SmithField formed in 2011, drawing upon their shared family history and diverse musical influences. From the start, their music was a mix of contemporary and classic, blurring boundaries between country, pop, and rock.
This unique collaborative sound began in the small southern town of Waxahachie, Texas, where Trey Smith and Jennifer Fielder grew up. Before sharing the Grand Ole Opry stage as bandmates, they shared meals every holiday season, brought together by a family tradition that predated their birth. “Our grandparents were old friends who went to high school together,” Jennifer recalls. “The families remained close over the years, and we'd have mutual parties every New Year's Eve and Fourth of July. We're the third generation of that connection.”
Moving to Nashville in 2012, they carried the torch for country music's rich legacy of male-female duets into the 21st century, achieving success with hits like ‘Hey Whiskey' and ‘We'll Figure It Out.' With over 100 million digital streams and praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Forbes, Smithfield are finally releasing their debut album, ‘Country With Heart (Part 1)' Read an interview with Trey and Jenn all about the album right here.
The album is a compelling blend of modern country sounds and heartfelt storytelling which finds the duo masterfully intertwining their voices and emotions, creating an album that resonates deeply with listeners. Each track showcases their signature harmonies and poignant lyrical phrasing, making it a standout addition to the contemporary country music scene.
The album opens with ‘Drink That Strong,' an anthemic post-relationship song that leaves a lasting impression. Both singers take turns helming the verses before joining forces on the chorus, delivering a powerful performance. The searing guitar solo and the big, emotional finish are highlights, encapsulating the heartache and longing that follow a breakup. This track exemplifies SmithField's ability to blend pop country with raw, soulful emotion, setting the tone for the rest of the album.
‘Hell’s a Heartbreak' slows the tempo with a tender, largely acoustic ballad. The plaintive guitars provide a subdued backdrop to the duo's harmonious vocals, which convey the pain of love and loss. The lyrics, “No pills or prayers can take away the pain,” reflect a deep understanding of the harsh realities of heartbreak. The song's stripped-down arrangement allows the emotional weight of the lyrics to shine through, making it a poignant highlight of the album.
Tracks like ‘Last Call Summer' and ‘Run With It' showcase SmithField's versatility. ‘Last Call Summer' is a slick, Lady A-esque number with chugging guitars and catchy melodies that evoke the bittersweet end of summer and a relationship. ‘Run With It,' meanwhile, is a refreshing outlier, opening with a Lionel Richie-esque pop/disco rhythm that gets your shoulders shaking and toes tapping. This upbeat track taps into the excitement of a new relationship, providing a welcome contrast to the album's more melancholic themes.
Perhaps the highlight of this engaging and emotional album is the dramatic, ‘Don't Know Myself.' Here we get a big, piano ballad that builds to a huge, melodic chorus with both Trey and Jenn singing harmonies together. “I don’t know myself not loving you” is the vibe on another post relationship song full of nostalgia and regret. The piano dominates underneath the pair’s vocals as they go for broke on the harmonies and melody. It feels like a huge song from a blockbuster movie soundtrack and will have you definitely reaching for that hairbrush microphone after a few listens!
Closing the album on a positive note is ‘What I Got,' a ballad about gratitude. Jennifer helms this track, singing about appreciating the good things in life, no matter how small they may seem. Trey provides background vocals, adding depth to the strong, melodic chorus. This song, with its message of contentment and love, beautifully encapsulates the album's overarching theme of heartfelt emotion and connection. ‘Country With Heart (Part One)' is an engaging debut, long in the making, that solidifies SmithField as a duo to watch in the country music landscape.
Tracklist: 1. Drink That Strong 2. Hell's a Heartbreak 3. Last Call Summer 4. Don't Know Myself 5. Overdoing Getting Over Me 6. Run With It 7. What I Got Record Label: Independent Release Date: 24th May
