Brainerd, MN-based singer-songwriter Kelley Smith’s debut album Moon Child found an immediate audience and plenty of exposure. Reconnecting in the lull after hearing about that experience, and how she’s processing and planning the next chapters of her life and music career, gave our host Tom Smouse a special inside look into what many artists go through. Experiences like sitting in Kelley's kitchen and hearing how her surrounding environment has influenced her songwriting are the exact reason this podcast was created.

Just blocks away from the 3rd Police Precinct that burned down during the 2020 protests, Minneapolis country-folk band The Gated Community saw many of their recordings lost due to a power outage. But being in the center of burning buildings, gunshots, and neighborly concern, Sumanth Gopinath was compelled to write about it in new songs, which fit perfectly with their existing songs and socially conscious perspective as a band. Sitting around one table, Tom got to hear about the evolution of a band without egos, part of what makes The Gated Community so special.

“Bit of a recluse, a naturalist, and about to release something, or so I hear." That's how another artist described Whit Page to our host Tom Smouse. Having heard her perform before, he was immediately piqued to understand her more non-traditional approach as an artist. We had the special opportunity to record her performing two unreleased songs inside her home. You’re about to discover a new artist that you’ll surely want to see live.