I was born in Germany where I stayed for nine years before moving to the states back in “91”. Before moving to Connecticut I lived in Massachusetts for a bit followed by New York City. On the music tip, I’ve been singing since I was three and imitating Michael Jackson since the age of two, who like for most people was my inspiration. By eleven I found myself listening to a lot of R & B. Artists such as Tevin Campbell, Jesse Powell, Aaliyah, Babyface, Jon B, Mary J, Donnell Jones, Boys II Men, Usher, R. Kelly, Brandy, and many more kept me on a musical high. I would sing their songs and practice everyday taking some of their elements to perfect my style. At the age of fourteen I started entering talent shows which helped me realize how much I wanted to pursue this dream. My parents being Ghanaian really pushed me to finish school and told me once I got my degree, that I could do whatever it was that I wanted. During my senior year at UMASS Amherst, I started taking music a lot more serious competing in a couple talent shows and competitions. I was the only student to win UMASS Idol twice. After college I chased the American Idol dream. I went to the Boston audition and did not make it past the first round out of three. I then competed in Fox News/Kiss 95.7′s CT Idol competition to win a chance to compete in the last audition of 2005 American Idol in Chicago. I sang 20 seconds of “silent night” and won the competition. The trip to Chicago was real cool. I brought my boy Shane Brown with me and we promoted heavy in the Chi. American Idol once again was a no go. I wasn’t what they were looking for, according to them but it ain’t phase me. It only made me work harder. I’ve experienced a lot but my time is coming and I’m still here.
So for you living in another country before doing some traveling in the states for a little bit before settling down tell us how that affected your style and helped you grow musically and individually.
I travelled different parts of the world at a young age. I’ve been to countries in Europe, and Africa. The music there for the most part was the same as it was in the states. I was introduced to Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, Bach, Pavoroti, Michael Jackson, Prince, Rod Stewart, Elton John, U2, and most popular hit songs of the 80′s. I think having a great respect for all the different genres gave me a good musical ear, which in return helped me when it came to create melodies and concepts. When I came to CT I was stuck on Michael Jacksons Bad and Thriller. Eventually I started listening to the radio and the more I did, the more I would hear Boys II Men, which changed everything for me. Their four part harmonies and vocal arrangements captivated me. I would spend hours imitating and training my voice to be like theirs.
Your name is very interesting because in a day and time where everyone is trying to come up with a catchy name or a gimmick you chose to go with something as simple yet still relevant as Henry Smith. Tell the reader’s about why you chose that.
I can’t lie to you man, for a long time I couldn’t stand my name due to the fact that it was so plain. I have four other names, African obviously but everyone knows me as Henry Smith, so I figured I’d stick with that. It’s easy to remember and I’ve been told by many especially ladies that it’s catchy.
Talk about your first experience in the recording studio.
My first experience inside a real recording studio had me cheesing because I was happy to finally be in a real one. I was so used to basements and college dorm room booths with my frat brothers or friends. Shout out to the Ques. When I first got in the booth I was nervous because I didn’t want to mess up but over time I found out it was ok if I messed up because they have the equipment to fix anything. My biggest concern was to make sure that I’d sound the same on the record as I would in person. It felt great being in the booth though, once I got comfortable. Now I’m at the point where if you get me in the booth I’ll take my blanket and pillow with me because I’m trying to work there, sleep there and then wake up to do it all over again.
You said that you incorporate beat boxing into your live performances how did that come about.
I could never get free beats in college from the local producers. So I would beat box my own and record songs to them on a lil10 dollar sponge mic. I started thinking to myself, how can I make my style unique? So I began listening to Rhazel the human beatbox machine, and incorporated his style with mine to become an R&B beat boxer who can sing and beat box at the same time. I started doin it at shows and I was killing the crowd with my “Freakin You” rendition by Jodeci. Go on you tube and type in “Henry Smith beat boxing and singing at the same time Jodeci Freaking You” or you can go to my myspace page where I got several videos up showcasing that at www.myspace.com/henrysmith
You talked about your inspirations, you spoke about the origin of your name, you spoke on about your first experience in the booth but how would you define your style as far as singing?
I’ve been referred to as young Luther, which had me cracking up, but Luther was an amazing singer, artist and performer so I’ll take that compliment any day. I would say that my style is very pleasing to the ear. I got an old school vibe with a new school voice. When I’m really getting down I’m like a Sam Cooke/Bryan Mc Knight mixed in with a lot of Boys II Men and a sprinkle of Rhazel the human beat box. I love serenading the ladies, so I’m definitely a crooner on stage hitting various lows or highs with my falsetto keeping ‘em hot n very excited.
Now let’s take the moment to talk about your lead single featuring Jim Jones “Party with A Superstar”. Congratulations and talk to the reader’s about how that came about.
Thank you and I also want to thank the lord and my manager Michael Goldberg of Phoenix Entertainment for making that possible. I wrote the song in the cutting room studio in Manhattan with one of my writing partners Brannon Woodson aka GLS. My boy Brandon Alexander Hodge whose blowin up as a young up and coming producer actually produced the beat. I linked up with Brandon through one of my other writing partners and great friend Amir Cuyler of The FIEW. Brandon did a remix to the original I beat and I rerecorded the song. The energy was very hot on the new version and my team felt that the track was a strong enough single to push. As far as me featuring Jim Jones on the track, we reached out to his management and they felt it. He jumped on it ASAP. Jim and his team are very cool with my management so everything went pretty smooth. Jimmy swag on the beat was nice so I was definitely satisfied. The collaboration worked out for the best because he had an album coming out around the same time we released the song to the radio. Once leaked onto the net, the track received 20,000 downloads in two days on www.hotnewhiphop.com. I ain’t upload it on there but I was flattered.
As an artist define the fine line of downloading free music for exposure and downloading for free where you’re losing revenue because it’s going to get to that point soonerthan later.
Well honestly I don’t download free music I jus never got into that scene. If I need to hear a song I’ll youtube it or buy it online. Then again 20,000 + more people have heard of me now and could be potential fans due to a free downloading site. As an upcoming independent artist I think it’s a great tool. Once I put a price tag on my music, I can only hope that people/my fans and supporters will buy my music.
Talk about your album like what direction you’re trying to head with it along with features, concepts, and production.
It’s crazy cause I’ve been working on it for a good three years now. I keep getting new ideas and concepts so I can def say it will be a tough album. There will be a lot of ballots because I want folks to feel my pain happiness whatever emotion it is I’m trying to put out. I got a couple mid and fast tempo and tracks. Concepts deal with situations people face on a daily basis. People will be able relate to my songs. I talk a lot about love and lust. Followed by the things I like to do for and to my women. That’s where I see the album. Right now the stage of where I’m at now I find myself listening to my own music so I can critique it and make changes to make the listening experience that much better but I always get the urge to listen to others. As for the name I’m still untitled because I’m still not satisfied with any of the titles I’ve come up with so the title is still up in the air. For anyone who has any ideas feel free to hit me. Half of the production will be done by myself with the other half will feature other producers work. Brandon Alexander Hodge, Hunger, C, Doc-Ish, and several others. The album will also include work from several local artists. Scandel out of Meriden, CT, Messiah out of Hartford and couple others. For most of the tracks I have released they all deal with situations people face on a daily basis so a lot of people can relate to and that’s where I see the album heading. For anyone who has any ideas on a hot album title, feel free to hit me up on myspace or my email and you never know I might just use your title for my album title. Also be on the look out for my second single featuring Messiah titled “Camera Phone” which is definitely a certified banger.
How did you meet up with your management, Phoenix Entertainment?
I met my manager Michael Goldberg through a friend of a friend who I went to high school with. My friend’s mother works for one of Mike’s lawyers and Mike would always let her listen to music that he would get from different artists. One day she told Mike about me and from there on we set up a meeting and he liked what he saw and heard and it was a done deal. Quick shout out to Mrs. Toni Guerrin.
Having been through what you’ve been through do you have any advice for upcoming artists?
I want to make timeless music. So I work my ass off to make it happen. I feel if you’re a new artist and you really want to make it, then you have to live this and if you’re not ready for that commitment then this isn’t for you. I work hard at my full time job sometimes doing back to back 16 hour shifts and I will still go home and work on music for a couple of hours before going back to work. I don’t go to sleep much because I want it that bad. I’m jus lucky that my lovely mother “Nana Ama Adoma” prepared me for life the way she did. I’m thankful for her and most definitely thankful to the lord for blessing me. Best advice to give a new artist like myself is to network your ass off, don’t burn bridges, stay humble, respectful and never to give up.
Hottest Track Recorded
“Rainy Days” or “Camera Phone”
Last CD Bought that Wasn’t Bootleg
Anthony Hamilton
Favorite Get Away
On a stage with a mic and a audience.
Feeling You get from Leaving the Studio After Recording
Great, cause I’ll ride around playing it messing with people telling them it’s a new Bobby Valentino and once I get them I’ll let them know it’s me and hand them a business card.
Artist You Look Forward to Working with
Michael Jackson whose still the king of pop in my eyes. Honestly I’ll work with anyone because I just love making good music.
Favorite Quote
“You can do the impossible immediately and difficult twice as fast!” Shout out to my brothers of Omega psi phi
For a limited time only any artists interested in looking for talented singers make sure you contact me because the first hook is free.
www.henrysmithmusic.com
www.myspace.com/henrysmith
henrysmithmusic@gmail.com
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