Singer. Songwriter. Sinner.

Those three words describe the life of Mal Smith, but they don’t tell the whole story. From the time that Mal picked up the guitar and taught himself how to play at 13 years old, he started writing songs. These songs are the main way that he expresses himself in the world and how he makes sense of his life and experiences. From the self-doubt stemming from being eliminated in the Call-Back round of The Voice, to his post-Navy struggle with mental health and alcoholism, these experiences ultimately find their way into his songs.

Unsure if anyone would ever hear his music, he would release his first single “Junky” in 2023 after being encouraged by The Great Divide’s Mike McClure. With Mike’s friendship and guidance, he recorded and mixed the song himself, released it to the world and waited to see what happened next.

What happened wasn’t earth-shattering, but it showed Mal that his passion and unflinchingly honest approach to songwriting was something that resonated with people. So, he got back into the studio for the first time since 2012, and recorded his radio debut single with acclaimed Fort Worth Sound producer Bart Rose.

“Just Kids” is a catchy tune with heartfelt lyrics that tells the story of young love and carrying pain for far too long.