| Rett Smith | |
| Alias: | Rett Smith |
| Genre: | Americana, Rock, Singer-Songwriter |
| Instrument: | Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Slide Guitar |
| Label: | Imperial Records, Universal Music Group |
| Past Member Of: | Saents |
Garrett Wayne Smith[1] (known as Rett Smith; born 1988) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Smith competed internationally in alpine skiing in the 2000s, participating in International Ski Federation races beginning in 2003 and competing in the Nor-Am Cup in 2006 and 2007.[2] However, he was forced to retire from skiing after sustaining multiple injuries.[3]
After his retirement from skiing Smith moved to Los Angeles and began focusing on songwriting, releasing a demo EP which drew attention. Despite never having performed in public before, he made his debut at the House of Blues performing his own works. A video of him performing his song "Warmest Winter" brought him to the attention of producer Joe Nicolo, who became his "career guru".[4] Smith's first solo EP, Tularosa, produced by Nicolo, was released in 2015.[5]
Smith moved to Nashville in 2015, where he recorded his second solo EP, Oscuro, which he produced himself.[6] He formed a duo called SAENTS with session drummer Daniel Sousa, and they released an eponymous EP produced by Stephen Keech in 2017.[7]
His first solo studio album, Giving Up on Quitting, was released in 2020,[8] but received limited attending due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He moved back to Austin, Texas, in late 2020 and recorded his second album, What the Walls Cannot See, during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[9] He released EP Americana Drugs in 2022.[10]
Smith describes his musical style: "my heart lays musically with the blues and country heroes from the 40s, 50s and 60s but I've never wanted to imitate their sound... I'm into hiding some darker lyrics in with a heavy groove".[11] His influences also include Leonard Cohen.[3]
Smith's musical oeuvre blends multiple genres.[12] His early recordings were described as "blues-riffed", contrasting with the rock sound of SAENTS.[9] More recent works have focused more on lyrical quality, with "intense and dark vocals".[10] American Songwriter described Smith's music as "blues-influenced alternative rock".[5]
An article in the New Jersey Stage said of Tularosa: "Rett plays emotionally articulate guitar, tempering technique to fit a song's soulful spirit, uncorking his fiery chops in key moments".[4] Writing for the Texas Monthly, Bryan Rolli called Oscuro "four barn-burning rockers featuring slide guitar licks that would make Billy Gibbons crack a smile".[6]
Billboard described SAENTS as ranging from an "apocalyptic, organ-driven crawl" ("Lay Me Down") to a "furious, proto-punk wallop" ("Hallelujah and Do-Si-Do").[7] Jonathan Frahm in No Depression wrote that "There isn't a minute out of the few that we have that feels wasted... Rather, this is self-contained rock with just enough grit to make it roll".[13] Pennylynn Webb of the Palestine Herald-Press, in reviewing Giving Up on Quitting, was "struck hard by a poetic sound that conjured a kaleidoscope of inspirational, soul-searching questions and profound truths".[3] Katherine Yeske Taylor of American Songwriter felt "Better Day" "shows Rett's gentler, more vulnerable side... [and] has a certain confessional intimacy".[5]
Doug Freeman of the Austin Chronicle described What the Walls Cannot See as "dark and brooding platter that sounds like Nick Cave raised on Texas songwriters".[9] Hal Horowitz in Holler concluded that "Only the frustratingly brief length of the program ... prevents this from showcasing the full powers of a relatively new talent; one who has his finger on the pulse of the darkest edge of Americana and his own psyche".[14]