We’re looking forward to introducing you to Shane Smith. Check out our conversation below.
Shane, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Easily the biggest thing outside of work that is bringing me joy right now is my unborn baby. My wife and I are expecting our 1st child in January 2026. I am incredibly excited to become a father! (And also a little nervous) 2026 is going to be a big year for me and my family for sure.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Of course! My name is Shane “Smittyyy” Smith. I am a drummer, producer, and musician based out of Colorado. I have played in many local bands across the state such as Altitude Travelers, Riot Pilots, Kyle Chatham & The Road Shots and more. Currently, I just recently started a new project called Oh! Brother. We are a reggae, jam, rock group. I am particularly excited about this new project because my childhood best friend, Chase O’Dell is the front man. We have known each other since kindergarten and he has ended up playing in almost every band I have ever been in at some point or another. This project is different though. We have been friends so long we consider each other family, like brothers. Thus, the name Oh! Brother. Also, my great friend and Gandalf to my Frodo is playing bass. Tim Cleary & I met when my old band Altitude Travelers needed a new bassist. Since then, we have grown to be close friends as well. Oh! Brother is about family and having fun playing music with the people who mean the most to me. Of course, we want to “make it big” and accomplish things, but at its core, this group is about love and friendship. So, I am very excited about it. We have a big show coming up at Sunshine Studios Live in Colorado Springs on 9/26/25. Come out and party with us!
I also maintain a semi successful solo career musically speaking. Halloween is my favorite holiday and I have released 3 “Halloween Mixxxtapes” that have done somewhat well. Volume 1 actually made it to # 19 the Apple Music charts and for 1 day I was above acts like Justin Bieber, Josh Groban and Sarah McLaughlin on the charts. That was quite the celebratory day! I have also released a solo album titled “Sounds of Mile High”, which is meant to be kind of an ambient sound type thing, but I actually traveled across Colorado to record many of the nature sounds. It was a fun project! I also recently released a series of short stories in audio book format called “Long Roads & Short Stories” earlier this year. As far as my solo stuff goes, I am working on a project called “Medieval Sounds”. It will be an instrumental type project that is meant to be something you would listen to on the way to your local renaissance festival to get you pumped up. I am hoping to put that out in June 2026.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Believe it or not, I used to actually think I was cursed. To make a long story short, I have a thing called Klippel Feil Syndrome. Basically, my brain stem and spinal chord didn’t come together like they are supposed to. So, my brain fluid leaked into my body and caused all kinds of havoc. I am deaf in one ear, and a bunch of other stuff is wrong with me that I wont get into. Anyways, when I was a teenager I learned that King Tut from ancient Egypt actually had the same thing and they think that contributed to his untimely death. When I learned this, I became convinced that I had some sort of “Curse of King Tut” attached to my body and soul. Don’t get me wrong, my life has been great. However, it has also been extremely hard. I have faced a lot of medical issues and life has just never really come easy for me. Everything has been hard and always been a fight. Like a little black cloud was always following me around. So, when I learned about King Tut it kind of just got into my head I was cursed and it had something to do with that.
I have grown to not entirely feel that way. I guess I have kind of embraced it actually. I actually now have a tattoo of King Tut’s burial mask on my back. Now, it is something that I think is kind of cool. I think it’s kind of a way for me to try and find the silver lining in things.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I think the defining wounds in my life have been the surgeries I have had to endure from the Klippel Feil I was talking about in the previous question.
Again, to make a long story short. Since my brain stem and spinal cord did not form right, I had to have 3 major brain / spine / neck surgeries to connect them properly. Two of those happened when I was a child. It was hard. Again, I am not trying to say I had a bad childhood. My parents were and are great. They spoiled me and made sure I was happy and taken care of. However, I was told several times as a kid I might not make it through this surgery and wouldn’t live to be a certain age. It does not matter how great your parents are or how good you had it, you tell that kind of thing to a kid and it’s going to mess with their head. I was happy, but under the surface I was always terrified, and I think that made me sad and even depressed too. I wanted to live, but I didn’t want to live in a hospital and face the things I hated most. Hospitals, doctors, and anything medical scares me and I was forced to face it every day. The balance between all of that was always tough for me.
Luckily, after my childhood I was able to mostly get away from that type of stuff. I was healthy and lived a normal life as a teenager and young adult. However, right around the time I got engaged everything came flooding back. I had reconnected with the love of my life, and we were engaged and planning a wedding. This was supposed to be the happiest time of my life. Then, I woke up one morning and could tell something was wrong. I went to the hospital and got the bad news. I would need a 3rd surgery. I will never forget collapsing in the hallway in tears and terror. I tried my best to smile throughout my wedding, bachelor party, and honeymoon. However, that black cloud was back. Following me everywhere I went. It was easily the hardest thing I have gone through as an adult. That and losing my childhood dog Mia (RIP) have been the 2 hardest things I have experienced in recent years.
How have I healed form them though? That is a tough question. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think I will ever really heal from the medical stuff. Physically, I have scar tissue and nerve damage that will never go away. Mentally? I don’t think I will ever really truly heal either. I think the best I can do is try and find the happiness in every day. I think my faith in Jesus and God have been very helpful. I trust that everything happens for a reason and that includes everything that has happened to me.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think that anyone who knows me would say that music has and always will be the thing that matters most to me.
Many of my friends have always wanted a music career but have always been very “wishy washy” about it. I mean that they would be very dedicated one month and then move onto the next thing the next. I have always been committed to music. I am 32 years old and have never really stopped trying. I have been in so many bands, worked on so many projects, and just live it every day. Sadly, I do not think that I have still reached the level I wish I was at. I will never stop trying though. I have plenty more projects and ideas I want to accomplish before I am done.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I am gone, I just hope people talk highly of me.
Like we talked about in previous questions, I have been through a lot. Honestly, I have been through more than most people will ever face in their life time by the time I was 10 years old. I try my best to be positive and happy, but it isnt always easy. I have my days of sadness, depression, frustration and anger. I have not always made the best decisions. I just hope that people look past that and remember the real me. Despite everything, I do love my life. I am happy and I think I am a positive light for people. I just hope people remember that side of me when I am gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://smittyyy.hearnow.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMqgPlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2Z0d2VkQzVXFSRUF6WDd6AR483W4ecNU3rzDD0O4FN6mR_8-LrmyNFX5r4xPQRvC0JzW8ndHSwshgKX80iw_aem_MhglMScf3A6gG6HagQ6nGw
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmittyyyDrummer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@smittyyy8435
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/smittyyy_drummer
Image Credits
Katie Fletcher Photography
Midknight Photography
Nikki Setser Photopraghy
America’s Next Top Hitmaker
