We had the good fortune of connecting with Cody Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cody, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
This is Cody Smith from Then I Fly! I grew up in the small town of Bellville, Ohio, far from city life and a stone’s throw from Amish country. My friends and I spent our time skateboarding and re-enacting Jackass stunts to keep ourselves busy. My best friend, George, and I started learning to play guitar at a young age because we thought it would be cool to play in a rock band! We essentially taught ourselves how to play together. The beginnings of what would become Then I Fly stemmed from George and myself recruiting some kids in our class who played in marching band. We weren’t really friends with them at the time, we just knew that Garrett played drums and Cody B. played bass and that was enough for us. The four of us created a metal song for a school project in our 10th grade class in 2006, and continued to make music in various forms after. All four of us remain friends to this day. Our first band was called Front Line Fighter, a grungy, punk influenced rock band. Soon George switched to bass and we started writing more reggae, ska/punk influenced songs. Around that time, we became Then I Fly. I went to college and then moved to Cleveland prior to the band relocating to Denver, Colorado in 2013. We added Anastasia, the incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist, to the mix and have had a few other member changes, but have kept things going for 15 years now! This band has connected me with so many amazing people over the years! It is who I am!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We label Then I Fly a ska/punk band mostly, but that is pretty limiting considering all we have done. One thing that sets us apart from other bands is our versatility. Sure we make ska and punk music, but we also play reggae and grunge and pop songs and more! We don’t necessarily have a mold we feel we have to fit in. This has been a blessing and a curse however. I feel like our musical diversity opens the creativity doors and allows us to really feel different emotions and travel down new avenues to reach the specific place we want the music to take us. It also prevents things from getting too dull and monotonous. I also feel that our uniqueness has sometimes hindered our ability to be included by other bands and promoters at times. The positives absolutely out weigh the negatives to me. We have been able to make the music we want to, have amazing experiences, and make the best fans and friends despite our challenges!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We live in Colorado, so of course we have to go up into the mountains, see a show at Red Rocks, hang out at a dog park, or check out a craft brewery! There are so many things to do and places to see, I’m always open to doing something new as well! Let me give a couple suggestions. St. Mary’s Glacier is a fun easy hike. Sticking with Red Rocks. Especially if there is a distant thunderstorm on the horizon! And why not a brewery that doubles as a dog park?!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our families and friends deserve major recognition! Especially my mother, Paula, and my wife, Kaitlin! It all started because my mom let us play terribly in her basement for years! Now, Kaitlin puts up with it in our home! We would not be here if it wasn’t for that fact alone. Not to mention all the love and support we have been shown for the past 15 years!

Website: www.thenifly.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thenifly

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thenifly

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thenifly

Youtube: www.youtube.com/thenifly

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