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Today marks the release of the beautifully crafted single “Shine” by Smith and Tegio, available on all digital platforms. This dynamic collaboration between lifelong friends and songwriting partners, Austin Smith and Mark Tegio, is a testament to their seamless musical synergy.
The origins of Smith and Tegio trace back to their late teens in San Diego, CA, where a shared passion for skateboarding and music solidified their friendship. Their mutual introduction to influential singer-songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, and Tom Waits during this time laid the groundwork for their future musical endeavors. However, it wasn’t until later that their artistic collaboration fully blossomed, marking the beginning of a transformative journey as guitarists and lyricists.
In the words of Austin, the essence of “Shine lies in the exploration of immediate perspectives amid desperate circumstances. The track encapsulates the fleeting moments that define a passing time, allowing clarity to emerge by pushing aside the static behavior of stillness. It’s a percussive ring that disrupts the silence, inviting listeners into a contemplative space.
Mark of Smith and Tegio shares:
I’ve always loved twilight; the time of day, not the movies. At surface level I love the colors, especially while driving. I have these vivid memories of driving west through the desert with the sun in my eyes all day. Then as twilight hits, not only can I finally see, but the landscape takes on these dreamy purple hues. The mountains, the cacti, the adobe buildings, all covered in a blanket of indigo. The fleeting nature of twilight also adds to its allure. Moreover, because twilight is also between night and day, not only does it mark the end of a day but also the beginning. I think there’s something magical about this duality and the ambiguity lends itself nicely to metaphor.
As their paths diverged in their early twenties, with Austin pursuing a music career in San Francisco and Mark prioritizing music over academics in the same city, their commitment to honing their craft remained unwavering. The “woodshed years” saw them refining their fingerpicking guitar techniques and vocal styles, fostering a unique synergy that continues to characterize their musical partnership.
Following Mark’s graduation, the duo wholeheartedly embraced their shared passion for music, releasing a debut album and embarking on tours across the western United States. Originally a duo, they later expanded to include a band with pedal steel and stand-up bass, infusing a distinctive country flavor into their acoustic guitar-driven, lyrically rich folk songs.
Despite physical distance – with Mark residing in Portland, OR, and Austin in Santa Cruz, CA – their dedication to touring and creating music together remains unshaken. The anticipation is building for their second album, “Can’t Stay Here,” set to be released on December 8, 2023. As we look forward to 2024, it promises to be a monumental year for Smith and Tegio, leaving us eager to witness the continued growth of this remarkable musical duo.
Smith and Tegio’s “Shine” is out via all digital outlets today.
