and studied Music Business. Berklee was great, but I graduated with a lot of insecurities and some serious stage fright. I also loved education so I enrolled at Harvard to get my masters degree in education, focusing on curriculum design and educational neuroscience all under the umbrella of music education. During my masters, Garth Brooks (garthbrooks.com) and Trisha Yearwood came to my school to give a talk about their life in music. During the talk, Garth mentioned that he STILL gets stage fright which really resonated with me. How could possibly the greatest performer of all time have stage fright?! After the talk, there was a Q&A so I raised my hand and asked him how he gets over his stage fright. He asked me my name, what I play and what type of music. And he got this little smirk and he says, “Well this is what we call being baptized by fire. Get on up here and play us a song!” So I got up on the stage in front of 300 people and played a song and something switched. I wasn’t afraid anymore! After that he gave me his guitar (the one that he was touring with and playing) and told me to sing my heart out.
Who or what inspires you?
I find inspiration in a lot of ways. I grew up listening to vintage country with my grandmother – she would tell me stories about going to Nashville and the Grand Ol Opry when she was a young woman and her and my Grandfather honeymooned there. (My song Nashville Angel to be released later this summer is about her). But then my dad would take me to rock concerts when I was a kid – Santana and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. And we’d listen to classic rock like Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin. And my mother would sing me lullabies that I later found out were Woody Gurthrie tunes. So I’ve been surrounded by vintage country and rock n roll for my whole life. I LOVE the fiddle but I also LOVE the electric guitar. Those are my roots and my main source of inspiration.
When we first met, you told me about how Garth Brooks invited you on stage, can you let the audience in on a little bit of that and what that felt like?
(See the story in question 1). It was a CRAZY feeling and it’s kind of hard to describe. When he invited me up, I knew I had to do it. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. The funny thing, too, is that about a month before it happened, I had a dream that something like that was going to happen to me – someone super, super famous was going to invite me on stage to play a song. In my dream it was Bruce Springsteen but you know, 6 of 1 right? So, when the moment came, I kinda felt oddly prepared in a way? I was like, oh well I dreamed about this so I know what to do.
Where have you performed? What’s your favorite part about performing?
All over! I’ve played everything from headlining festival gigs throughout New England to the honkey tonks in Nashville. I love watching the crowd and connecting with them when I perform. I love interacting with them! When they’re into it, my job is easy. 🙂
What kind of message would you tell your fans with your upcoming album?
I think we’re all struggling. Anxiety and depression are on the rise. Life is hard. It’s hard to be a human. This album is meant to be a celebration of life – in all its highs and lows. I named it Baptized By Fire not only because of what Garth said to me, but because I truly believe that humans are resilient and strong and our experiences make us. We just have to keep pushing.
What’s one of the most challenging things you’ve faced in your career?
Weeelllll, musicians hear no…a lot. Especially if you’re a woman. Being a woman in this industry is tough. Venues will hire men half as talented because they draw more. It’s also been tricky being an original country artist. Lots of folks just want to hear Top 40 and don’t care about original music as much. They just want to hear Wagon Wheel or whatever. It’s challenging but you just have to keep pushing and fortunately, I’ve heard enough yesses to keep going.
What’s next?
Releasing the rest of Baptized By Fire from now until November! Then who knows!?
Check her out below, and keep a look out on what’s to come with her upcoming album!
