His former life as a rock star set up to hit even higher career notes as a country singer.

Smith, the former lead singer of multi-platinum band Default (Deny, Wasting My Time) traded in the hard rock post-grunge genre to pursue a country career in 2012.

乌鸦传媒淲e achieved some great things, a platinum record. I think all of that prepared me for something better,乌鸦传媒� he said during a phone conversation from Edmonton, Alta.

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Smith is currently on a 30-date tour for his newest album Side Effects. He plays Penticton乌鸦传媒檚 South Okanagan Events Centre Nov. 17.

Smith said he didn乌鸦传媒檛 know when he made the switch over from rock to country that he was in for such success.

乌鸦传媒淚 just made the choice. I was getting older. In Default we were doing great stuff, but I was getting older and really starting to gravitate to writing more meaningful stuff. Country lends itself to meaningful songwriting,乌鸦传媒� he said of the change.

乌鸦传媒淚 would say this has been the best five or six years of my life.乌鸦传媒�

And no doubt.

Smith乌鸦传媒檚 first solo album aptly titled Jumped Right In was released in May of 2012 by 604 Records. The album features songs written by Smith and several other big names in Canadian music including Nickelback乌鸦传媒檚 Chad Kroeger. The album includes five top 10 Canadian Country Music hits including If It Gets You Where You Wanna Go, What Kinda Love, Nothing But Summer and Somebody Somewhere.

Smith followed the success up with his next full-length studio album titled Lifted, released in November 2014, which included three hit songs Lifted, Cheap Seats and Wastin乌鸦传媒� Gas.

And again two years later, Smith put out a new album titled Side Effects, which he is currently touring. The album includes six hit songs including One Little Kiss, Autograph and Sleepin乌鸦传媒� Around.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e had a lot of success with this last one. It乌鸦传媒檚 been a lot of fun to tour around. People have really connected with it and that乌鸦传媒檚 what it乌鸦传媒檚 all about,乌鸦传媒� he said.

After the Side Effects tour wraps up, Smith will jump aboard the CP Holiday Train which makes stops at stations around the country and includes performances from some of the best in Canadian music.

乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of fun,乌鸦传媒� he said.

After that, he plans on taking a break with his family somewhere warm before getting back in the studio to continue work on his fourth full-length album.

Near and dear to his country heart is helping younger musicians find their way through the maze of the music industry. Several years ago, Smith co-created Steelhead Music whose roster includes Andrew Hyatt and Petric.

乌鸦传媒淒uring my time I乌鸦传媒檝e experienced bad contracts, manipulative people. There isn乌鸦传媒檛 enough out there for artists to learn the business. They don乌鸦传媒檛 learn how to run their business. There乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of pitfalls. I think I乌鸦传媒檝e learned a lot and have a lot to offer and just want to help people coming up,乌鸦传媒� he said.

Smith returns to Penticton on Nov. 17 with special guests Michael Ray and Lauren Alaina.

乌鸦传媒淚 really love that area of the province. The wine, the food. It乌鸦传媒檚 beautiful,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檒l be a great show.乌鸦传媒�