Chess Smith is a British pop/rock singer-songwriter with a love for writing passionate, personal & positive songs about mental health and hitting back at toxic behaviour. With her soaring, emotive power vocals, engaging stage presence, and uncanny ability to write relatable songs with unforgettable hooks, Chess is ready to shake up the music scene in 2025. Her music is all about radical self-love, empowerment, and overcoming adversity – in a world full of competition, comparison, narcissism, and self-doubt, Chess' uplifting, anthemic songs are a welcome reminder that when we know our worth and love ourselves, we are unstoppable.

Chess began her career working with local rock bands in London and the Southeast, touring around the UK and experimenting with different genres along the way. Raised on ABBA & Led Zeppelin, with influence from artists like Alanis Morisette, Paper Route, Chappell Roan, Holly Humberstone & Maggie Rogers, Chess' sound is a refreshing amalgamation of diverse genres with an edgy alt-pop feel.

Chess has worked with music legends across numerous genres, including Jocelyn Brown, Emily Dolan Davies (Drummer of The Darkness/ Cher Lloyd), Paul Davis (Drummer of Sugababes/ Jericho), Ashley Kinsley (keys player for Beverly Knight), and Steve Harris (Gary Numan’s guitarist). She toured extensively with Mooli, and fronted Salvation Jayne to wild acclaim, before parting ways in 2022.

In 2020, Chess suffered a severe nervous breakdown as a result of narcissistic abuse, which forced her to take a long break from music. When she eventually started her recovery, it felt like the right time to solely focus on herself & her solo career. Realising that there was so little positive, uplifting messaging about surviving abuse & dealing with trauma, she chose to write music about her experiences in hopes it may help other people. Stepping away from rock and into an alternative pop musical kaleidoscope for a fresh start… A New Reign.

Since 2022 Chess has been working on a solo project called 'Saving Lilibet', co-writing with multi-talented Kent producer Fuji Hideout. Chess has already played an early preview of her new material to an enthralled crowd at The Live Lounge in Canterbury, and will be embarking on a series of live shows to celebrate the release of her new singles and EP, the first of which is on 8th February 2025 at the esteemed Art Club in Dover.

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