Previews Five-Song Collection with Title Track Release Today – LISTEN + WATCH VIDEO NOW
Continues Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour as Direct Support Tonight Ahead of Headline Tour
Kicking Off October 8
NASHVILLE, TN (September 27, 2024) – Already hailed for a mix of Country craftsmanship and youthful mass appeal, CONNER SMITH turns the creative page on THE STORYTELLER arriving October 4 via The Valory Music Co. A five-song contemplation on questions of ultimate substance, the reflective roots standout was conceived in flash – four tracks co-written in sequence, plus a solo-penned revelation – casting everyday life as a breathing work of art. Produced by Dwight Baker with the raw, real-world recording philosophy of physical instruments and live takes, Conner fills his voice with thoughtful passion and coming-of-age clarity. Along the way, purpose and presence reveal themselves as elements of a tale worth telling.
“I think for better or worse, my natural state as a songwriter is thinking deeply on big picture themes and the captivating power of stories,” shares Conner. “It’s amazing to think about how stories can really move people and I’ve always been fascinated with how to do that through music, ever since I was a little kid writing songs. The Storyteller feels like a rare creative moment that I wanted to capture by telling stories in a cool way.”
Like a sonic revelation of artistic purpose, THE STORYTELLER’s title track arrives today and finds Conner thinking big about small, simple elements – and realizing those are the actual stuff of legend. Featuring the raw presentation of a modern Western, Conner details a journey of discovery alongside co-writers Dwight Baker and Flatland Cavalry’s Cleto Cordero that celebrates those who leave their mark on the world – whether through a million-dollar masterpiece, or a steady 9-to-5. Listen to “The Storyteller” here.
“I had the title of ‘The Storyteller’ in my phone for a long time and didn’t really know what that meant yet in terms of a song, I just knew that the heart of my music is the stories,” explains Smith. “It got me thinking that we’re all storytellers, every person is in their own story inside of the bigger story.”
The epic roots-Country anthem is accompanied by an official music video conceptualized and filmed singlehandedly by Conner’s brother and creative director Cooper Smith, watch here. Cooper brought to life one of Conner’s favorite lyrics in the song by showcasing the everyday lives of ordinary people writing their own stories, who he met along his travels:
From the start of time
How God designed to leave that empty space
For every man alive
To try to find some meaning in the blanks
Shakespeare wrote the plays
And Van Gogh did it with paint
And Granddad did it working on the lines
Yeah, that’s a storyteller
A damn good storyteller
Cooper comments, “we wanted to find real storytellers from different walks of life for ‘The Storyteller’ music video, so I spent two weeks traveling alone out West searching for the right people to feature. I began in Kanab, Utah with a painter friend of mine, then set off to Flagstaff, Arizona where I met up with a Native American jewelry maker and finally made my way to Ridgway, Colorado where I got connected with two cattle ranchers. To capture each of their stories, I wanted to see them at work – a jeweler using his art to preserve his family history, a cowboy writing letters to his love on a long journey home and a painter struggling with the authenticity of his own work. I know this project means a lot to my brother Conner and am super thankful that he let me run with this idea. The final piece ended up being the perfect visual for the song.”
THE STORYTELLER TRACK LIST
1. “The Storyteller” | Written by: Conner Smith, Dwight Baker, Cleto Cordero
2. “Nostalgia” | Written by: Conner Smith, Dwight Baker
3. “Faith From A Farmer” | Written by: Conner Smith
4. “Rollin’ Down The Road (featuring Cleto Cordero)” | Written by: Conner Smith, Dwight Baker, Cleto Cordero
5. “The Garden” | Written by: Conner Smith, Dwight Baker, Cleto Cordero
Smith has had a jam-packed 2024, which kicked off with his full-length album SMOKY MOUNTAINS, pairing sharp hooks and timeless Country sonics with a sincere nod to his love for Appalachia. Featuring the multi-week international chart-topper “Creek Will Rise” and “masterclass in storytelling” (All Country News) “Meanwhile In Carolina,” Smith continued with earning his first ACM Awards nomination, plus releasing the all-acoustic SMOKY MOUNTAINS SESSIONS EP and fast-paced “Steal My Thunder” (feat. Tucker Wetmore) featured in the summer blockbuster Twisters: The Movie and on the film’s star-studded soundtrack. As he prepares a second headline run this year on THE STORYTELLER TOUR kicking off October 8, Smith currently serves as direct support for Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour which rolls on tonight (9/27) in Millersport, OH.
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