Legit Smitty, the project of Nashville-based artist Jake Smith, releases “Picture In My Wallet” on July 21st, the fifth track off his upcoming album “This Living Ain’t That Hard”, a record born out of a near-death car accident during a family vacation in Hawaii. That kind of experience has a way of clarifying what matters, and it comes through in his writing for this album. I also found his commentary and his writing to materialize the same as his album via his Substack @legitsmitty. I found it to be quite unique and another outlet for someone to share their lived experiences.
“Picture In My Wallet” is a song about unchanging love alongside unchanging faults, the kind of honest self-awareness that is harder to pull off than it sounds. Lines like “don’t tell me your secrets, I can’t keep ’em safe” and “I’ll just tell your secrets to whoever comes along” with a quality candor, Smitty not positioning himself as the perfect partner but as a flawed one trying anyway. “Phone call from the doctor, he says it’s okay to live the way I’m living, but it’s time to turn the page” is a standout moment, carrying the weight of that Hawaii experience.
The track itself is upbeat and easy to settle into, carried by the drums that give the song a steady, warm momentum. Smitty’s voice is calm and steady throughout the track. The final 40 seconds of the track are a genuinely interesting choice, something distorted creeping in, a voice or sound that’s unintelligible but intentional. It’s a unique touch that lingers before the song ends.
The album features collaborations with Bennet Littlejohn of Hovvdy, Sinai Vessel, and Son of the Challenger, and was mastered by Huntley Miller, known for his work with Bon Iver and Wednesday. Friends and critics are already calling this Smitty’s best work yet, and “Picture In My Wallet” is a strong indication of those comments. I’m excited to see Smitty flourish.
Written by Anthony Perez
