Rachel McIntyre Smith tells lyrical stories in her songs in a really relatable way that is pure magic. If she’s not singing about the memories in an attic – and how sometimes things are best left packed in boxes up there – she’s wondering aloud about what kind of partner might match well with her on-the-move lifestyle. Part confessional, part philosophical deep-dive, her songs shine with her lovely vocals and the acoustic music accompanying her stories. Her new EP, “Honeysuckle Friend Deluxe Edition,” is a glorious compilation of old and new – a revisit to her “Honeysuckle Friend” EP but this time paired with some brand new songs. All of the tracks mesh so well together that it’s a perfect listen from start to finish; Smith knocked this EP right out of the park. We sat down with her to discuss all of the details of this wonderful collection.
Hi, Rachel! You have a terrific new EP out in June called “Honeysuckle Friend Deluxe Edition.” What’s the scoop on this collection of songs? And what makes this EP a deluxe edition?
I released the original “Honeysuckle Friend” project back in the fall with five songs on it, but had others that I had written that I felt fit with this collection better than its own separate collection. This deluxe edition has three new songs on it that have become some of my favorites. The three new songs are called “The Attic,” “Hummingbird Woman,” and “My Place.”
This collection is all inspired by people who know how to make mundane moments turn into lifelong memories – kinda like stopping to eat honeysuckle growing along a trail. This project all fits within my style that I like to call comfort twang country. It focuses on acoustic twangy instruments – like acoustic guitar, banjo, and mandolin – three-part harmony, and comforting lyrics that remind listeners that they aren’t alone in the good times and the bad.
Speaking of the new songs on your EP, “Hummingbird Woman,” is a stand-out track. What inspired you to write it and what is it about?
I haven’t had much luck with romance over the past few years, and that’s because I’m hard to pin down. I still have a full-time job while also pursuing music. Now that I live in Nashville, I travel back to Chattanooga and Knoxville a lot to see friends and play shows. I’m all over the place. So I started wondering – is there a complement to that kind of person? If I’m like a hummingbird, flying from one place to the next, who would be able to handle that? Once I asked myself those questions, the whole song rolled out.
What kind of a vibe were you going for on this song when you recorded it? Do you think you ended up with a song that sounds like you expected it to sound? If so, how so, and if not, what’s different about it?
For “Hummingbird Woman,” I wanted it to sound kind of like a twangy lullaby. I wanted it to be gentle and comforting to mimic the lyrics. I worked with Dran Michael on this song, and he really saw the vision and executed it well. It has three-part harmony, banjo, mandolin, and acoustic guitar. It turned out exactly like I was wanting. It’s soft and bluegrassy. It makes me want to run through a field barefoot or fall asleep on a hammock looking up at the trees.
Your music and lyrics seem so perfectly intertwined. Was this a music-first or a lyrics-first song for you? Which way do you tend to write in general, music or lyrics first?
Thanks! I almost always start with lyrics first. My mom is an English teacher, and she encouraged me to write poetry from a very young age. Once I started playing piano, the music and the poetry started blending together. However, the emphasis on the words still remains. Once I know the lyrics, I usually can picture how the song needs to end up – both visually and sonically.
Your first EP, “Glory Daze,” was a “quarter-life crisis” in EP form. How has getting older changed your music and your songwriting since then?
I’ve been calling this EP the happier, older sister of “Glory Daze,” because it still has some of the quarter-life crisis themes but mostly with a more positive, comforting angle. A few years ago in both songwriting and in my life, I was very concerned about how other people were perceiving me. I was concerned about proving myself to folks. Now, I think I’m more comfortable in my skill set and focused on growing for the sake of growing and not for the sake of appeasing others.
My songwriting process in general is the same, but I used to be very strict about adhering to the standard form – Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus. On a lot of songs on this project, I break away from that. For example, on “Hummingbird Woman,” the song is kind of broken into two parts. Once the song goes to the bridge, it doesn’t go back to any previous melody for the outro. It goes Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Bridge 1, Bridge 2. I like experimenting with different styles to make sure that I’m writing the song in the way that flows naturally and not forcing a predetermined template on it.
You’ve been living in Nashville for a bit. How do you think your time in such a music-centric city impacts the music you make?
That’s a great question. Living here has certainly impacted me, but I’m not sure that its impact can be felt in my released music yet. I’ve started working on some new music, and I think that Nashville will be much more present in that.
Perhaps the place it can be seen the most is in my companion video series for this EP called the “Honeysuckle Friend Sessions.” This is a video series on my YouTube channel where I do acoustic covers of songs with my friends who are musicians, most of whom I have met since moving to Nashville.
What has been the most exciting thing to happen for you in the past year? What are you most looking forward to for the rest of 2025?
It’s been an exciting year! In the past year, I would say playing Whiskey Jam, headlining my first show in Nashville, and being featured on BBC Radio would be my top three. I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter of music, playing more shows, and releasing more “Honeysuckle Friend Sessions” to my YouTube channel.
Got any tour plans? Where can fans see you on the road?
Yes! I’m working on finalizing tour dates for the fall, but you can follow me on Instagram @rachelmcintyresmith to stay up to date on everything I have coming up. Thanks so much for talking with me!
