Meet Loren Smith | Vocalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Loren Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Loren, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was terrified to strike out on my own. I was happy to hide in groups, duos, sextets, quartets, and that random guy on the left. But it eats at your soul when you continuously get the message that in order to succeed, you can’t be yourself. I knew that I had a voice and something to say. I knew I wanted to leave the world better then when I found it. I knew it was up to me to create my own path, because EVERYONE failed at fitting me into their box of who i was. So I officially began my Solo Brand. I deleted old videos, removed merchandise from online stores, and started over with new promotional materials, a new vision and a clean slate. It’s not been easy, but having the courage to be yourself rarely is. It’s been worth it to be true to my brand in sight, sound, and service. I love what I do, and I love the way that I do it. I’m so glad it’s resonating with others too. My advice? Don’t entertain doubt. Have a clear vision, and follow it all the way! Shine ON!!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was taught ‘What comes from the heart, goes to the heart’, and I learned to sing that way, too. Any fool can sing a song, but the unforgettable performances happen when someone opens their heart and bleeds their experience through the lyrics. My goal is to sing so you hear and feel the warmth of my heart. Singing for me has been a long journey of self discovery. Ive grown a lot and failed a lot, don’t believe me, a quick YouTube search will yield some results that would make even me blush, but I never stopped pushing myself to grow. I’ve learned to stop comparing myself to others. I’ve learned that peoples opinion of me is not my business, and most importantly I’ve learned that the only person that can stop me, is me. I want the world to know that in life and even in art, sometimes it’s the invisible things that matter most. I’ve been retraining my brain how to like and love myself, so I put that in my music in hopes that if it encourages me, it’ll encourage you too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Great question!!! YOU HAVE to go to Salsa and Beer in the Valley. Excellent Mexican food, and I’ve turned quite a few people on to it. You gotta check out my other SoCal staples—Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles, California Chicken Cafe, and Maestro’s Steakhouse in Malibu- equisite, excellent food right on the water. You MUST visit Griffith Park and take in the view of Los Angeles above the traffic and smog, it’s breathtakingly beautiful. When the world opens, Check out a movie at the Arclight Theatres, their popcorn is the best. It’s literally made the worst films bearable just because I got extra butter. When you come to Sunny SoCal, you gotta enjoy some sun! Go for a walk, head to the beach, window shop, go for a drive and count the number of people endangering their lives to take selfies, enjoy a cocktail on a patio bar. So many options!! I love it here!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, “The Smith Family Singers” of Long Beach, CA deserve a HUGE shoutout in my story. Everyone from my father, to my aunts, cousins, and grandmother challenged me to be the best musician. They were all singing before I “arrived” 😉 so I didn’t have a choice in whether or not i’d be involved in music, but without them, there would definitely be no me. I was surrounded by excellence, and their work ethic and example has humbled and championed me since before I learned to write in cursive. Remember cursive? Remember writing? Man, times have really changed.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanglorensmith/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sanglorensmith?lang=en
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sanglolo