Conner Smith has each proper to be drained.
“I would like a break,” Smith, 24, informed ipromiseyoumedia throughout a backstage interview earlier than a near sell-out Chicago final November. “I’ve hit a wall.”
The nation music artist has rapidly gained steam from a mixture of insane expertise and beauty has spent many of the previous 12 months on the street, not solely with Luke Bryan on his 2024 Farm Tour but additionally on not one, however two of his personal headlining excursions — and he is simply introduced one other.
“This previous 12 months has been loopy in each approach,” he mentioned. “It is all blessings, however yeah, I am at a spot the place I would like to permit myself to relaxation.”
Forward of the present, the ACM Awards nominee for new male artist of the 12 months appeared to like the prospect to delight in the fantastic thing about a Saturday afternoon with school soccer on TV and a nap in his future earlier than heading out on stage to bask within the love of his rising legion of followers.
“It by no means really is sensible to me that folks present up,” admitted Smith with fun. “That also feels bizarre to me, however I am grateful they do.”
In 2024 alone, Smith launched a complete of three new music collections, with maybe his most spectacular being his newest EP, The Storyteller.
“There’s numerous coronary heart in it,” mentioned Smith of The Storyteller. “I feel that was the purpose. Every single day, I am simply determining who I wish to be as an artist. And I feel The Storyteller for me was the final piece that I hadn’t proven but.”
Actually, Smith’s previous songs comparable to “I Hate Alabama” and “Be taught from It” might have simply pigeonholed him right into a sure sound, however the reality is that Smith is simply too darn sensible for that. “If I wish to be referred to as something on this business, the best praise anybody might give me is saying, ‘You are a gifted songwriter,'” he defined. “I wished to attempt to expose that and present that.”
And in contrast to lots of his nation music counterparts on the lookout for their subsequent No. 1 hit or viral video, Smith mentioned he simply wished to ensure the songs of The Storyteller noticed the sunshine of day.
“Someplace alongside the way in which, I bought actually in my head about writing songs for others’ approval or writing songs for what the label needs to listen to or what I feel will react on TikTok,” Smith admitted of songs such because the endearing “Religion From a Farmer.” “However one thing occurred on The Storyteller that was very genuine.”
That is to not say that there is not standout tracks worthy of getting Smith again on the nation music charts once more on The Storyteller. Take, for instance, fan-favorite “Nostalgia.”
“My favourite kind of music is nostalgic nation, like ‘Springsteen’ by Eric Church,” Smith mentioned of the oblique inspiration behind the track he wrote alongside fellow songwriter extraordinaire Dwight Baker. “Apart from photos, music is the closest factor we’ve to a time machine. Plenty of occasions I am making an attempt to seize nostalgia. That is my go-to emotion after I’m writing.”
And some months again, Smith was simply feeling nostalgic about heading dwelling.
“I have been on the street each weekend since June,” mentioned Smith, who married surfer Leah Thompson final April. “I am gone on a regular basis. It takes a really robust lady to have the ability to deal with this type of life-style. Leah is simply so competent, safe, and simply does all of it so properly.”
It’s simply all part of the story of Conner Smith.
“Life is a narrative,” he concluded. “We’re all simply making an attempt to determine it out. I imply, I am attending to know myself. I am nonetheless rising up. I do not know who I’m but. My purpose has at all times been simply to be with my followers and let’s take that journey collectively. Let’s be in that story collectively of simply rising up because the music grows up.”
