Q&A: Inside Diva Smith’s Dreamy World of Healing, Heartbreak and Finding Herself
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
Photo by Lauren Leekley
DIVA SMITH IS NO STRANGER TO EMOTIONAL EXPLORATION — With a unique sound she calls “therapy pop,” the Los Angeles-born, New York-based artist transforms private soul-searching into healing that her listeners can relate to. Combining soft production with diary-like lyrics, Smith writes music that feels like a long conversation on the fire escape with a friend you trust more than most. As a graduate of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music with a minor in child psychology, Smith brings a unique understanding of emotion to her songwriting, pulling from personal experiences with anxiety, heartbreak, and the growing pains of early adulthood.
Her singles “Better in Heaven” and “Put Back Together a Friend,” co-written with longtime collaborator Stella Smyth, explore themes of vulnerability and transformation. Her newest single “I Can See in the Dark,” out now, shows a shift that’s sassier and bolder, but still carries the same emotional truth.
The Luna Collective heard from Smith about everything from crafting safe creative spaces to reconnecting with playfulness in her process. Read below for our full conversation about healing, heartbreak, and building a new soundscape from the inside out.
LUNA: Your songs dive into deeply vulnerable spaces. When did you realize you wanted to create music that felt like therapy, not just for yourself but for others too?
SMITH: Music has always been therapy for me. I didn’t start writing until I moved to New York at 18. Before that, I spent years consuming music and using it to process things. I loved writing and playing music privately, but I didn’t combine the two until that move. Because I’d leaned on music for so long, it made sense to create it that way—for myself and others.
LUNA: I imagine it’s a beautiful feeling to write something personal and then have others relate to it.
SMITH: Definitely. It’s cathartic, and hearing from people who connect to it makes it even more meaningful.
LUNA: You coined the term “therapy pop” early on. What does that label mean to you now, compared to when you first started?
SMITH: It’s more real now. At first, it was a goal—hoping the music would help people. Now that more listeners have found it helpful, it feels like that idea has come to life. Early on, I was thinking about it more analytically because I studied psychology. Now it feels more people-centered.
LUNA: Let’s talk about that background. How has studying child psychology shaped your songwriting?
SMITH: It helped me look at emotions from a broader perspective. I was a really anxious kid, and anxiety can feel isolating. Studying it made me realize I wasn’t alone—these feelings are common and part of a shared human experience. That made me feel less separated from others, and it definitely informs how I write.
LUNA: I love that. Let’s talk about “Put Back Together a Friend.” It explores the fear of being fully seen by someone new. What was the writing process like?
SMITH: I came into that Zoom session knowing exactly what I wanted to write about. It was during COVID, and I’d been reflecting a lot. The session flowed really quickly, which usually means the song will stay special to me. It felt cathartic, disorienting, but very honest.
LUNA: The dollhouse imagery in the music video is striking. How did that come together?
SMITH: I’ve always loved miniatures—it’s a little niche obsession of mine. There’s a dollhouse store I used to visit all the time. I brought the concept to an NYU director, and we created it with a student team. The dollhouse represents how things felt during that time: it starts clean, gets messy, and resets—just like the emotional arc I was going through.
LUNA: “Better in Heaven” and “Put Back Together a Friend” both feel cinematic. Were there any visuals or films inspiring this era?
SMITH: Not consciously while I was writing, but looking back, there’s a common thread—outdoors, sitting in the grass, reflecting. That matches how I felt when creating those songs.
LUNA: Your newest single “I Can See in the Dark” has a slightly different tone. What can you tease about it?
SMITH: It came from a session where I decided to try something new—I picked up a bass, which I’d never done before. We wrote the song around that bassline. It’s sassier and a bit more tongue-in-cheek. It touches on things like cheating and bad relationships but still has that cinematic, floaty quality in the chorus.
LUNA: I’ve heard there may be a debut project on the way. Can you share anything listeners might not expect?
SMITH: Since those earlier songs, I’ve been drawn more to country music. That’s influenced my writing—sometimes subtly, sometimes more directly. I’m also having more fun with writing now. Playing live made me realize I wanted songs I could move to, so I’ve been leaning into that energy too.
LUNA: You’ve worked closely with Stella Smyth since those first Zoom sessions. How has that partnership evolved?
SMITH: We met on the first day of music school because of our last names. We didn’t start working together until COVID, but “Put Back Together a Friend” was our first collaboration. Since then, we’ve both grown a lot, and she’s an incredible artist in her own right. Writing with her still feels like coming home. It’s a safe, comfortable creative space.
LUNA: What does a typical studio day with Stella look like?
SMITH: Usually a lot of catching up. The first hour or two is basically therapy, then we dive in. I often bring in an idea, and we build from there. Lately, we’ve been writing in her little backyard studio in LA—her dog hangs out, her mom brings snacks. It’s very cozy.
LUNA: You’ve been intentional about working with a woman-fronted team. How has that influenced your process?
SMITH: It just feels easier to be myself. Women understand each other—we share similar experiences, and there’s an unspoken solidarity. I feel more seen and supported, which helps the music reflect who I truly am.
LUNA: If you could cover one classic song in your own style, what would it be?
SMITH: “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac comes to mind. It has that iconic '80s feel, and it would be fun to reimagine it in a new way.
LUNA: You started recording in 2018. What would you tell your younger self now?
SMITH: Chill out. I used to overthink everything and get paralyzed by anxiety. My therapist says, “Hold it lighter,” which I try to remember. Let things happen, don’t grip so tight.
LUNA: Being based between LA and New York, do the cities influence your creativity differently?
SMITH: Totally. LA feels more like a workspace—sessions and industry stuff. In New York, I reflect and reset. It inspires me. The seasons, the pace, even the rain—it makes me want to write. In LA, it’s sunny and comfortable, but sometimes I need a little discomfort to create.
LUNA: That balance sounds so important. Is there anything else you want to share about what’s next?
SMITH: Just that the new music feels more like me. The older songs still reflect who I was, but this new era is more evolved. I’ve been working with new producers and feel like I’ve found my voice even more.
Photo by Reese Layton
