We caught up with the brilliant and insightful “Mama Jan” Smith Vocal & Music Producer/Coach a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

“Mama Jan” Smith, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?

My hero is my 94-year old mother. While many in my industry idolize a particular artist or some business mogul who turns the trends upside down, I look at a humble woman who has seen more life than most people even fathom, and she still wakes up every day of her life thankful to God for just another day.

My mother came from a very impoverished background and at a time in history when living was lean and difficult. Through it all, she developed a will to thrive like nothing I’ve ever seen and that certainly surpasses the pathetic lack in most of what I see in young artists today.

My Mom’s mantra is as long as she has a pulse, she has a purpose. And THAT is what keeps me focused, grateful, and humble to keep on keeping on.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

“Mama Jan” Smith

A nationally recognized singer/songwriter/musician, Jan Smith is also a Grammy nominated producer, GA Music Hall of Fame inductee, and a multi-platinum certified vocal coach/vocal producer who has tended to some of the most distinctive voices in the business. Owner of Jan Smith Studios in Atlanta, a state-of-the-art vocal coaching, artist development, and production facility offering services nationwide to record companies, artists, producers and motion pictures. Clients include Usher, Rob Thomas/Matchbox Twenty, Janet Jackson, Shania Twain, Justin Bieber, The Band Perry, Jill Scott, India Arie, David Crowder, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Sugarland, Drake, Mastodon, Nicki Minaj, FLA/GA Line, Jesus Culture, etc. (www.jansmith.com). Vocal consultation and production credits also include Tyler Perry Productions, Warner Bros Pictures, Universal Pictures, Paramount, Disney, New Line Cinema, Fox Television, as well as work with award winning actors Liam Neeson, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Christina Applegate, Ed Helms, Jamie Chung, Terrence Howard, Christian Serratos, the girl group STAR on Fox, and White House Correspondent John Roberts.

A frequent media guest and sought-after speaker, Smith has been featured with Usher on MTV’s hit reality show Duets, with Ciara on BET’s Behind the Scenes, on UPN’s RUtheGirl? with Chilli and T-Boz of TLC, on Bravo’s popular Housewives of Atlanta, with Justin Bieber in Paramount’s documentary of Never Say Never, on Nightline’s vocal reporting on singer Adele, on E!’s The Wanted Life (a Ryan Seacrest & Scooter Braun production), and on multiple network news and cable programs. She has been a keynote speaker for such events as the Vineyard SE Arts Conference, TAG Digital Media Summit, the Women of Worth Conference, Grammy in the Schools, the “Project Light” Arts Conference, and most recently was a featured speaker at LeaderCast Women’s inaugural event and the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. Additionally, Mama Jan was asked to consult the Chinese Audio-Visual Association on the creation of awards categories for their prestigious Golden Disc Awards and continues her work with pop artists from Beijing and Korea.

Her extensive work with artists worldwide and reputation among leading vocal surgeons has provided Smith the opportunity to rehabilitate and help heal some of the highest profile voices for endurance under their demanding schedules. Through her membership at Passion City Church and her ministry with the worship singers for all of the North Point Community Churches (Alpharetta, GA), Jan has tailored vocal workshops directed towards the specific needs of contemporary singers, Christian and gospel artists, and worship leaders in the church and beyond. Among other industry related events, she has provided master classes and intensive vocal workshops for Bethel Music (Redding, CA), the Vineyard SE Arts Conference, The Grove Church, Willow Creek Community (Chicago), the Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church Conference, H-Rock Church (Pasadena, CA), Watkinsville Baptist, Mt. Paran Churches in greater Atlanta, Jesus Culture, Destiny Praise, Worship Circle, and Passion City Church worship leaders. Mama Jan continues to provide ongoing vocal consultations for many worship leaders, pastors and touring evangelists, in addition to assisting many public speakers, politicians, and television news anchors.

Smith has served as President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy for two terms, as a National Trustee for several multi-year terms, and continues to participate on national committees as a voting member of the Grammys in good standing. She continues to see clients worldwide, produces records in her Atlanta Homegirl Entertainment studios, and develops aspiring artists under Mama Jan Music. Jan Smith Studios has created employment opportunities for many others and hosts the largest roster of charting artists of any vocal coaching and artist development facility in America.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

SO … prior to 2020, I knew I was going to have to relocate my business from the place I’d been for 18 years due to the new Children’s Hospital of Atlanta being built and they needed the dirt where my bldg was located. What I did NOT know is that we were heading into a pandemic that same year and that my mother would have a life altering stroke 2-days before the government shut us all down. Talk about a paradigm shift!!

The first major hurdle was bringing my Mom home from the hospital and providing rehabilitation for her there instead of having her locked in a facility where we wouldn’t be able to get to her. Thankful beyond measure that I did that!! But then there was her ongoing care which would demand my moving into her home to help care for her several days a week.

At the same time, my entire business and staff had to pivot to virtual coaching. Fortunately, with everyone else being locked in at home, too, our services hardly suffered at all — other than the shock of it all and not being able to see our clients in person. By the grace of God, most of our clientele transitioned to virtual sessions and everyone remained solvent.

Meanwhile, rebuilding a new studio in the middle of a shut down with lumber prices going sky high and supplies being hard to come by was a whole different kind of challenge, not to mention having had to find a place to even get into! Again, by the grace of God, we were able to acquire a space only 6 minutes from where we were located before and built it out. The executives of CHOA graciously allowed us extra time to move out and we did all of it during the most ridiculous timing in history I’ve ever known.

I continue to move in and out of my Mom’s house every week while continuing to produce records, see artists virtually and in person, and thankfully, run a new facility with a full staff! We are grateful!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

WORD OF MOUTH. There’s no advertising quite like the referrals from others who have experienced great service. In my industry (the music business) we live and die by our reputations. I have not “officially” advertised in over 25 years, mostly because business continues to be fueled by other artists/clients, and the companies and managers who represent them. We are fortunate to have been in business long enough to have an established name brand, but with that comes the responsibility to continue to deliver. We do exactly that and so “word of mouth” continues to be the best source of new clients for Jan Smith Studios.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jansmith.com
• Instagram: MamaJanMusic
• Facebook: MamaJanMusic
• Twitter: MamaJanMusic
• Youtube: MamaJanMusic

Image Credits
Photo by Mil Cannon/Imagemil Creative