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Once told to hide her true self, Marcie Smith reflects on her experiences as an LGBTQ musician

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by Alexis Kikoen • Published on • Last modified on
Rocky Mountain PBS

DENVER — Singer-songwriter Marcie Smith sits her in small home studio. She’s surrounded by a keyboard, guitar, amps, speakers, and several microphones. The word “music” hangs in big letters on the wall.

“Music is like my therapy. It’s like my lover, it’s like my enemy sometimes. It’s like all the things. Music is a huge part of my life.”

Marcie’s start into the world of music was a little unconventional. Growing up, she would sing around the house, but she never thought she was that good. It wasn’t until she went to an American Idol audition with her younger sister for the show's fifth season that things changed. Marcie wasn’t even planning to audition.

“She begged me to go with her,” says Marcie of her sister. The pair waited hours just for the first audition with producers. “By the time it was time for her to go, I was like, ‘Well I want to go, I’ve been here all day!’”

Surprising herself, Marcie continued making through each round of auditions. 

“I got a golden ticket to Hollywood and that was the first time I felt like I was a good singer and that I could maybe do this as a career,” she explains.

She was cut just before the American Idol Live Shows began, but the spark remained.

Colorado Voices
Meet Singer/Songwriter Marcie Smith

"Coming out in music was not easy." Marcie Smith reflects on her experiences.

Marcie started writing, vocal producing, and recording her own music. Music became a huge part of her identity. 

But another part of her identity was being hidden.

“I came out in the mid-90’s, and it was not met with joy,” says Marcie. “I had managers and other people in the industry tell me, 'It’s going to be a lot easier for you if you present as a straight woman.'”

Marcie Smith performs in her home studio

Luckily, Marcie’s supportive friends and family encouraged her to explore her identity. “When I had the opportunity to write my own album, every single one of my songs was about women. Every single one of my songs was my experience as a lesbian in America.”

Lately, Marcie’s music has centered around mental health and wellness. She’s also a mindfulness instructor, and that’s become another big part of her life. “Mindfulness is a collection of practices that help you remain in the present moment,” she explains.

She teaches these practices to a variety of groups, but she especially loves working with kids. 

“I get to be their encouragement,” Marcie says. “I get to tell them, 'It doesn’t matter what these people over here are saying,  you are important and you get to show up however you want to.'”

Marcie also brings her mindfulness practices into music, especially when she takes the stage. “I’m very much present in my body. I feel my heart racing, I can feel myself start to sweat, sometimes my hands start to shake.”

After many years on the stage, Marcie still gets stage fright every time. “The thing that makes me push myself past the anxiety is knowing what’s on the other side,” she says. “It’s so awesome, you just get to touch people in a different way.”

Marcie especially loves performing at Denver Pride. 

“I remember the first time I performed at Pride in Civic Center Park on that huge stage," she recalls. "It was so awesome to share the stage with people that I’ve always admired.”

You can see Marcie perform as part of Rocky Mountain PBS’ Pride special Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m.

Alexis Kikoen is a multimedia journalist with Rocky Mountain PBS. You can contact her at alexiskikoen@rmpbs.org.

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