Rooted in stunning harmonies and sharp songwriting, SmithField is a modern country duo inspired by one of the genre's classic traditions: the male-female duet.
It's a collaborative sound that began in the small southern town of Waxahachie, Texas, where Trey Smith and Jennifer Fielder both grew up. Years before they shared the Grand Ole Opry stage as bandmates, the two shared meals every holiday season, brought together by a family tradition that began long before they were born.
"Our grandparents were old friends who went to high school together," says Jennifer, who met Trey when she was 10 years old. "The families remained close over the years, and we'd have mutual parties every New Year's Eve and Fourth of July. We're the third generation of that connection."
Separately, Trey and Jennifer both launched music careers at a young age. A fan of Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes, Jennifer began touring regionally at nine years old, singing traditional country songs at small-town Opry events across Texas. Meanwhile, Trey was raised on the guitar-filled sound of rock & roll, gravitating toward classic rockers like Boston and modern acts like the Goo Goo Dolls. Inspired by frontman Johnny Rzeznik, he began writing songs as a teenager and formed his first rock band in college.
SmithField formed in 2011, drawing not only upon the family history that bound Jennifer and Trey together, but also the musical influences that set them apart. From the start, SmithField's music was a unique mix of the contemporary and the classic, blurring the boundaries between country, pop, and rock. "We grew up in the same part of Texas, but we come from different sides of music," Trey explains. "That mixture is what makes it so unique. Even though we're not related by blood, our musical bond stems from this longtime friendship. It's created a bond that you can't manufacture."SmithField's upcoming third release highlights the duo's blend of country twang, pop hooks, and rich storytelling. Co-written by SmithField and produced by ACM Award winning guitarist Derek Wells and the duo’s frequent songwriting collaborator Adam Wood, these five songs showcase the core of the pair's sound — two entwined voices and one acoustic guitar — while also making room for layered, climatic arrangements. The music also nods to SmithField's geographic roots.
“Each track tells its own story,” adds Trey, “but the entire EP weaves together to form a larger narrative about relationships. It's all about the ups, the downs, and the persistence needed to fight through whatever comes at you. That's our story, too."