Everywhere we look, stories surround us. Smith & Thell share these kinds of tales in their music. The award-winning duo—Maria Smith [vocals, guitar] and Victor Thell [vocals, guitar, production]—have generated billions of streams, packed venues, and enraptured fans worldwide. Now, their immersive storytelling takes center stage on A Chosen Family EP [Nettwerk].  Smith & Thell’s story began as teens in Sweden. Maria and Victor forged a friendship, fueling their creativity and collaboration. They enchanted audiences with the likes of Soulprints [2017], Pixie’s Parasol [2021], and Acoustic In Isby [2021]. Meanwhile, “Forgive Me Friend” [feat. Swedish Jam Factory], “Hotel Walls,” and “Year of the Young” each garnered millions of streams. Along the way, they shared stages with Young The Giant, Fitz And The Tantrums, and more. At the same time, they wrote music for Jennifer Lopez to Rauw Alejandro to Ava Max’s RIAA gold-certified smash “So Am I,” which won “Composer of the Year” at the 2020 Swedish GRAMMIS. In 2023, Maria and Victor went to a home in Southern California for a writing camp. They spent ten days writing and laughing alongside friends and cohorts, leaning into the stories around them.  In the end, Smith & Thell sing a story you won’t soon forget on A Chosen Family. “This band is where we channel most of our love for writing and where we can be free. It’s almost like a playground in a way, because we don’t feel like we need to be anything but ourselves.”