How To Get Your Start In Music: Steve Smyth

You’re midway through a massive tour in support of your albumExits. Is a 50-date schedule a daunting prospect?

It ain’t that bad, I feel fortunate that I am keeping on the road. It gets weary and you feel a continuous rush of senses that can wire you out. It’s a line of work that demands your emotion as well as physicality, I guess you just get match fit and go into the ring and knock it out as hard as you can. Playing music with your pals and catching up with mates around the country is a bleeding good ol’ time, can’t complain!

You’re well-known on the scene for the power of your live show. Have you always been a natural performer, or did it take time to get your live show to the level you wanted it?

That’s nice of you to say. I don’t think that it’s fair on anyone to give anything less of your best, I’ve tried to be that way from the start. You get a chance to tell a story to five or 500, you better know it and have worked to define its craft. Every show is different, it keeps you on your toes. Sometimes you’re bailing out a sinking ship and others all sails are full and high.

When you were starting out as a musician, who were your inspirations? Did you ever think you’d reach the level of a touring solo artist?

I took on early an effort to stay clear of influences in the sense of mimicking. I drew more from music that was pushing a unique sound and in that way naturally finding that the contrasts were very sharply individual. I am still striving to maybe one day to not be compared but find a sound that could be recognised as somewhere unique. Saying that, it’s all been done before but you have to work to a goal however wishy or wankerish it may be.

You’ll be a guest on the Telstra Road to Discovery Master Class about Artist’s First Steps. What’s one important piece of advice you’d give for making a living from your passion and making your music heard?

Never give up. Longevity is success, not the top 40. Live without compromise of whatever passion that brings you happiness. Have fuckin’ fun.

Is there just one good road to success, or are there more ways to make your name than radio airplay, social media skills and a record deal, et cetera?

I am disastrously terrible at all of them, I’m not the person to answer that question. There is no right or wrong way, do what you feel is right and keep close to your instincts. All roads lead to Rome, it just depends whether you want Rome to be your destination or not. Success? You can let me know what it is when you find it. Waking up each day is a pretty good start.