To the masses, it seems Myles Smith’s stardom happened overnight. Well, by the way of social media, that might be true. However, Smith’s journey from pubs to platform stages spans two decades, and the 26-year-old UK native has leaned into the opportunities those times have presented.
He’s fresh yet nostalgic and is an overarching symbol of the artistic and technological journey Generation Z has experienced thus far in their lives. Myles Smith is a culmination of past and present, and in a way, a musical time traveler employing the greatest attributes of the ‘2010s and ‘2020s music scene.
Recently, Smith divulged some of these notions at his debut appearance at the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival. Delighted by the prospect of playing alongside some of music’s finest, Smith’s excitement was contagiously excellent. The young and hungry Smith reportedly has his sights set on sweeping the nation with his optimistically melancholic music. So, expect Mr. Smith to be around for a while, as his value to the music industry is rather timely. And we aren’t the only ones who believe this, as Better Than Ezra frontman, Kevin Griffin told American Songwriter “Myles Smith is the future of music.”
Smith’s Beliefs on The Value of Social Media
One of the most fascinating parts of Smith’s career is how he garnered his fandom. Yes, parts of Smith’s musical upbringing are quite traditional. However, the seemingly premier element that launched him into superstardom was “Stargazing” becoming a viral TikTok hit.
Smith claimed social media has a “huge influence” on his career. Presented by George Dickel, Smith told American Songwriter, “I’ve been playing since I was 10-11 years old” and “playing pub gigs, open mics and playing to absolutely nobody…and then social media has helped me reach an audience all around the world.”
As of now Smith’s single has over 450 million streams on Spotify and debuted at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release. The 450 million streams do not even include the plethora of times Smith’s single has been featured on TikTok, Instagram, or other social media platforms. Needless to say, Smith knows his fanbase and their listening tendencies. Thus, he knew exactly how to get his music into their ears and then onto the world’s biggest stages. Yet, despite his tech-savvy marketing skills, one still might consider Smith an “old soul.”
Leaning Into The Music That Made Him
When one listens to Myles Smith one can most certainly hear bits and pieces of some of the ‘2010s greatest artists. Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, and The Lumineers are a few that come to mind when listening to Smith’s music. To some, resembling other artists might seem troubling, to Smith, it’s just part of the writing process.
Smith has openly acknowledged Sheeran and Labrinth being two influences. And he expanded on his affection for the era of music saying, “For me it’s the era of music I grew up closest to” and “It always has a special place in my heart and a sense of nostalgia and I always try to emulate the feelings that music gave me in my own music.”
The People’s Musician of Generation Z
Despite his daunting musical magnitude and fandom, nothing about Myles Smith screams unapproachable or intimidating. Rather, everything about Smith’s disposition, journey, and music warrants an invitation to learn more about him.
Between his TikTok origins and affinity for ‘2010s music, Smith has lived the same journey as every other culturally obsessed member of Gen-Z. He knows how to keep up with the times, but he also knows how to shed light on the times that brought him to where he is. Smith strives for connection, both on a sensational and sentimental level, and he attests to this motivation by saying—
“Why I write music is like my own personal stories and experiences, but if people can walk away with something that they see themselves in is just such a privilege” and “For me, it’s just so overwhelming, but humbling to know my music finds a place in people’s lives and stories,” Smith concluded.
@americansongwriter
#MylesSmith tells us how he feels when people re-interpret his lyrics. Presented by George Dickell. Tap the link in our bio to watch more! #explorepage #fyp #mylessmith #pilgrimagefestival
♬ original sound – American Songwriter
(Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage)
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