Kevin Smiley

Poised for a breakout year, emerging singer/songwriter Kevin Smiley’s highly anticipated debut single, “Paralyzed,” is out now. A raw and impactful reflection on the realities of depression and addiction, “Paralyzed” is the first taste of Smiley’s unique creative voice as he combines traditional country sounds with the perspective of a 20-year-old black man living in today’s world. He first shared portions of the song on social media last summer and has since received significant attention across platforms, garnering 20 million cumulative views to date.

Raised in the small town of Okeechobee, Florida, Smiley is the youngest of six children and was homeschooled by his mother his whole life. He learned to sing and play guitar at church where his father was a pastor and his mother played piano. Smiley’s musical interests shifted in 2020 when he began listening to country music after his parents forbid him from listening to rap while playing video games during the pandemic. It was then that Smiley heard George Strait’s classic hit, “Amarillo By Morning,” which led him to discover 80s and 90s country music and legendary artists such as Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley. These influences can be heard throughout Smiley’s work, both sonically and in his storytelling-focused songwriting.