Art & Life with Emmanuel “Chops” Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emmanuel “Chops” Smith.

Emmanuel “Chops”, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Sure! I started playing piano when I was really young. Started goofing around and playing with the children’s choir when around 3 or 4 years old. I was playing “a little” at the time; one fingered melody with the singing kids type of “little”. When I turned 7, I started taking classical lessons when I turned 7 and that really got me introduced to the instrument in a more serious way. In high school, I took my interest to a new level when to high school at DeKalb School of the Arts (DSA). it was there that I got introduced to jazz and other genres of music through the piano.

Having older parents, I listened to old school music and gospel music all the time but for a long time I associated piano with classical music, and DSA introduced a whole new personality of the piano to me. While I was there, I played in the school jazz band and started running my own bands with other young musicians. They also had a lot of extracurricular activities that pushed me to sing in groups and act and dance. That’s where I sparked my passion for music and performing and I followed that passion to college and beyond. I got my more extensive jazz training form the jazz program at Georgia State University and the musicians around Atlanta and I’ve been learning, growing and eating up all the knowledge and music that I can ever since.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m a musician. I play sing and play piano. I studied Jazz in school but I specialize in a lot of different genres including gospel, R&B, Top 40’s music. I play in and lead bands for special events like weddings, parties and holidays. I fell in love with music at an early age and I just love sharing that with people. Musicians usually learn music as if it were a language and I love having musical conversations with other musicians and sharing those conversations with people.

Music has the potential to make people feel in so many different ways and I love helping people find that, whether it makes you want to dance, cry or smile; I love to be the bridge to help whoever wants to get there, get there. There only thing I can honestly say objectively about my music is that it is “honest” and “sincere.” If I’m playing honest and sincerely (which I always do), you can tell and feel it whether it’s the smile it puts on my face or the way my shoulders move from the groove or the way my foot taps; I think that’s most people’s favorite.

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
I define success for any artists by their level of happiness. People have a lot of different goals and things that they want to do with their careers and that’s great. Win a Grammy, travel the world, play in front of thousands of people but there are levels to all of those things that add to the journey of getting there. I personally think that the journey is just as important as the destination and as long as you’re happy with your progress, growth and where you’re headed in your craft, you are being successful. The steady growth plays a huge roll cause the journey is never done (at least not in music). You are NEVER done learning how to make conversation as a musician but if you’re happy and doing what you love, you’re a success enough for me. More power to you.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I just released my debut jazz album last November (2017). It’s a self-titled album called CHOPS. You can hear it on all music platforms and purchase it anywhere. For all of my public shows and events that you can catch me at, including LIVE jazz jam sessions to sit in at, go to my website at chops-music.com. Follow me on social media @chops_music. I play for a lot of weddings and private parties but if I’m performing at a show that you can come to, it’ll be on the website, I guarantee it!

Contact Info:

• Website: chops-music.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chops_music/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmanuelChopsSmith

Image Credit:
Aspen Evans
Mari B (Brandon Evans)
Jason Spencer
Kemi Griffin

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