Rebecca Jordan Smith's formative years were shaped by her father's eclectic vinyl collection, which exposed her to a diverse range of musical influences, from Aretha Franklin and Joao Gilberto to The Cure and Tom Petty. She began studying classical piano as a child and later taught herself to play the guitar. Despite initially pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering in Nashville, Rebecca's creative aspirations eventually led her to Los Angeles, where she discovered a passion for acting.
She honed her craft by studying the techniques of Stanislavski and Meisner, and went on to appear in a few films, including the ensemble cast of "Liberty Heights," directed by Academy Award winner Barry Levinson. Rebecca's music career also took off, with her being signed to Elektra Records and touring with notable artists such as Lilith Fair, Matchbox 20, and Third Eye Blind. Although she was later signed to Clive Davis' J Records, she found herself stuck in label purgatory.
On a whim, Rebecca relocated to New York City, where she found inspiration in the city's chaotic energy. She began playing downtown clubs with her bandmates, and her original compositions started to garner attention. Rebecca's music earned her recognition, including the prestigious Abe Olman Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an Independent Music Award nomination for Best EP, and a finalist spot in the NPR Mountain Stage NewSong competition.
Rebecca's performances at esteemed venues such as the Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Mumford and Sons-curated Communion NYC further solidified her reputation as a talented singer-songwriter. After collaborating with veteran producer Phil Galdston, Rebecca recorded her album "Asphalt Heart," which blends her soul, jazz, Americana, and pop influences. The album's music video for "Anchor" premiered on AFROPUNK, and the song "Record Player" received airplay on BBC Radio 2's Weekend Wogan and landed in The Alternate Root's Weekly Top Ten.
Rebecca's songs have been recorded by notable artists such as Prince, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Adrian Younge, Alice Smith, and Isabela Moner. Her reputation and experience have also led to engagements as a producer in commercial music, a creative manager in music publishing, and as a faculty member for music programs at NYU and Lewis & Clark College, where she designed an entrepreneurial music industry course. Rebecca's screenplays have won multiple awards and placed on Coverfly's Red List. Her album "Asphalt Heart" is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon.
