Bette Smith: Joy, Anguish, Outrage — and a Lot of Soul

The Good ,The Bad and The Bette – Album Cover

Bette Smith is a rock-and-soul singer/songwriter whose latest album, The Good, The Bad and The Bette, was released in September to rave reviews. She tells Brooklyn Roads that her musical influences go back to her childhood in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Growing up with a father who was a choir director, her first singing experience was in a church choir at the age of five. The youngest of four, Smith picked up a lot of her musical taste from her older siblings who listened to a lot of soul, R&B, and pop/rock music. As an adult, her exposure to music with her family has inspired her own creations, writing songs with a vibe merging rock and classic soul.

Bette Smith- In Performance /photo by Daniel Lerner / courtesy of Devious Planet Media

Smith, who currently resides in Park Slope, also tells us how growing up in Brooklyn has inspired her music, opening the door for so much creativity. “There is so much diversity in Brooklyn, with such a wide variety of activities and happenings, that it constantly sparks all kinds of inspiration in me,” she says.

The city’s wonderful diversity is a great contributor to her ideas, she adds. Living as a black woman in the Brooklyn community has also played a role in her life, something she incorporates into her musical expression as well.

Bette Smith –With A Friend /photo by Shervin Lainez /courtesy of Devious Planet Media

“Naturally, as a woman of color, there are a great many personal and societal experiences I draw upon to write lyrics,” Smith tells Brooklyn Roads. “It ranges from joy to anguish, outrage to bliss — and everything in between.”

What impact has the current state of the world had on the lifestyle of a musician and performer? Smith tells us that a system of support is always a helpful priority, emphasizing the importance of having a team of people who have contributed their own talents in order to create works of art. Additional advice: “Be very active on social media. Engage in Spotify. Write a lot.”

She also advises reading and re-reading Maya Angelou’s inspirational poem, “Continue,” which urges individuals to hold fast to who they are and use kindness to get the world to sit up and pay attention.