When Maria Jane Smith, one half of the successful pop-folk duo Smith & Thell, announced a hiatus from the group in 2024, it signalled a turning point in her career.
Now stepping out on her own, Smith debuted her solo material at Liseberg with a full set of unreleased songs—offering an early preview of her upcoming album and a first look at her evolving sound.
Maria Jane Smith is a Swedish singer, songwriter, and producer, best known as one half of the acclaimed duo Smith & Thell. With a sound rooted in acoustic folk and emotionally driven pop, she has long been recognised as one of Sweden’s most accomplished contemporary music creators.
In August 2024, Smith & Thell announced a hiatus to pursue individual artistic paths. For Maria, this marked the beginning of a new creative chapter.
A Bold Solo Debut at Liseberg
Though only a few solo singles had been released—some featuring none other than Joakim Berg of Kent—it was still unclear what her live set would entail. Would she revisit the Smith & Thell catalogue? As it turned out, no. Instead, she used the opportunity to debut material from her upcoming solo album, set for release this autumn. The Liseberg audience was treated to an exclusive early preview, adding a unique sense of occasion to the show.
Though the big concert season hadn't quite kicked off and the crowd remained modest in size, those in attendance can boast of having been among the first to hear Smith's new musical direction. And what a rewarding experience it was!
New Sound
The live performance showcased the breadth of her new sound—an eclectic and liberated evolution from the folk-pop of Smith & Thell. As the duo had stated during their split, they wanted to explore their own creative impulses, and Maria’s set made that intention clear. Musically, it spanned everything from modern pop and rock to electronic textures, with Smith even taking to the synth on one track. Even though I was unfamiliar with the most of the songs, the variety and dynamic collection of songs made the show consistently engaging and enjoyable. Her upcoming album is definitely one to keep an eye on!
The rest of the audience seemed equally captivated, chanting for an encore at the end. Smith returned to the stage visibly touched, though she explained with a smile that she had already performed the entire album and had no more songs prepared.
New Band
Supporting her on stage were two talented multi-instrumentalists: one primarily on bass but also switching between guitar and keyboard, and a drummer who added acoustic guitar and backing vocals on one track.
Maria Jane Smith’s solo debut didn’t just mark a new beginning—it announced it with clarity, confidence, and creativity.
This show was photographed with
Wider Shots
- Camera: Sony a7 III
- Lens: Tamron 28-75/f2.8
Close-Ups
- Camera: Sony a7R II
- Lens: Tamron 70-180/f2.8
Concert Photo Gallery
Special Thanks
Huge thanks, as always, to the amazing Liseberg team for welcoming CS to shoot this show! What a fantastic way to launch the summer concert season. With such a strong and diverse line-up ahead, we’re excited about the possibility of covering many more performances throughout the summer. Check out the full concert programme here—there's plenty to look forward to!