Smokey Schultz, “Smoke So Much”
Smokey Schultz is a 22-year-old recording artist born and raised in Gary, IN. His latest album release, “Smoke So Much”, showcases the artist’s raw reflections on all aspects of regular marijuana use, highlighting the good and bad of a life experienced through a constant high.
Smoke So Much’s theming and message relate to smokers and non-smokers alike, as Smokey Schultz takes listeners along on his quest to achieve a sense of balance, both in managing the literal extreme highs and lows of his constant weed consumption, and in finding harmony for life in general by meeting in the middle of volatile emotions and life’s polarity.
The project’s title is an ode to Chicago-artist Juice WRLD, Smokey Schultz’s self-described “favorite artist of all time”. In Juice’s unreleased track Way Too Many, fully leaked on March 4, 2021, he proclaims, “ain’t no such thing as smoking too much, I been smoking so much.”
Smokey Schultz reflects upon his interpretation of this Juice line and how it evolved into the title of his new album; “As a marijuana user, I can confirm that we can sometimes smoke so much weed that we feel a constant euphoria, but there can be times where we feel like we’re stuck in our heads/ways and marijuana numbs the feeling and makes things easier.”
Smokey Schultz’s “Juice WRLD” influences do not end with the title alone. Like Juice, Schultz utilizes a freestyle/punch-in method of his lyrics. Inspired by Juice’s “in-the-moment” attitude by freestyling not just the verses, but also creating melodies on the spot, Schultz finds that he best captures his feelings and emotions of the current moment by following in these footsteps. While he does occasionally write lyrics prior to his recording sessions, Smokey often feels like he is simply reciting the written lyrics rather than performing with the original raw emotion behind the words.
Growing up in Gary, Indiana, music lives in the soil of the land. The birthplace of music legends like Michael Jackson, and home of a modern and lively Drill scene, mirrors the trends of the nearby iconic music city, Chicago, located just 20 miles Northwest of Schultz’s hometown.
Smokey Schultz's musical aspirations began to spark during his early college years and he quickly fell in love with every step of the creation process. Inspired by a friend on BandLab during his freshman year, Smokey was determined to create music worthy of bumping in the car while he drove. The thought of hearing his own voice through the speakers became his goal, and he spent countless hours writing and recording rhyme-centric tracks to type beats from YouTube.
These initial tracks garnered positive attention from his peers, pushing Schultz to continue pursuing music with a more serious focus. He transitioned from recording on BandLab to professional studios, notably a home studio in Hammond, IN, which has been his primary recording spot since July 2023. He has since developed a deep love and passion for music, which is evident through the care and dedication shown on his “Smoke So Much” album and affiliated rollout materials, including the professional and unique official music videos for tracks, Smoke So Much, WTF!?, and Pick It Up, created alongside Director @retrovxo of 4100 Productions.
Smokey Schultz shares a message to the world; “Have patience. Nothing happens overnight, even God took 6 days to form the Heavens and the Earth. Also, nothing lasts forever. You can’t go back in time and make changes, nor can you see/alter the future and how it plays out, so make the best of the present.”
In an exclusive interview with RSO Underground, Smokey Schultz discusses the origins of his musical inspirations and goals, sense of humour, optimism, and kindness, his hometown of Gary, the birthplace of Michael Jackson, and his artistic influences of Juice WRLD, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Playboi Carti.
RSO Underground Interview with Smokey Schultz
Who are you?
I am Smokey Schultz. I’m a 22 year-old recording artist born and raised in Gary, Indiana.
Where are you from? (How is the music scene there?)
With Gary (birthplace of Michael Jackson) being 20 miles southeast of Chicago, we have a lot of similarities, from the slang to the food and even the music scene takes inspiration from Chicago’s drill scene. Majority of the music scene in Gary is drill, but there are a handful of other genres coming from Gary.
Why did you get into the music/creative industry??
I’ve always liked music. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I began to consider making music. Initially, it started from seeing one of my close friends at the time make music on BandLab, and also just me wanting to hear my own voice playing in the car while I drive. I started out just making words rhyme on YouTube beats and ever since my very first few songs people would encourage me to take music seriously. Overtime, I began to grow a love and deep passion for music, and I also became really good at making it, it became more and more fun.
Eventually, I started goin to a studio to record music. I started goin to a house studio in Hammond, IN, and that’s where I’ve been recording since July 2023.
Overall, my main reason for making music is because I enjoy creation. I like the whole process from start to finish.
Who and what inspires you?
I take a lot of inspiration from Juice WRLD. He is my favorite artist of all time. I liked his ability to freestyle not just rapping, but freestyling melodies and most of his music was very “in-the-moment.” I don’t have anything against writing, in fact I write some of my music still. I personally like the idea of freestyling/punching in songs because when you record a song that way, it’s easier to put together a song based off your current emotions/thoughts, whereas with writing it can sometimes be hard (for me at least) to recite lyrics without sounding like I’m reading.
I also take inspiration from artists such as; Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Playboi Carti
What song/project are you currently promoting and what is the story behind it?
Right now, I am currently promoting my latest album titled “Smoke So Much.” This album is the album where i began to fully develop and grow into my current sound. The story behind it is about experimental concepts and details the realities of regular marijuana use. As a marijuana user, I can confirm that we can sometimes smoke so much weed that we feel a constant euphoria, but there can be times where we feel like we’re stuck in our heads/ways and marijuana numbs the feeling and makes things easier. When it comes to marijuana, and also in the words of Juice WRLD’s unreleased song Way Too Many, “ain’t no such thing as smoking too much, I been smoking so much.” All in all, this project relates to marijuana users as well as non users in the sense that we all have moments of extreme highs and moments of extreme lows, it’s just up to us to find the balance and meet in the middle.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
One thing people would be surprised to know about me is that I am very nice, despite my serious/blank facial expressions. I’m actually pretty humorous and I love to laugh. I find the brighter side of things. I am also very understanding and I acknowledge and consider all povs of a situation or concept.
Where can we find your music and art?
My music can be found under “Smokey Schultz” on all major streaming services including
Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, SoundCloud, YouTube, Etc.
What is your message to the world?
My message to the world would be this:
Have patience. Nothing happens overnight, even God took 6 days to form the Heavens and the Earth. Also, nothing lasts forever. You can’t go back in time and make changes, nor can you see/alter the future and how it plays out, so make the best of the present.
Check out Smokey Shultz & "Smoke So Much" Everywhere!
Smokey Schultz - Smoke So Much (Official Music Video)
Smokey Schultz - WTF!? (Official Music Video)
Smokey Schultz - Pick It Up (Official Music Video)