Patti D Smith

My wife and chief collaborator. Who would have known that it took me 40+ years to realize I had the perfect sounding board with me all that time? Patti’s love of music and fresh perspective kept me from losing myself in my own thoughts and she always spoke with the voice of the listener. Some lyrics or musical ideas were tweaked a little, others were torn down and songs were started again. She’s the reason you’re still tapping your toes while listening to these songs.

David P Smith

My brother and lyric writer. My musical journey started with Dave bringing me to concerts, jams and rehearsals. He brings a new perspective to songs that I would have never thought of, especially giving the main character, Lukas, a deeper identity. His insight was key to giving this fictional world a human character.

Drew Birston

The GOD of everything bass. I’ve worked with Drew on every one of my projects and I never want my bass lines to be played by anyone else. We both share an appreciation for the same legendary bass players in Tony Levin, Pino Palladino and James Jamerson. Those great players become our shorthand when shaping my songs. Drew is a chameleon, going from the most dark and ribcage rattling parts, to something sweet and lyrical. His magic is playing off the drums as if he’s been on tour with that drummer for years and this is what gives the music such dynamic energy.

Brent Bodrug

My music sensei. I reached out to Brent to get a second set of ears during the mixing stage because his sonic awareness is second to none. He hears the technical and musical layers of songs and knows what to add or take away. We’ve known each other for decades and the final mix is the result of two people in honest collaboration.

In addition, the dynamically moving piano in the song In Your Arms was played by Brent. I asked him to give the song something new and he delivered in such a beautiful way.

Siobhan Bodrug

The voice of Eve (and Brent’s daughter). I’ve known Siobhan since she was little and watched her emerge as this vocal powerhouse. Her take on singing the parts I wrote give my music a whole new sound both in terms of the tone and her tasteful little runs and ad-libs. All her parts were recorded at Brent’s studio and sent to me. When I loaded those tracks in my studio and hit play, I was absolutely overwhelmed and cried until the end. I had a vision of what Tears of Oil and In Your Arms could be, but Siobhan turned it from an abstract idea into a fully formed human being. (I’m welling up just thinking about that moment again!).

Ashley Edwards

THE Demolition Diva! The whole time I was writing Demolition Diva, I knew exactly who I wanted to sing it. Ashley sang solo and with a choir on my album Bloodlines and I love her powerful and pitch perfect voice. Her R&B style runs are world-class and give my songs a texture that takes them to a new level. Every time I work with her, she surprises me because she sings in places I didn’t write but work perfectly in the song.

Orgasmic Stew

If you listen closely to the section before the chorus in the song Dead Robots, you’ll hear some panting and breathing courtesy of Patti and Rose (Dave's wife). I wanted to create a rhythmic soundscape of desire, so I recorded both women making “certain” sounds, imported them into the computer and used them as an organic drum machine that Patti called “orgasmic stew”. I set the sounds to be triggered using my Roland V-Drums and asked Dave to play a rhythm that I could loop in the song. The final result is what you hear, and I loved it.