Lancaster, Pa. — Years after an interview with a local news station went viral, Dutch Smith has found meaning through his music and mentoring youth.
In 2016, a clip of an interview with Smith about a temporary Dunkin' Donuts closure caused by a fire swiftly went viral, even catching the attention of the popular national show "Tosh.0."
Smith's journey from that viral moment to where he stands today is one of transformation.
Amidst the chaos depicted in the viral video, Smith was struggling with addiction.
"It was probably the worst time in my life, and I ended up on camera. A lot of the stuff I said, I was just rambling. I was just saying stuff. I was underweight. I was not in a good spot. I was in a horrible place in my life,” he said.
Fast forward eight years: Smith has steered his life onto a new path. He now holds a steady job as a machine operator, pursues his passion for music, and volunteers at Manos House, a juvenile detention center.
Dutch Smith after performing at The Junction Center in Manheim, PA.
“The music I do, I want it to be good for the soul. So, I don’t rap about sex, money, drugs or anything like that — I'm not gonna be like that, I'm gonna be different. I’m not gonna glorify those things,” said Smith.
Smith's commitment to mentoring troubled youth stems from his own lived experiences. He emphasizes the importance of relatable role models in guiding young individuals towards a positive future.
His approach is rooted in empathy, understanding, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Through his music, Smith aims to deliver messages of hope.
“A lot of these kids get all of that stuff glorified to them, especially if you've grown up around people that have those mindsets. I talk about cutting out bad things out of your life, like whether it's people or anything like that,” he said.
From Dutch Smith's music video Trust Him.
Not long after the video went viral in 2016, Smith ended up in jail for charges that were eventually dropped.
“I was there for 8 months and during that time period, I had nobody. I never did the whole God thing. I prayed to God, because I felt alone in the world, and like nobody loves me. Even the people who are supposed to love me, don’t. I was like ‘God if you’re real, show me something,’” he said.
“I don’t know why, but I started praying every day after that. I had an encounter with Him and He just did something to me on the inside, it's not something I can really explain,” Smith said.
When he got out of jail, it became his mission to be better.
“After that, my music started to change, too. Things started to turn out. I did the 'Trust Him' video, about being with the wrong person, and that holding you back from being better. That [video] got a decent amount of exposure,” Smith said.
Dutch Smith at an addiction awareness event.
Smith's presence in the juvenile detention center brings hope to young people facing similar challenges. By using music and personal stories, he builds trust and opens up opportunities for meaningful conversations.
"I look young and that helps them [the juveniles] connect. I'm not like some old guy like telling them ‘You need to get your act together.’ When I go in there, my goal is to just build a relationship with them,” he said.
“Some [of the juveniles] receive the message, but some don’t. You always got a tough one. But the goal is just to get their attention, and music is just a tool to get them to listen,” Smith explained.
The first time Smith visited the juvenile detention center, he talked a little bit, and then began to rap.
“They [the juveniles] loved it, they went nuts. Then, I had their attention, and they listened to everything that I had to say. So, once I got their attention, their ears were open and they could receive whatever I was saying,” he said.
"I just want to encourage them, when they get out of the juvenile detention center, to get connected and also teach them that God is real and he can do something divine in their life, just like he did with mine. I pretty much explain to them where I was at and where I am now,” Smith said.
Some of Smith's song include Trust Him, Bad Evening, Guidance, and more. His music embodies wholesome themes of love, faith, and his relationship with God.
“When that whole Dunkin' Donuts thing happened, I ended up writing a song. It got like 90,000 views, but it’s horrible. I hate the song, I hate it. That’s not the kind of music that I want to make. I did that just to stereotype myself. Everybody was saying I did this, did that. They were assuming who I was, or what kind of person that I was,” Smith said.
Popular podcaster Theo Von mentioned Dutch Smith in his podcast recently, and later wore Dutch Smith Music merch at one of his meet and greets.
His change in music is a reflection of the change he has experienced as a person.
“I overthink sometimes and stress about things. I will talk about that. I worry about bad things that I've done in the past — I wrote about a song called 'Love', which is about what real love actually looks like pretty much how actions speak louder than words,” Smith said.
Smith has been making music since he was a child.
"When I was younger, my mom used to be in a rock band, and she was taking me to her band practices, so I was drawn to music already. I did a rap song when I was about eight. It actually had some good flow to it, and all my friends were kind of gassing me up. When I was 14, it became kind of like a crutch for me, kind of like an escape. I wrote about a lot of emotional stuff. Then when I was in the juvenile detention center, I was writing booklets and booklets of raps," he said.
Smith's 11 year old son, who is also named Dutch, has an interest in music as well.
Dutch smith and his son, Dutch.
"He is very attracted to music. I'm not sure if he wants to be a musician yet," Smith said. "He's kind of feeling out when he wants to do. He likes to sing, and he's really good at free styling—he's definitely got it," Smith said, describing his son's aptitude for music.
Smith will be releasing new music within the next few months. His music can currently be found on all popular platforms, including Youtube and Spotify. He is also on Instagram and Tiktok, where he also shares his music.
