About
K. Edward Smith is an alternative-folk singer/songwriter, composer, & music educator from Fort Wayne, Indiana. After years of touring as a drummer in the rough-and-tumble world of the underground punk and metal scenes, Smith picked up an old secondhand acoustic guitar and started writing dark yet tender tunes with an Americana flair.
Smith has released two studio albums and numerous singles as a singer/songwriter since 2019. His solo music has been described as “refreshingly eclectic alt-folk” (The Slow Music Movement) and fans can hear echoes of artists like Amigo the Devil, John Prine, Nick Cave, and Iron & Wine.
Smith has co-written songs featured in independent film releases, and in 2022 he released an experimental feature-length film score in partnership with Right Brain Records.
Often joined live by a band of fellow musical misfits, K. Edward Smith performances can range from the heartfelt and intimate to the raucous and psychedelic, all tied together by Smith’s poetic songwriting and orchestration. It’s a show you won’t want to miss!
As a music educator with roots in the DIY punk and metal scenes, Smith is a teacher who firmly believes in giving back to the local musical community, both present and future.
He has been a long-time drum instructor and show director at School of Rock, Fort Wayne. He also teaches one-on-one lessons for drums, guitar, keys, and composition/songwriting out of his home studio in Fort Wayne.
Smith is one of the coordinators for the Fort Wayne regional chapter of the international songwriting non-profit NSAI, and he helps run the non-profit DIY venue space The Pettit Chapel on Fort Wayne’s southeast side. He is also the founder of Rabid Turtle Records, a regional micro-label with a focus on helping artists create physical artifacts for their music.
If he’s not on the road, in the studio, or teaching lessons, you can usually find Smith helping run shows, open mics, or songwriter nights at one of the independent music venues in Fort Wayne, doing what he can to help artists share their original material.
Most recently, Smith is celebrating the release of his second studio album: Secondhand Something. This album is a collection of tunes recorded in a creaky old attic studio on secondhand music gear. It’s a record that feels a bit like finding treasure while digging through a thrift store bargain bin.
It features performances from amazing guest musicians like guitarist Sam Stephens, upright bass player Nathan Grey, fiddle player Tom Adamson, bassist Jacob Ganser, vocalist Kevin Showalter, singer/songwriter Josh Ayers, and more.
You can get in touch with Kyle via email at info@kedwardsmith.com