Rhonette Smith is a New Jersey pop-rock artist that bares her whole soul by exploring the dark sides of depression, anxiety, shame, guilt, and fear in her music.

This songwriter has been exploring these themes as far back as her first official song released at age 15 titled “Good Enough”. As a college student, Rhonette continued to write songs and began performing solo until 2013 when she connected with guitarist Stephen Hoydis, drummer Pete Stern and bass player Dennis Reitmar via answering a craigslist advertisement, forming indie rock band Centennials. She led this band fearlessly for seven years, playing shows across the bar scene of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, releasing two EPs and one full-length record. The band’s back catalogue can be found online, and gives a telling insight into the tenacity and passion that Rhonette invests in her music career.

In pursuit of a more personalized sound, Rhonette began performing and writing on her own again and in 2019 released her solo full-length album Phantasmic. She cast a wide net looking for a musical team that would support her grand vision for the record, and is proud of the accomplishment, but as songwriters are, continued to search for her next sound.

After a creative hiatus, Rhonette has thrown herself back into songwriting with major force. A short time away from the craft has given Rhonette a new perspective on her career, as she returns to making music and pouring her heart and soul into the journey. She plans to release a solo single in early 2024 and this time is striving for a darker, heavier sound, with metal undertones (Bring Me The Horizon).

She says, “I’ve wanted to have a career as a musician since I was a kid. After a long and winding path, I finally understood that nothing would really fulfill me like the dream I had all along. And the only way to find out if I could do it is to continue to try.”

Follow her along her journey on her social media accounts @RhonetteSmith on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Listen