VOICE FOR THE STARS
Atlanta’s Mama Jan By Autumn Mur r ay
J an Smith, dubbed Mama Jan by Usher, is a world premier vocal producer and instructor. Rob Thomas, The Band Perry, Justin Bieber, India Arie, Ciara, Usher, Ludacris, Collective Soul, and many other multi-platinum, Gram- my winning and nominated artists of all music genres have worked with Smith to hone their voices and to help nurture their musical careers. She has also worked with industry CEOs such as Matt Serletic, Jermaine Dupri, L.A. Reid, and Clive Davis. Billboard named her one of the top 100 women in music business. Smith began her musical career as a performer, singer, and songwriter, releasing her first album when she was 15. She has recorded albums both as a solo artist and as part of several music projects with various artists. Smith is a Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee and has received Grammy participation certificates for her production on Grammy-nominated songs. Smith’s special brand of technical artistry, tough love training, and music industry expertise is highly sought after. She founded Jan Smith Studios, which is dedicated to developing music industry newcomers who are aiming for successful musical careers, in addition to honoring the crafts of industry icons. The number one priority of Smith and her diverse team of music industry professionals is to change the world one voice at a time by serving others with excellence and helping them to achieve the same. GHR: HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? JS: In my youth I was always singing and making up little songs. I picked up a guitar and learned how to play and started performing in rock’n’roll bands. I came into all of this as an artist purely to express myself… cathartically as a songwriter and a singer. I started playing in clubs, touring, and then working in studios and recording music. Ultimately, these things led me to helping other artists in the music industry. WHO WERE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCES? I would have to say, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, and too many Gospel and Rhythm & Blues artists to name. Joni Mitchell was the single biggest influence as she was one of the few female solo artists that played guitar in addition to her significant voice and beautiful song lyrics.
“Mama” Jan Smith
Photo by Kimberly Evans, KO Photography
In addition to being a creative force for vocal excel- lence, Mama Jan is a visionary executive working across entertainment to reboot the music industry into an art- ist-driven business. As CEO of Mama’s Music House, she works tirelessly to fuse artist development, technology, and music education into a successful career roadmap for all musicians. She has played a significant role in shaping numerous award show performances and received a Grammy nod for producing the song Born to be Somebody, written by Diane Warren, and performed by Justin Bieber for Paramount’s documentary Never Say Never . Smith has worked with many actors including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Liam Neeson, and most recently Naturi Naughton. Smith has a YouTube video series called Q & A with Mama J where she answers questions about the music industry, vocal techniques, and more. She has thousands of followers that watch and send in questions to learn from her expertise. Jan Smith Studios offers a wide range of services in- cluding Vocal Coaching, Guitar Instruction, Stage Pres- cence/Performance, Vocal Production, Career/Business Consultation, Vocal Rehabilitation, Songwriting Coach- ing, Tour Prep, GarageBand Instruction, Logic Pro In- struction, Beginner Piano Instruction, and Music Theo- ry. In addition, Smith continues to produce records in her private production studio, Homegirl Entertainment.
Photo by Mil Cannon, ImageMil
HOW DID YOUR NICKNAME “MAMA JAN” COME TO BE? Usher announced my nickname to the public during an interview when he was 19. However, there are at least two other artist clients of mine that will take credit for calling me by that name. John Hopkins, with the Zac Brown Band, and an artist named Jeffrey Butts who played with another local band would call out “see you next week, Mama” when they left the studio and the nickname just kind of stuck. When Usher mentioned that he was working with me, people were surprised that a southern white woman was working with the biggest hip-hop artist on the planet. WHO ARE THE ARTISTS YOU ARE WORKING WITH NOW THAT WE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR? Sage (R&B/Pop artist), Grace Asbury (Country music singer) Cece Benz (singer/songwriter), WhoaDa (Rap artist), Revel in Romance and DIM (Alt Rock bands), and Oscar Stembridge (Pop artist in Sweden). I really believe in the potential of all these artists and their dedication to their craft.
jansmith.com/mama-jan | @mamajanmusic
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