Songwriting and narrative voice Smith’s songwriting balances specificity and universality. He supplies concrete details—moments, sensations, questions—while leaving space for listeners to insert their own experiences. The narrative voice often inhabits a present-tense immediacy: the speaker is living the heartbreak in real time rather than reflecting distantly. This creates urgency and intimacy. Even in tracks with broader pop structures, Smith’s choices—simple but potent refrains, conversational couplets, and emotionally charged hooks—make the songs memorable and affecting.