Ontario-based country music artist, Cara Smith has recently released her new single, “You and Me”.
Cara has been writing and performing her original music for over 10 years now and released her first album, Dusty Ole Backroad in August of 2020.
Check out “You and Me” below, and find out more about Cara via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Cara Smith, I’m an independent up and coming country music singer and songwriter. I started singing and playing guitar in my younger days at church, school, and family gatherings. Grew up just outside of my ‘Hometown’ Mount Forest, Ontario. Currently on maternity leave enjoying focusing on my new son, family and my music. Released my first album ‘Dusty Ole Backroad’ last summer and recently released my song ‘You and Me’ off that album to Radio.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.
My songs are a little part of me, many of my songs are written about love, tragedy or events that have happened in my life. My songs are all originals with a couple songs co-written. A lot of my songs on my album I started when I was driving somewhere I’d leave a voice recorder on the whole ride. I’d keep repeating what I previously sang til I had added something new. But lately I’ve been getting song ideas while home with my recently born son, so I just grab my guitar and try to work through it that way. Win win I entertain my son and get to song-write. I have a book like most songwriters that I jot down all my ideas and do my songwriting in that. I go back and forth with whether I start with the melody or the lyrics first.
How have you been keeping creative during the Pandemic?
As a singer/ musician I tried to do some songwriting when I could, interacting with fans over social media. I was fortunate to keep working at my Long term Care Home during the pandemic in which I entertained my residents weekly. I had planned my album release party at the beginning of the pandemic but with the world in uncertainty it got pushed back til August 2020 and I released my album ‘Dusty Ole Backroad’ with a Drive-In Album Release Party. It maybe wasn’t exactly what I originally had planned but it was a wonderful evening, played for a full parking lot and a great way to celebrate my album with family, friends and the community.
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
You and Me is one of my favourite songs I’ve written, it’s written about my husband and I. It’s about love and enjoying the simple things in life. Ever since we started dating we’d get in his truck and go for drives on the backroads in our county. It has a good rocking country sound, with hints of what I call classic country instruments Dobro and Pedal Steel.
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands / artists?
One of My favourite Canadian bands is The Road Hammers, pretty pumped that they are currently putting out new music and I’ve been fortunate to open up for them. I’m a huge fan of Kelly Prescott, she’s got such a beautiful and unique voice. And the Arkells I discovered at the beginning of the pandemic and I’m just loving everything about this group.