Today we’d like to introduce you to “Mama Jan” Smith.
Hi “Mama Jan”, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started out as an artist … plain and simple. I had no expectations otherwise to become “Mama Jan” the vocal coach/artist developer for other artists in the industry. As a young singer-songwriter growing up in the South, post Woodstock era southern rock-n-roll became my band’s identity, and that’s how we booked shows and toured the SE.
Somewhere in there, I was interested in purchasing a drum machine for my home demo use and ended up talking with a guy who ran the Atlanta School of Rock, which was, at that time, a one-of-a-kind music studio for rock guitarists. He had a client who was losing his voice on the regular, and asked me if I thought I could help the guy … and I said, “yes.”
From that one answer to today, I have worked with over 10,000 artists from all over the world own and operate Jan Smith Studios – a state-of-the-art vocal coaching, artist development, recording/production, and video facility where we cultivate talent for every major label and most independents, make records, shoot videos, and grow artists! All from saying yes to helping somebody else. God is, indeed, amazing!!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing is a smooth road! If you’ve lived long enough, you understand that it’s the riptides and rough currents that create the most beautiful stones — meaning, what you endure indeed makes you stronger and more polished or seasoned for the next round.
Initially, I never thought I would be a business, and so I ran my business like a friendship — training some of my vocal clients to work alongside me, and we grew the business that way. I’ve had to learn a LOT about being a better business person, especially when dealing with record labels, management, and all the other ancillary people around the artists that we serve. That, and then there’s taxes, liability insurance, accounting, and all sorts of other fun stuff you learn about when you’re in the business.
I think one of the biggest challenges for anyone who’s self-employed is you can never really predict what the economy/market is going to do, so you have to learn to plan ahead. When you’re doing well, you should always sock something into savings for when there are leaner times. But all-in-all, we’ve been very blessed for over 33 years now.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
“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 continue 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.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When I first started out, there weren’t really any other “rock vocal” coaches (which is what I was referred to, though I worked with all genres). Now, seemingly, there are many others who are doing something similar to what I’ve been doing all along — I just got to be the first girl on the block who got known for coaching major artists and helping to do vocal production in the studios with them when they were recording.
There wasn’t really a “mentor” per se for me to refer to because at that time, it was either classical music (pedagogy and opera) or you were on your own. That’s what was really cool for me though, because I was able to establish my own vernacular and brand of how I do what I do which has influenced a whole lot of other people now who are doing the same thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jansmith.com
- Instagram: @MamaJanMusic
- Facebook: MamaJanMusic
- Twitter: MamaJanMusic
- Youtube: MamaJanMusic
Image Credits
Mil Cannon/Imagemil Creative
