Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Rett Smith has never taken a conventional path to music. Before stepping onto a stage, he was an international alpine ski racer, dedicating his early life to elite sport before injuries forced a dramatic change in direction. What followed was a transformation that led Smith toward songwriting, performance, and eventually a distinctive voice within modern rock.
Now Smith returns with ‘Let You Fall’, a powerful new single offering the first glimpse of an upcoming album set for release later this year. The track continues the dark, narrative-driven rock that has defined his recent work, blending raw emotional honesty with a growing sonic intensity.
For Smith, the shift from athlete to artist was less a reinvention than a revelation. Reflecting on that period, he says the creative impulse was always present beneath the surface.
“The artist was definitely always in there,” Smith explains. “My interest in literature and art was extremely deep while I was competing. When I retired from sport and focused fully on music, I felt like I needed to shed my previous self in order to realise my truth as a musician. Now I’m proud of both versions of myself — and the discipline from skiing still drives everything I do.”
That determination carried Smith into one of the most nerve-wracking moments of his life: his first-ever live performance at the House of Blues, playing original songs despite never having performed publicly before.
“I was completely terrified,” he recalls. “Our 45-minute set lasted about 19 minutes because I was playing so fast from nerves. But it was a defining moment in my life.”
Soon after, a video of Smith performing ‘Warmest Winter’ caught the attention of legendary producer Joe Nicolo, known for his work with artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Cypress Hill. The connection proved pivotal.
“When Joe and I connected, it was the first time I felt I might actually be talented,” Smith says. “He taught me so much while we made that first record, and I’m still close with him today.”
Early releases placed Smith loosely within the Americana scene, but his music has steadily grown darker and heavier with each project. While the shift was partly organic, Smith admits there was intention behind the change.
“I always wanted the lyrics front and centre,” he says. “But I’m aggressive on stage, and I started feeling the need for the records to express that energy as well.”
Critics have sometimes described his sound as “gothic Americana,” a label Smith acknowledges while remaining wary of genre boundaries.
“I understand where that definition comes from, but it’s still rock and roll to me. I’m more inspired by artists like Patti Smith, Tom Waits and John Cale — poets who play rock.”
Across his albums, Smith’s songwriting explores themes of addiction, accountability and emotional confrontation, often through fictionalised characters shaped by his own experiences.
“Nothing is more boring to me than journalistic songwriting,” he says. “I build characters out of my life experiences and push them to the extreme.”
That emotional intensity reached a turning point with Giving Up on Quitting, a stripped-back record created during a deeply personal period. Later albums expanded both the sonic palette and Smith’s creative independence, with the artist increasingly producing and engineering his own work.
His most recent album, A Physical Persistence, was recorded using an analog-only workflow — a deliberate move toward authenticity in an era dominated by digital production.
“Leaning into that old-school way of doing things felt necessary,” Smith says. “The little imperfections — the human details — are what make music beautiful.”
Now, with ‘Let You Fall’ introducing the next chapter, Smith is preparing to unveil what may be his most ambitious record yet. Alongside the new album, he’s continuing work at Tularosa Sound, his Los Angeles studio, where he produces and collaborates with other artists.
“I’m extremely excited to share this new record,” Smith says. “And I plan on being in the studio constantly when I’m not touring.”
For listeners discovering Smith through ‘Let You Fall’, the track signals an artist pushing further into his own uncompromising vision — one shaped by discipline, emotional candour, and a deep belief in the power of human-made music.