Rising Stars: Meet Eliza Harrison Smith of Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eliza Harrison Smith

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always loved music, but I was inspired to pick up a guitar and start writing songs when I was 13 years old after seeing Taylor Swift in concert. I’ve been writing songs ever since, but as a pretty shy kid, I didn’t like performing and didn’t necessarily see music as a career path. I ended up going to college and getting a degree in English Literature, and in my last year in school, I realized that music was my biggest passion. I decided to take a leap of faith, and I moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting after graduating in 2019. I’ve been here making music ever since! My first couple of years in town, I really dedicated myself to co-writing and sharpening my songwriting craft. After a couple of years of building my musical community and co-writing for other people, I decided to commit more fully to my artist project in 2022 with the release of my song “August”. I’ve released a few more songs since, then, I’ve gotten to play at amazing venues like The Bluebird Cafe, 3rd and Lindsley, The Basement, and The Listening Room. And, I’m getting ready to release a 5-song EP in early 2025.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve definitely struggled with self-doubt. In a place like Nashville where there are so many talented people with the same dreams as you, it’s easy to compare yourself to your peers and to wonder if you’re really good enough to succeed. Pursuing music can be tricky because there’s not necessarily a roadmap to “making it”, so it’s easy to feel unsure of what the next step should be. But, I’m lucky to have a really great support system of family and friends who encourage me in my moments of self-doubt and uncertainty.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a songwriter and an indie-pop artist. I write a lot of songs – some for other people and some for myself. I tend to gravitate towards writing sadder, softer music – I love writing about heartbreak, nostalgia, and introspection. I’m most proud of the songs that are the most honest and true to my experience. Those can be the scariest to write and release, but they also feel the most rewarding. I think my vocal tone is somewhat unique and my melodies are pretty catchy, which might set me apart.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It feels like the music industry changes so frequently with new streaming services and forms of social media popping up all the time. Right now it seems like the industry is super dependent on TikTok and Spotify – but if the success and popularity of those platforms change, anything could change in music, too! I truly don’t know where the industry is headed, which is both exciting and scary. I do hope that we see a renewed emphasis on live performance for building a fanbase and getting your music out there, instead of just relying on social media and streaming platforms.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elizaharrisonsmith.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/elizaharrisonsmith
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@elizaharrisonsmith
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/694IAMr4pVMGMVOVn0MM0R?si=mbUpgy29SHCnvn-CL0xtbw