Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to The Smoogies. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

The, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The concept of our band has been summed up in both of our album titles. Our first record is called ” Planet Smoogies.” We felt like we took risks making this record by putting a lot of different styles and influences into one album. Each song has a different feel, and some may think it is all over the place, but it was intended to be this way. We further emphasized these concepts in our latest album, “People Music.” The only title we put on the music is that it is all “people music,” so we approached songwriting with an open mind. (Open-Minded also being a track title). We think it is necessary to take risks when writing music and to allow it to flow through you without preconception behind it. If there wasn’t any risk in our music then this music wouldn’t even be what it is. Whether we’re in the studio or in a live setting we all take risks and put ourselves in the moment to be able to be vulnerable and just let the music speak through us.

The, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The Smoogies are Vaughn “V.KEYS” Henry (keys, vocals), Dion Kerr (bass), Harvel Nakundi (drums, percussion), and David Chiverton (drums), all of whom are formally trained musicians from South Florida. Each member has served interchangeably as leader and accompanist to various performing acts worldwide, operating in groups such as Lauryn Hill, Snarky Puppy, Ghost Note, Etienne Charles, and Godwin Louis, to name a few. The band has recently won the “Jazz Road” touring grant from South Arts, kicking off their debut tour for their forthcoming second record, People Music. The Smoogies refine their sound as a quartet, deepening their connection and cohesion with this album. They also hope to continue the band’s philosophy: to make music for the people and for the people to feel good while listening.

Check out The Smoogies latest album “People Music” out now on all streaming platforms.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

We want to break down the standards and norms in the music industry. As a band, we never felt like we wanted to play the same shows for an underpaid amount or have to work with promoters or venues who do not respect us. It can be difficult sometimes to turn down good opportunities, but we go with our gut at the end of the day. There are a lot of gatekeepers in this industry, and part of our purpose (and even have a song titled about it called “The Bypass”) is to make our route in the industry that is just for us. We are trying to create a new lane for ourselves without being told what to do by the industry or whoever is running it at the top.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

We think we just need more support given to artists. Some venues and bars are only open because of the music being played there, but we are often the most underpaid part of any event. We think of supporting one another as artists, breaking down some of the competition standards, and lifting each other in our journeys. Speaking in South Florida, we would love to see more venues and festivals that listen to the artist’s perspective and take our advice when creating these spaces. We can all help each other a lot more than what is happening. There is enough ego in the industry already, so it would be nice to see a society that is more communal and helpful towards one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thesmoogies.bandcamp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmoogiesband/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSmoogies

Image Credits
Rue 3 Photography