Smith St. Nicholas on SoundBetter

Former tenor 1 music director of a world-renowned acapella group, Smith St. Nicholas provides a versatile range of tones from a pure falsetto to gritty and intimate Harry Styles chest. Looking to collaborate with great producers and fellow artists.

Hello! I'm Smith St. Nicholas, a professional vocalist, songwriter, and producer based in Harlem, NYC. I absolutely love finding the right melodies and words for complex feelings and painting cinematic visuals with lyrics. Let's make a kickass track together, replete with harmonies, layers, and ad libs!

An experienced songwriter with numerous music courses under belt:
- Louis Bell Monthly
- Andrew Huang Monthly
- Holistic Songwriting Academy w/Friedemann Findeisen
- Berklee Songwriting w/Pat Pattison
- formal counterpoint instruction
- studied jazz piano under Michael Cochrane

Terms
- turnaround: talk to me about your deadline
- public credits must list me as a performer and/or songwriter, as negotiated
- I retain the right to decline a name feature, determined upon project completion
- free minor revisions for one month after completion
- equal splits (publishing, neighboring rights/performing rights, royalties)
- buyouts offered on a case-by-case basis
- any questions please contact me: contact@smithstnicholas.com

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Languages

English

1 Reviews

Endorse Smith St. Nicholas

by Jerry Wallis
Verified (Client)
Smith St. Nicholas knows exactly what he wants, he exchanges a lot and always gives relevant ideas or instructions. He was very easy to work with, I would work with him again without hesitation!

Interview with Smith St. Nicholas

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am working on releasing my first album for Smith St. Nicholas in a series of singles.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: 1. Will you write lyrics and sing vocals for free? Answer: It depends; you can always ask! 2. Will you sing my pre-written lyrics? Answer: If I think they're awesome, yes! That said, songs will always land better if they feel honest and raw, like an expression of the voice singing them. I want to make fantastic music. In my opinion, fantastic music has unity of tone, meaning, and story.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Do you have lyrics and/or a vocal melody already written? If so, are you okay with revisions? Is there a particular theme you envision for the track? Do you have a deadline for this track? What is your budget? What is your plan for royalties?
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I would love to write a song with Rostam of Vampire Weekend. Just think we would vibe 🤷‍♂️
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Typically, a client will send me a finished or near-finished track that needs vocals. I'll give the client a time estimate for both starting and finishing the project. Once I get started, I'll send over a short demo to show the client my idea for both lyrics and vocals. When the client gives me the "thumbs-up," I finish the project over the next 2-8 days with updates every couple of days or so. I always ask questions and check in!
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I use Logic Pro X to record into UAD Apollo Twin X with a Townsend Labs Sphere L22 (this is an insane microphone — https://townsendlabs.com/products/sphere-l22/) [let me know if you have a specific microphone you'd like me to model as I record!]. It's a more professional setup than I've seen in a lot of studios.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I think Lil Nas X is doing really cool work right now. I'm a massive fan of Glass Animals, Phoebe Bridgers, and Flyte lyrically and love what Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and Phil Collins do vocally. St. Vincent, Polo & Pan, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Above & Beyond, Gang of Youths, The Strokes, etc.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: In a typical arrangement, I'll write the lyrics and record vocals. I create all of the melodies, harmonies, and ad libs myself. Of course, I can work with pre-written melodies and lyrics if they make sense for my brand!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I'm doing what I was born to do — how could I ask for more?