About
Hello! I'm Jake Smith, a Philly-born/New York-based singer, songwriter, and producer. I trace my love of music back to the age of two when I’d dance around the house with my toy guitar and Springsteen bandana. I started guitar lessons in kindergarten, but things really took off in middle school when I discovered the Beatles. I’d spend hours after school teaching myself their songs and recording them to my Tascam 4 Track.
I grew up listening to a lot of late 90s and early 2000s alt-rock acts like Semisonic, Matthew Sweet, and Jimmy Eat World. That era of guitar-driven rock with pop sensibility had a major impact on my songwriting. Singing and guitar are my main thing, but I’m a bit of a utility guy, having played bass and drums in multiple bands.
My childhood passion led me to NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where I fine-tuned my skills writing, performing, and producing. It’s also where I learned the importance of collaboration and of fostering a strong musical community.
After performing in bands for close to twenty years, I decided to write and release a solo project (largely inspired by my oldest son’s interest in music) under the name Jake the Myth. I write about what’s going on in my life – marriage, fatherhood, rapidly-approaching middle age, suburban ennui, etc. My sound can be described as "Millennial Dad-Rock". My debut album "Dream Feed" is out now.
These days you can catch me playing in New York, Philadelphia, and the surrounding areas, both original songs and crowd-pleasing covers. If you’re interested in having me play a show, if you’re in need of a song for a project (TV show, podcast, etc.), or if you’re looking for someone to record and produce your next single, give me a shout.
Thanks for stopping by!
Love,
Jake