Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael “Smidi” Smith
Hi Michael “Smidi”, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a music producer and songwriter based in Venice Beach. I’ve tried just about everything in music since I was a kid. Playing piano recitals when I was little, then high school music ensembles. I wanted to make albums, but I didn’t know how. I went to Western Michigan University as a classical and jazz piano performance double major on scholarship. Things changed for me when WMU started a Music Engineering program headed by John Campos. John is a badass and after joining that program, I knew that I wanted to learn how to produce, engineer, and mix songs.
After college, I moved to Nashville. I had played in a summer band with Ben Folds. Ben and another friend, Millard Powers pulled me into their creative circle there. I met some incredible songwriters, hung out in recording sessions, joined Keith Urban’s band for a bit, and interned at a music production company. That production company offered me a job in Chicago. It was perfect timing to move on from Nashville and see what the Chicago music scene had to offer. I continued to work on my production and engineering skills, working with some indie bands and writing music for commercials. Then the time came to head to LA to chase my dream of songwriting and production. I started a production company with a couple of friends, and we signed a publishing deal with Sony. We had a few cuts, but ultimately, we were not able to make it work. That was a low point for me. I was in massive debt, and feeling hopeless.
Even though I was no longer with Sony, I maintained a great relationship with then-VP Jim Vellutato. Jim set me up with several writing appointments that turned my career around. I had the opportunity to work with some great artists including Nervo, Stefanie Fair, Tim Myers, and Tyrone Wells. We wrote some great songs, and I began getting cuts on bigger projects as both a writer and producer. This included several J-Pop tracks, The Pussycat Dolls, and producing Tyrone Wells’ album “Metal and Wood,” which has garnered more than 100 million streams. Opportunities grew and I found myself working with some of my favorite artists, including Giorgio Moroder, Sia, Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Bebe Rexha, and Kylie Minogue. I was loving it. Working with a nice balance of independent and major label projects.
It was around this time that my family began to grow. With two young boys in the house, I wanted to try my hand at writing music for them. My manager, Molly Kaye, found an opportunity to pitch a theme song for a new Nickelodeon show called Paw Patrol. Scott Krippayne and I submitted a song, and we were incredibly fortunate to win. This opened the door to contributing music to some other kid’s shows, including Bubble Guppies, Baby Shark, Ducktales, and over 100 songs for Blaze and the Monster Machines. Working with these fantastic people has been a lot of fun. My 8-year-old daughter might even have some hidden background vocals in a couple of these demos. I’m honored to have received two Emmy nominations and three BMI Film and TV Awards for work in this genre. Scott Krippayne and I won an Emmy Award for our work on Netflix’s We The People series created by Chris Nee. Our song “American Citizen” was performed by Bebe Rexha and featured animation by Jorge Gutierrez.
Something that I am excited about right now is Saint Rogue, a production company that encompasses an indie record label, a show development, and a publishing company. I started it with my long-time friend and collaborator, TJ Stafford. One of our bands, The Rigs, co-wrote and was featured on “Lonely” with REZZ on her Juno Award-winning, Electronic Music album.
Saint Rogue’s Media division has recently launched with a full slate of TV, Film, and Animated projects. With roots in music production and publishing, Saint Rogue is focused on projects in which original songs and scoring are integral to the storytelling.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to never stop. It’s so easy to quit when things get tough, but you’ll be surprised how far you can go with just small steps in some direction every day. It all adds up. None of that time is wasted. Fail fast and get to the next thing. The music industry is always changing. You can be successful if you pay attention and be ready to pivot.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
About nine years ago, Sean Holt and Rick Schmunk invited me to get involved with USC’s Music Production program. I’m now an adjunct professor there, spending one day each week giving lectures and private lessons. I work with students on their personal projects and productions, and I bring them real-world opportunities from Sony, Warner, Universal, Dreamworks, and others. My goal is to give these students an introduction to the professional music industry in LA while they are still in school. They have opportunities to pitch songs for artists in the US, Japan, Korea, China, as well as for film, TV, and trailers.
One of my proudest achievements is our partnership with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Bleeding Fingers Music to establish the USC Screen Scoring Diversity Scholarship. This scholarship, which is part of Sony Music Group’s Social Justice Fund efforts, aims to encourage inclusivity and expand opportunities for Black composers, who are vastly underrepresented in the film and scoring community. Through this scholarship, students can enroll in the school’s celebrated Screen Scoring program, helping to build a more diverse and inclusive future in the industry.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Family means the world to me. I love going on trips with my wife Julia and our three kids, Aidan, Colin, and Grace. Whether I’m coaching hockey and softball teams, cheering on Aidan at his hockey and lacrosse games, or car spotting and taking pictures with Colin, these moments are the best. Listening to Grace write and sing her own songs is great. These everyday moments are everything. My teenagers will be headed off to college before I know it. I want to get as much time with them while I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smidimusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smidicity/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Smidi
- Other: https://saintrogue.com/
