"...this is not ok...": Matt Smith seeks peaceful resolutions on this compassionate album

In a world that seems increasingly split by radical sentiments, art can be the unifying force and provide the much-needed common ground. Matt Smith, a devoted tunesmith, is a firm believer in this rationale by heart. In the emotive new project ...this is not ok..., he is unflinchingly candid about the conflicted state of society. Expanding its horizons, the album carries thoughtful contemplations regarding more intricate facets of life.

In terms of musical scope, ...this is not ok... has a rich fusion of evergreen genres, namely folk, rock, blues, and more on meticulously arranged compositions. Matt's vocal signature has a deep, soulful tenor that effortlessly delivers tenderness and emotionally fraught anguish. And it's not surprising, for there's vast experience responsible for such detailed craft. An entrepreneur and savant, the Texas-based multi-hyphenate shares a lifetime bond with music— his know-how extends beyond being an instrumentalist and studio engineer, into other fulfilling roles like teaching, music clinician, authoring publications (and the list goes on). At the moment, the veteran singer-songwriter has launched an autonomous record label "6 String Ranch Records" and serves as the Music Studio Director at the Phoenix Academy in Austin.

After successfully penning several albums, the creative spark for this album was ignited by the tumultuous U.S. election of 2024. A receptive empath, Matt was stirred by the emotional intensity of its outcome and decided to compose a body of work that would not only be an conduit for his troubled sentiments, but also resonate with listeners from all walks of life (as Smith later explained "I knew I had to express what I was feeling, but not in a way that added to the fracture").

There's a harmonious, soulful tone pleasantly resembling 60s Motown in the initiating "World is a Wheel": the lush crooning rejects the extreme philosophy of divisive mentalities and bifurcating sides, for life goes on and will continue to do so— like an endless cycle. A dulcet, piano-driven soft rock arrangements unfurl in the sophomore "Cry For America," an anguished song dedicated to inspire hope in those bleak about the political turmoils plaguing the nation.

Turning to more personal struggles, "Level Ground" has a grounded and mellow folk rock sound— a rendition that openly admits vulnerability, admitting that relentless ups and downs can lead the way to stability. "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" merges heartbroken lyricism with vibrant bluegrass Americana; the vocalist chides himself for falling head over heels in love repeatedly, only to face disappointment (although far from resigning completely).

Instrumental diversity occurs again on "A Life in Love": a silky Jazz torch song with waltzing bass notes and pristine, spontaneous guitar riffs. It's hard not to envision this in a film noir and its murky world, where true love is rarer than a diamond in a coal mine. "Outside My Fence" is uptempo hard rock with ominous signposts, the vocals embracing unabated freedom on the ravaged terrains post-apocalypse (as the chorus repeats "When it all burns down.... I will be the last to die"). Contrastingly, the denouement arrives with the perseverant "From The Ashes," adamant of building anew and heralding a new dawn.

Stream ...this is not ok... on SoundCloud, and stay connected with Matt Smith on his Instagram.