Riley Smith's vocals and songwriting blend country rock, soulful Americana and modern pop. No secret to those familiar with his role on the popular TV show “Nashville”, Smith’s gritty, yet smooth, singing voice and charismatic presence have built for him a career on stage and screen. Acting in popular shows like "True Blood", "True Detective", and his latest lead, on The CW’s "Frequency," got him out in front of people. But mixing his acting work with his love music has introduced him to them in a way unlike any other role he has played.

Riley’s self-titled EP, produced by Kevin Leach and co-written with a cast of songwriters of all variations, is inspired by his time spent in Nashville and is relative to feelings and emotions he had whilst living in such a compelling, yet isolating, city. “My influences are as diverse as the city”. After landing a role in hit TV show “Nashville," Riley became aware of the impact iconic city of music had upon him. Smith set out to use this opportunity to his advantage. His time spent in Nashville was spent submerging himself in music. Smith confides, "I set out with a goal and plan to utilize my time in Nashville to write with as many writers as I could with the goal of making an album”

Smith began by diving into the realm of classic country music, exploring it’s history and roots. The longer he was in town, and the more musicians he collaborated with, his sound started developing into something more dynamic and divergent. Smith’s writing process began to reference a wider variety of sounds and styles, resulting in a body of music that is relatable, heartfelt and diverse. "It's what I think makes the sound unique and kind of difficult to put in a box.” Smith reveals. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.