Today we’d like to introduce you to Tre Smith.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We started Lilac Jam in the Spring of 2018 in Watertown, South Dakota. The original lineup we had included Sam Smith (drummer), Tré Smith (vocalist/guitarist), and Brandon Schuldt (guitarist). We started the band to learn how to play music. None of us really had any experience performing and not much experience playing our instruments. We started writing music and practicing to eventually perform in local shows. We added Charlie as the bassist and the following spring (2019) we played our first set of shows at Sam and Charlie’s graduation parties. From then on we began performing in various venues around the state. We continued until 2020 but as members started moving to different towns we stopped getting together as often. In 2022 Sam and Tré were both living in Sioux Falls. We then recruited Spencer Harris (bassist), in place of Charlie; and Justin Meyer (guitarist), in place of Brandon; to begin performing again. We have been performing shows around the Sioux Falls area. In October 2022 we went to a studio called All Poetic Audio in Scotland, South Dakota to record our debut singles. We are planning on releasing our first single at the end of this year, and our full debut album in 2023.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a rough road. But like any time you start out with any business or hobby, there’s always a learning curve and challenges to overcome. Even though it’s taken a long time to become proficient, it has been fulfilling. The first major struggle we’ve encountered as a group, is getting our name out there. COVID definitely wasn’t kind to any performing musicians as well, we had to learn to adapt like everyone else. Getting people to come out to local events has also been a challenge, but we’ve been slowly overcoming this as more people start to hear about us.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are an alternative rock band that performs music we love and are proud of. We specialize in performing and writing original music. We are known for melting faces with our Lilac Jamming. We are most proud of the growth we have experienced in the short time we’ve had so far. We are always getting new opportunities that we are really excited for. What sets us apart is we try to engage in the music community. We go to as many local shows as possible, whether we are performing or not, to show support for the other bands and the music community in general. After shows, we socialize with the audience to build connections and meet new people.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Spotify is an obvious favorite. We listen to a lot of music as any band would. We are heavily inspired by acts such as Basement and Title Fight.
Pricing:
- Lilac Jam Shirts: $25
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lilacjam.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilacjamsd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilacjamsd/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LilacJamSD
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe9pPnGBsmiUGeOwDWluWNA
- Other: https://lilacjam.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits
Caleb Gebhard
Roach Clips
