Juzzie Smith is an Australian blues, folk and fusion musician and busker who starts playing harmonica at 13. He wins the Golden Harmonica at the Tamworth Country Music Festival by the age of 23, and also wins the Byron Bay Blues Blowout twice. Over time he takes up and develops a wide range of instruments and draws on a mix of musical styles and cultures.

Career

Smith plays in a number of bands before focusing on solo work. He performs with several prominent Australian musicians, including John Butler, Damon Davies, Jodi Martin and Jeff Lang. His original songs develop a distinctive sound shaped by his varied musical influences and his years of live performance.

He begins to take shape as a solo performer in early 2003, after the birth of his oldest child, Olive. He leaves the band he is then playing with, stops doing late-night pub gigs and starts busking at markets near his home on the North Coast of New South Wales. Around this time he finishes recording his second solo album, Goodvibes.

Busking and recording

Smith buys an old school bus, packs up his family and sets off on a busking tour of Australia. The bus becomes known as the “cool bus” after the letters are dropped from the word “school”. He travels north through Darwin and then south through Western Australia, starting with small crowds and enough money for fuel, while continuing to refine his songs, instruments and performance. By the time he reaches the streets of Perth, he is drawing crowds of hundreds and busking is looking like a viable career.

Back on the North Coast, Smith continues to perform at festivals and busk when possible. He later releases a third album, and his music is played by JJJ and other radio stations. His music combines influences from his travels and from places and traditions including Tamworth, Delhi, Arnhem Land and New Orleans.

Style

Smith describes the unifying theme of his work as “good vibes”: upbeat, groovy music intended to make listeners feel good. He presents his music as “soul food” for a modern audience.