“My music is for the people who need uplifting,” said 21 year old Singer/Songwriter and Dancer Prince Smith. The native New Yorker highlighted modern music’s need for more positive and upright role models. “My music is for the lost, the sad, the down, [and] the already positive people that can relate to it.” Entertaining while spreading good vibes is his calling.
Prince comes from a Jamaican/Montserratian family and his stage name is inspired by the legacy of his great grandfather. “He was known to be a gentleman and a man with many morals. He was highly respected and the perfect definition of what a man is and should be…I use his name to emulate that same character of knowing what it takes to be a real man and to have respect.” Creating change and uplifting the community are characteristics of Prince’s roots.
Although he did not dream of becoming an entertainer Prince discovered his voice at a young age. In nursery school, he would throw tantrums until he was placed near a piano. In kindergarten, Prince dazzled his teachers when they sought a student for a singing bit at the graduation. “After I sang, all the teachers and music teacher were amazed and were praising me for how great I sounded and picked me as the soloist.” He practiced away from home and shocked his mother when he sang for his school’s closing. “When I started to sing after the piano intro of the song played by my music teacher, everyone’s faces lit up. I got a standing ovation. I ran to my mother after and she was crying with tears of joy and with a surprised look on her face.”
Since then Prince has refined his craft and even expanded into dancing and acting. In 2013, he released his debut EP Journal Entry #1. The following year Prince was chosen as singer of the year for The Voiceless Music Awards, and his single “Love Antique” was picked as airplay song of the year. His music has been featured on PNC RADIO, Pent House Radio, Right Now Radio, Keri’s Korner, and others. Prince has also had the pleasure of touring with the Lollipop Girls and opening for Juelz Santana. Now, he is prepping his follow-up EP Journal Entry #2. He plans to drop new music videos after the new project is released.
“Music has uplifted me. When I was 6 years old, I was hit by stray bullets while sleeping the summer after my kindergarten graduation. Dealing with a near death experience allowed me to appreciate life more at a young age. I want to use music as an outlet to bring positivity to the world before I leave this earth. Music lives forever through people and knowing that I was able to affect people’s lives with the art of music, dance, and drama means that I have accomplished my goal in life.”
Part of his aim is to make positivity cool. Prince maintains a healthy diet and strong cardio to help control his breathing while singing. He attends workshops regularly, does singing exercises, and remembers to enjoy his work. “There is only one me and there can never be a replica of what I am as a singer and person.”
Like many Prince has faced rejection. “I feel that rejection from judges doesn’t define the worth of your talent. It gives me time to grow in my craft. Just because you get rejected doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough. I feel that it just might not be for you at that time.” He added, “Never give up when it comes to rejection because it doesn’t validate how good or bad you are; rejection should be motivation to keep striving and growing more in your craft.”
Near the interview’s close, Prince shared some words of encouragement. “Believe that growth is endless when it comes to your talent and your gift. The knowledge and discipline of knowing that there is more and forever more growth in everything that you do is a great asset to all singers (and to many of the arts). Don’t allow any judgment from another person validate how good you are and believe in yourself.”
Check out Prince’s new single “Tonight” below!
“This song is about the realization or point in your life where you at that very moment are going to change for the good. You learned your lesson; you’re going to become a better person.“-Prince Smith
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Original article appeared at Dreamer Loop. Reprinted with permission.
Photo credit: Dreamer Loop