Hello, and welcome to Volume 50 of the Underground Binder Clip Society.
Sometimes I remember that certain people exist and it makes me want to cry. I have great grief and and great hope inside of me. They share a pillow at night. My grief is worldly. My hope is other-worldly. Otherwise I would have no hope.
This other-worldly hope rings true in song and dance. Poems and prayers. Paint brushes and prose. In tears and long goodbyes. These are all magic. These are all so necessary for survival.
I wanted last year to end so badly. I am so glad it is through. I kept holding on for things to get better. For friends to call. For opportunities to come along. Then, I let go.
I found rhythm in my breath. I sang gratitude, and grievances and “why God why?” I made plans. I wrote scripts. I tore them up. I know now, that I do not know best.
2025 was not a record year by any means. I did not feel prolific during most of it. But I kept things in motion. I played some solo shows out of town. I took a part time job running sound at a church. I put out an EP. I recorded and mixed and mastered a good many songs for friends. I played some full band shows in Nashville. Made a new album for myself and then another Album with my friend Sawyer Norman. I don’t know why I feel like I am falling behind sometimes.
Comparison is such a slippery slope. I found myself on social media way more than I wanted to be at the end of 2025. I try to login, post, and get out — but at the end of 2025, I was taking it all in. I still am now. I will say though, I had my most viral video of my 20’s in December. Fortunately, this set a fire under my butt to take action. My focus on output, gave me less time to focus on what people think of me, or what I haven’t accomplished.
With my next LP wrapped up now, I have been going into label-owner mode, trying to come up with creative ways to promote this album when it comes out. Historically I’ve been tempted to pump the brakes at this point in the process, because to be quite frank, it doesn’t feel very creative. I am trying to combat this feeling by spending the month of January creating as many accompanying elements for the record as I can. This might seem like I am making more work for myself, and thats because — I am. It’s a coping mechanism that I know all too well. Making more work for myself. But hey, having more to share means reaching more people. Right? Well, maybe.
A lot of how I am hoping to promote this record is by creating mixed media. I am excited to be setting myself free in a realm multiple mediums. Happy mediums, if you will. I spent the end of last year cleaning out and prepping an art space for myself independent of my music studio. Truly, it’s just the shed behind our house. But it’s pretty well suited for arts and crafts. It’s seems that someone used to use it as wood shop of sorts. It’s insulated enough and has plenty of outlets.
I am writing from here now, and it’s quite pleasant.
I hear the Stratford High School band outside practicing on the football field. The dishes and the unfolded clothes and the roommates are all in a house of their own less than 100 yards away. I went in the house today to take my lunch, and freshen my coffee, and those were truly the only things I did in there. I am trying to separate my workspace from living space I suppose. Even though my music studio and my bedroom still share a wall, I think my new headquarters is giving me a much needed degree of separation. Which by the way,
I am a firm believer in degrees of separation.
…
I wrote most of the above a good bit ago. Nashville is pretty dormant at the moment. So I am catching up. We are under much ice and snow. My heart is heavy for my neighbors across the state and the nation.
Hold tight ya’ll.
Yours Truly,
Jake Smith
Here are this week’s “Quick Clips”:
* Community Dinner is coming back TOMORROW at out house in East Nashville! RSVP here and it IS a potluck so we would love if you could bring something to share! Subscribe to the Happy Medium Substack to stay in the know about whats to come with dinner, local music and more.
* I am trying to put together a list of resources to help immigrants here in Nashville and across the nation. If you have resources please pass them along. For now, here are a few places you can donate to:
* Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors
* Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
* Unidos MN is a grassroots organization that builds power with Minnesota's working families to advance social, racial and economic justice.
* I am looking for some helping hands for community dinners, and DIY shows and events this coming year with Happy Medium, TN ! Fill out this form if you are curious about helping out! Thanks!
* My playlist of friends and hero’s “Indie Twang and Beyond” is Now Playing at Happy Medium HQ and you can listen to here.
* Smitty merch is still up for grabs on Bandcamp now! Good Grief CD’s, Binder Clip Tees, and Share A Song Today Tees.
As always, shoot me an email if you want to work on music, remote or in-person, here in Nashville, TN.
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