Country music artist Canaan Smith is back with his latest album, Chickahominy, set to drop on January 24. The album marks another milestone for the Williamsburg-native, who recalls a childhood filled with adventure and music in the backroads of Toano.
“We moved to Williamsburg when I was three, right on the edge of where Williamsburg becomes Toano. It was the perfect town to grow up in,” Smith reflects. “We had so much space to play, but also close enough to friends to have fun—go-carts and motorcycles in the backyard, just being kids in the woods.”
Smith’s early exposure to music came from watching his father perform in a local band. At the age of 11, he started developing a passion for playing instruments, often attending rehearsals and writing his own music. His love for music grew stronger, even as his friends skipped sports to have band practice in garages.
After graduating from Lafayette High School in 2001, Smith spent a year at James Madison University before realizing that his true calling lay in Nashville, the heart of country music. He transferred to Belmont University and headed to Tennessee in 2002, where he immersed himself in songwriting and studio life.
“Country music just spoke to me the most,” Smith says of his early songwriting days. “Nashville was the mecca for that.”
Since moving to Nashville in 2005, Smith has spent 20 years honing his craft, working with some of the biggest names in country music. His journey from aspiring songwriter to radio hitmaker has been rewarding, but Smith’s focus remains squarely on authenticity.
“The goal is not to win, the goal is to be true,” he explains. “It’s about writing from a place of meaning, not pandering for what’s popular. The music, not the accolades or ticket sales, is what makes it all worth it.”
Chickahominy is set for release on all streaming platforms on January 24.
Related Topics
