The NYC artist offers a sneak-preview of an unreleased track in this performance at Wild Coyote Studios

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In recent years, a lot of NYC artists we know have coast-switched, trading the subway for the highway to pursue their manifest destinies out west. But like salmon swimming downstream, every once in a while we’re surprised and delighted to encounter a sort-of reverse migration: an artist widening their world in the opposite direction by moving from Los Angeles … to New York.

California’s loss is our gain with Diva Smith—an LA native turned NYC artist and skilled and sensitive purveyor of what she’s dubbed “therapy pop” (which isn’t just a catchy name for a genre; the artist minored in child psychology at NYU).

Recently, Diva sat down to record a live session with BdBK bffs I Know We Should at Wild Coyote Recordings in Guttenberg, New Jersey, and we’re absolutely stoked to premiere it here!

One of the songs Diva serves up in this intimate session is her single “Better in Heaven” (out now!). The second is “I Can See in the Dark”—her performance offering a sneak-preview of an unreleased track scheduled to drop May 2nd (pre-save it here!).

“Loved getting the chance to perform my music in such an open and comfortable space,” the artist shared of the session with the IKWS team. “It felt so special.”

An almost-lifelong musician who grew up in a musical home, immersed in the sounds of bands like Bread and Fleetwood Mac, Diva started learning the piano at age 8 and soon picked up the guitar at 10. She then went on to major in Recorded Music at NYU. where she met classmate-turned-collaborator Stella Smyth, who co-wrote both of the songs featured in this session (as well as another single, “Put Back Together A Friend,” which comes with a very charming music video).

Diva has a debut record in the works now. Check out this session, then stay tuned for more New York tunes, making their way to your lucky ears soon.

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Follow Diva Smith at @divasmith, add the songs to your Spotify playlists and find all things Diva Smith at divasmith.komi.io.

Audio by Juan M Soria and video by Brad Wagner of I Know We Should. Follow I Know We Should at @iknowweshould and subscribe to their YouTube channel for more sweet live sessions.

Feature image provided by I Know We Should.