Laila Smith

BIOGRAPHY

Laila Smith crafts haunted, unorthodox indie-folk that crackles at the edges of memory—intimate sonic worlds both deeply personal and culturally prescient. From jazz prodigy (Kennedy Center, Tokyo Blue Note) to Harvard undergrad and labor organizer, to experimental artist recognized by the New York Times, Smith now merges sonic storytelling with conceptual performance. 

Her single "Diorama" premiered with Ones to Watch, landed editorial playlists, and arrived alongside a companion video game where players navigate her psyche through glitchy object logic. For “I Don’t Think Of You,” she staged a voice-responsive payphone and billboard trail through Los Angeles — an ambient confession system posing as public infrastructure. 

Her upcoming debut EP will be released first on a site made by the artist, which pairs each song with its own uncanny minigame, transforming personal narrative into collective ritual. The songs blur the line between folk confession and noise exploration, where quiet longing meets brash guitars and tracks threaten to unravel into charged discord before snapping back to arresting clarity. In the balance of strength and vulnerability, something new emerges on every listen.