This Friday, Conner Smith will release his new EP ‘Didn’t Go Too Far’ that showcases the reasons why he has been widely spotlit as an artist to watch by numerous outlets. Pre-order the collection here.
Conner Smith has been established as a major and fresh talent to watch in the Nashville country scene. On his new EP Didn’t Go Too Far out tomorrow, Smith showcases just why he is one of the names on everyones lips. As Smith explains, “These past 6 months have been a wild ride and started off my career in a way I could only have dreamed of,” explains Smith. “DIDN’T GO TOO FAR is the next step for me. This group of songs really gives listeners a look into my world and my roots. I can’t wait to show fans more of who I am as a writer and a performer throughout this year.” A wild ride it is. Lyrically, the project is not extraordinary but sonically it is a riotously fun introduction to a star whose sound seems ready built for the arena stage across America.
Talking of those ‘arena ready’ anthems, the lead-out track ‘College Town’ will be a sure-fire hit both on radio and at live shows. It’s loud and proud, an anthem for those who never went to college – an autobiographical track about Smith’s decision to move to Nashville rather than go to college. The infusion of background chatter throughout the instrumentation was a genius stroke to amp up the project – here it provides a real honkytonk, Friday night bar feel to the track. Similarly – from the title alone – you know that ‘I Hate Alabama’ will be an easy stand-out and was a shrewd choice for the only external cut on the record. Here, Smith sings about hating Crimson Red and the Brave, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ‘Sweet Home’ in reminding him of a girl. the clever twisting lyrical ideas so familiar in country songs. It’s a sheer delight of a song, clever lyrics and swelling emotions of heartbreak.
Elsewhere, the true depth of Smith’s potential shines through on the more quieter moments. ‘Learn From It’ leans into this in a more subdued track about his journey so far and what he took from his roots and life lessons. It’s a track that really shows the warm, honeyed tone of Smith’s vocal that makes up for where there are occasional gaps in the depth of his lyricism. The title track is another easy stand-out and is the first true sit-up moment that allows you to recognise the full potential of Smith. It’s a slick and nostalgic track, very much in the line of Sam Hunt, looking back at the inescapability of first loves in small towns. ‘The one that got away, didn’t go too far.’ The raw emotion of Smith’s vocal draws you in in a magnetic way and it’s a sheer delight of a song that will have you pressing repeat. Following this line, ‘Take It Slow’ is another enormously propulsive song about first loves in a small town, a swelling track with a delightful bluegrass underbelly.
The final track on the record brings back Smith’s easy and relatable reverence to his blue-collar roots in ‘Somewhere In A Small Town.’ It’s a sweet, summertime anthem that feels well-trodden but fresh once delivered through Smith’s warm vocal. ‘She’s laughing, he’s nervous / Cos she looks so perfect, just like you right now / Somewhere in a small town.’ This sums up the ethos of Didn’t Go Too Far – it’s an immensely evocative project, conjuring images of the America we’ve known from the movies, one of high school football teams, the cheerleader, red solo cups and white picket fences. It won’t be the most memorable project of the year but what the collection does is establish a bank of songs for Smith that will be a surefire hit on the live circuit and shows a foundation on which to grow his future potential.
