Dakota Smart Bio
Faith, family and friends are the foundation of what makes Dakota Smart the person he is.
His story begins early on being surrounded by musicians, his father is a bassist and mother a drummer. Dakota started piano lessons at eight years old, and by the time he was ten, he was writing songs and performing for audiences. At thirteen, he wrote “Maybe You Were the One” (a beautiful piano ballad, and his first professional single release). By the time he was in high school, he was playing and singing in bars and casinos with his high school buddies (Organized Chaos Band), where his talent was discovered. From there he went on tour with an opening band for Legendary Three Dog Night, where he celebrated his 18th birthday in the green room with members of the band. All the while he was still cranking out original tunes, he recorded and released, “Sunrise Over New York” in 2019. From there, he recorded an EP “Bedroom Recording” an experimental original fusion of music genres. His first 12 song album “Leap of Faith” landed him three New England Music Award Nominations for “Album of the Year”, “Song of the Year” and “Male Performer of the Year”.
An accomplished musician, Dakota’s main instrument is piano, he also plays guitar, drums, and ukulele. He is an ASCAP Writer/Publisher and has written over 120 original songs. He performs original music and covers from New England to Nashville. A true talent on stage! He started performing at age 10 and by the time he was 17, he was on tour with an opening band for legendary, Three Dog Night!
AWARDS and RECENT NOMINATIONS:
2023 New England Music Awards - Nominated for Pop Act of the Year!
He was honored to be asked to perform at this year's Awards Ceremony in Foxboro MA
2022 New England Music Awards -Nominated for three Music Awards!
-Album of the Year "Leap of Faith"
- Song of the Year "Lovely Lady"
- Male Performer of the Year
2021 Nominated for two New England Music Awards
2020 Awarded Top Solo Artist, HardRock Cafe Boston, MA
FEATURED in:
Nashville Voyager Magazine
TunedLoud Magazine
The Salmon Press
Member of ASCAP and NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association)
Singles/Albums/EP’s Recorded:
2023-Released 10 Brand New Singles, at Blackbird Studio, Nashville with Grammy Nominated Producer, Lowell Reynolds! Look for "Blue Eye'd Crazy", "Porch Light", "Greatest Thing You've Never Seen" and many more to be released soon! Dakota's working with trusted music industry leaders who have worked with some of today's most prominent Artists!
2021 – Released his first 12 song album “Leap of Faith” at Rocking Horse Studio, Pittsfield, NH. His songs have Thousand streams on Spotify! The singles have had success with radio spins, and good initial streaming on various platforms.
2020 – Wrote, Recorded, Produced, his bedroom recorded EP “Sands of Time”
2019- Released two singles recorded at GreenHouse Studio, Gilford, NH, “Maybe You Were the One” and “Sunrise Over NY” , which have thousands of streams on Spotify alone.
Music is all about the impact it has on you. "Music has always been much more than a hobby, it is the air I breathe! I listen to people and write their stories and sometimes my own. I remind myself to keep songs relatable, memorable and authentic...that's who I am." (Dakota Smart)