Smith William Perspective on There's Something 'Bout You

I am an American singer/songwriter residing in Austin, Texas. I am originally from Minnesota. I write songs about my life, as well as life in general. I never know what the song I'm writing is about until it's almost finished. I just start playing and whatever words come out out, I just go with. It has never failed me and sometimes has kinda freaked me out how accurate they are to whatever they are about. 

This particular song is about my wife. The idea is floating down a river with her (going thru life) and choosing how we want to experience it. We can go fast or we can go slow as long as I get to go thru it with you. It also reminds me of being a kid in Minnesota and boating on the MIssissippi River and blasting tunes for fun. 

I think all artists are just born that way. It's a way that we see the world and then feed it back to the world thru various art forms. I think it's also why many artists feel like outcasts. We just see things differently than the "norm." I started playing guitar at 14, but was def performing my whole life. I didn't start singing or really focusing on songwriting until the Covid lock down era and there wasn't much to do outside one's home. I am proof that anyone can sing. I truly mean that.

I remember listening to Elvis records that my parents had when I was a kid. There was something about Don't Be Cruel and Jailhouse Rock that made me feel excited and alive.

I think this song plays to indie, rock, pop and country music audiences. This song is part of a genre I just made up called Boat or Float Music because this song is made for being on the water in the hot summer sun. Whether you are in a boat or floating down a river, this song fits that vibe.

I've been playing guitar since age fourteen, but only started singing in the last 3 years. I've written 100+ songs since I started singing. I think that every song I finish is my best song to date lol. I do think that my voice has gotten stronger and more unique as I learned how to trust that my natural voice is what I need to use instead of trying to sound like someone else. I honestly don't play many covers as my voice is lower and that makes it hard to find songs to sing and also sound good. I like writing way more than playing other people's music, so it works out. The biggest thing that changed my sound was recording my album and havin gto write and perform all the parts in the song. It really made me see the various instruments in a different light than I had as just a guitar player and singer. 

Honestly, most of my songs revolve around my relationship with my wife, observations about life or my relationship with myself. I don't know ever what the song is really about until it's written. I just write what comes out lyrically. 

This is such a difficult question and so vital to promoting one's music. I think if Chris Stapleton, Neil Diamond and Jack Johnson shared custody of a baby somehow, that baby would sound like my music.

Tom Petty - He is an epic and truly orignal songwriter, singer and performer. His songs resonate with me at really deep level.

Prince - I am from Minnesota and what Matthew McConaughey is to Austin, Texas, Prince is to Minnesota. He also has a couple good tunes lol. I find Prince inspiring in all aspects of music. 

John Mayer - Amazing songwriter, unreal guitar player and just so creative.

John Mayer, Chris Stapleton and Sturgell Simpson

I want people to feel the urge to move. Whether that is bopping their head to the beat, dancing to the music or taking a song I wrote and finding inspiration to move something in their life that they are having challenges getting themself to move.

I define success as staying true to one's artist vision of a song and having enough faith in yourself to push through the uncertainty of creating. I would love if as many people as possible could listen to my music and I have also made peace with me becoming the best singer/songwriter in my kitchen.

I believe that it is the artist's job to make art that conveys the way they see the world so that others get a chance to see the world in a new way.