Introducing… Dallas Smith
After several successful Canadian releases, British Columbia, Canada native Dallas Smith is bringing his brand of country-rock to the U.S. Having worked with producer Joey Moi (Jake Owen), Smith is ready to introduce fans to his music while he’s on tour with Florida Georgia Line this fall on the duo’s Here’s To The Good Times Tour.
Smith’s latest single, “Tippin Point,” which was written by FGL’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard along with Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three, made its debut on Sirius XM’s The Highway earlier this month. “‘Tippin Point’ is that blend of what I love about country and rock,” shares Smith. “The song sums me up as an artist and is a great representation of where I’m going.”
CountryMusicIsLove recently caught up with Dallas to discuss his influences, touring with FGL and bringing his music from Canada to the United States.
CMIL: How and when did you hook up with producer Joey Moi?
DS: I’ve worked with Joey for fourteen years now. When I was in a little garage band, Joey took our demo tape to the singer from Nickelback. That was the demo from band I was with, Default. Then I did the record with Chad (Kroeger) and Joey.
CMIL: Does your rock past show up in your new music?
DS: It comes out naturally ‘cause of what my background is and what I’ve been playing. As the years went by, my mom’s influence came out and I started gravitating towards country music. Country radio really grabbed me. I do love challenging vocals. I covered “Fast Cars and Freedom” and “I Told You So” in my set up in Canada. I love those songs.
CMIL: These days the lines between rock, country, and pop are pretty blurred. Would you agree?
DS: You listen to rock radio and then you listen to country radio and depending on what song is on, it’s hard to tell which is which. If you listen to a Jason Aldean song and you listen to rock radio, especially with what they’re playing up there, you’d think country has a rock side.
CMIL: Did you have a chance to see FGL live or meet them before hitting the road with them?
DS: I went to Myrtle Beach and I checked out their show there. They’re good guys and it’s amazing that they’re digging what I’m doing enough to take me on tour. We have the same family – same managing company, same producer.
CMIL: Does your family plan to join you on the road at all?
DS: My wife and I are expecting a child in January. I hope she can come out. We were talking about her coming out for a day to New York for the FGL run. She’s going to be six to seven months pregnant, so it’s all going to be depending on how she’s feeling. Since we’re due in January, I’m going to have some real down time to stay at home. I have an eight year old boy so I’ve been through this before, but it’s our first baby together. You don’t get that time back.
CMIL: Have you had a chance to spend a lot of time in Nashville?
DS: I used to come through here quite often with the band I was in, but it was always sound check once and gone again. Years ago, when Joey and I made our first trip down here, we actually got to spend some time and meet people. I was blown away by it because you walk in front of those places and every bar has just the most amazing musicians ever. That was what really got me. The Vancouver music scene is OK, but it’s not this. It’s not this at all.
Fans can keep up with Dallas Smith on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to visit his official website to learn more. Click HERE to purchase Smith’s single, “Tippin Point” on iTunes.
