Smithfield

Since forming 7 years ago, SmithField have steadily built a solid fanbase and a stunning live reputation, having really resonated with radio audiences thanks to their breakout single Hey Whiskey. With Spotify and SiriusXM championing them, it is only a matter of time before we see them taking centre stage at Country 2 Country and dropping in to see Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2. As one of our tips for the top in 2018, we caught up with Jenn and Trey.

2017 - what will you look back on most fondly from the year?

Looking back on 2017, I think we'll look back most fondly on all the shows we got to play all over the country. It was the first year we really got to get out on a mass scale and see how our music was impacting the fans. Pretty cool experience!

Did you make any new year's resolutions at the outset of 2017?

I guess it would be to enjoy the moments. In this business it's easy to get caught up in the "what's next?" mentality. So we both want to get better at living more in the here and now, rather than tomorrow.

What was the biggest lesson you learned in 2017?

A big one we learned was to "keep your blinders on". If you pay to much attention to all the other things going on around you, you lose sight of what you're racing towards. It's a difficult thing to do, but we learned it's essential to keeping yourself going and encouraged.

What was the musical highlight of 2017?

A big highlight was getting nominated for the second ballot of the CMAs. It always speaks volumes to know that your peers are paying attention and recognizing the hard work you are pouring in to what you do.

Who are you excited to hear from in 2018?

We're both definitely excited to hear from Keith Urban this year and his new album "Graffiti U".

Tell us about your song "Hey Whiskey"?

We call it 'our little song that could'. We wrote it when we were on a record label and that label told us no one would eve get this song, that it was too dark and too depressing. No one would want to turn their radio dial up to this. We didn't play it out for over a year after we wrote it, because our label at the time didn't not believe people would get this song. That label went under, and we started to play it out at every show fans responded to it the most. We knew we had to put it on our record. And now that's it's out, so many people have shared with us that that was their own personal story and that it touched them or made them cry hearing it. Men and Women on both sides have shared they have gone through this! It has been our most successful song to date.

If you had to pick three artists to be filed next to, who would they be and why?

Keith Urban- because he is a mix of country and rock just like us.

The Eagles- because of their attention to harmony.

Lady Antebellum- because of their chemistry on stage.

What inspired "Hey Whiskey"?

"Hey Whiskey" was a title Jenn brought into the co-write. Inspired by a friend who had gone through what the girl in this song goes through. Losing the love of her life to a substance. The thought and idea was "You only miss me after whiskey, you only want me when you're gone". Our co-writers did not want to write it at first because there were already so many songs in country music about whiskey. Then Trey began to play the melody on the guitar. As a team we began to talk about how we could make this song different and write it from an angle no one had heard before. 4 hours later "Hey Whiskey" was born.

If "Hey Whiskey" were an animal, what animal would it be?

It would be a lion! King of the jungle!

Define your sound in five words...

Energetic. Powerful. Harmony. Catchy. Relateable.

If you could jam with one artist alive or dead, who would it be?

Trey: Johnny Rzeznick from the Goo Goo Dolls

Jenn: Keith Urban

If you could have written one song by another artist, what would it be?

Trey: "Iris"

Jenn: "Girl Crush"

Someone is making a film of your life, who will play you?

Trey:John Krasinski

Jenn: Keira Knightley