Born in Nijmegen in The Netherlands in 1961, Johan Smits, known today by his artist name John Smyths, grew up surrounded by music. Introduced to it through his parents and older brother, it wasn’t initially the style that spoke to him, but the seeds of his passion were planted early. As the years went by and his wilder youth subsided, he discovered country music and immersed himself in the sounds of Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Kenny Rogers and Tammy Wynette.
This shift in taste marked the start of a lifelong love for the genre that would eventually bring him onto stages across Germany, Belgium and back home in the Netherlands. While many may have first encountered his music more recently on digital platforms, John Smyths has been active for years, recording in studios in Germany where he put down covers of country classics alongside three of his own original songs.
His journey is one of steady dedication rather than overnight success and his catalogue reflects an artist who’s patiently built his sound while performing live across Europe. Interestingly, his influences aren’t confined to country; growing up, he was captivated by the roaring guitars of Kiss, Van Halen, Iron Maiden and AC/DC. Those formative years soundtracked by rock gave him an intensity and magnetic stage presence, while his later embrace of country music allowed him to channel storytelling and heartfelt emotion into his performances. It’s this crossover of styles, both rock’s power and country’s soul, that underpins his musical vision today.
Fast forward to 2025, and John continues to build momentum, this year alone he has plasyed live in Viechtach, Gerolstein, Stolberg, Wolfhagen, Nijmegen and more, taking his music across both Germany and the Netherlands. His calendar is equally exciting moving forward as he’s set to perform at the prestigious Red Carpet Show International in Wageningen, where he’s not only taking the stage but also nominated for multiple awards, including Country Voice of the Year, Country Blues Original, Country Song of the Year Original and Songwriter of the Year. Later, he’ll appear at the Country Messe in Erfurt, further confirming his presence on the European country circuit.
Capturing his sound in the studio, he now brings us his latest release with his new single titled “Now I’m Wiser,” a bright and upbeat country jam packed full of lively rhythm, slick instrumental flourishes and charming vocal performance. Jumping straight in with the bouncy snap of drums and flickering lead guitar licks, John’s rich vocal leads enter to spin catchy melodic leads carrying storytelling lyricism above.
Peppered with jaunty piano dashes and a propelled by a steady groove throughout, the chorus swells with soulful backing vocals with lift John’s soulful hooks to form a truly charming pop-focused county outing that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face. As he continues to win over fans from both the stage and studio, John Smyths’ enduring musical output shines more than ever and as his 2025 schedule proves, he shows no signs of slowing down.
Listen to Now I’m Wiser below
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