Minneapolis-born musician Your Smith made her debut appearance on Iowa PBS’s “Studio 3 Live” Friday night, performing songs from her newly released album, her first as Your Smith after a 12-year hiatus from releasing full-length projects. The performance marked a return to music following a period of intentional withdrawal during the COVID-19 pandemic and a relocation back to her home state of Minnesota.
During the broadcast, Your Smith discussed her decision to step away from touring and music production when the pandemic brought live performances to a halt. Faced with an indefinite pause, she chose to pursue other long-held aspirations, including co-owning a restaurant with her husband and starting a family. “I was kind of faced with this decision of, like, stay home and make TikTok videos or, you know, figure out something else to do,” she explained on the program. “And I don’t know if you caught the part where I’m 37… it just wasn’t why I make music.”
The new album represents a shift in her creative process, born from a reconnection with the Minneapolis music scene. After finding herself without a musical community upon returning to Minnesota, she began collaborating with members of the band Hippo Campus. “It just felt more like… no, whatever comes out, comes out,” she said. “Let’s not scrutinize. Let’s not overthink.”
The performance featured several songs from the album, including “Little Highways,” released in September 2025, and “Mr. Revival.” Your Smith likewise performed “Holy…,” “The Spot,” and “Peaches.”
Your Smith acknowledged the challenges of navigating a music career in the current landscape, noting the increasing need for artists to diversify their income streams. “The middle-class artist is dwindling,” she stated. “You kind of have to be a multi-hyphenate… to make sure actually that it can bolster up my passion of continuing to write and perform music.”
The broadcast concluded with Your Smith expressing gratitude for the opportunity to perform on “Studio 3 Live” and reconnect with audiences in Iowa. Funding for the program is provided by Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino and the Iowa PBS Foundation.
