SMA launches VOICEMAILS with final chapter first

SMA will release “GOODNIGHT AND GOODBYE” on Sept. 19 as the first single from her forthcoming VOICEMAILS project, which tells a story of toxic love, heartbreak and personal growth in reverse. The rollout pairs the music with two visual worlds and positions the song as both the end of the narrative and the start of her public journey.

Why it matters: - SMA is using an unconventional release strategy to frame VOICEMAILS as a story about moving through toxic love, grief and self-discovery. - Releasing the final chapter first gives listeners the outcome before the cause, a structure designed to make the project feel more emotional and immersive. - The rollout also signals SMA’s push to build a broader artistic identity across music, visuals and performance.

What happened: - SMA will release “GOODNIGHT AND GOODBYE” on Sept. 19 as the first single from VOICEMAILS. - The song is the final track in the VOICEMAILS storyline, but the first piece the public will hear. - SMA is launching the project from Albuquerque, New Mexico, with visuals and music tied to the same narrative. - SMA says “G&G” is about moving on from the past, including relationships and earlier versions of herself.

The details: - VOICEMAILS was originally conceived as a toxic-love story told through voice memos. - The project moves from resentment to gratitude, with the early track “I JUST CALLED” starting from a flipped version of Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” - SMA wrote “GOODNIGHT AND GOODBYE” over an instrumental from Mantra Beats. - SMA recorded all vocals at home using a Volt 2 interface and an Audio-Technica 2020 microphone. - Richard Baca handled mixing and mastering after the song was tracked in Ableton. - The final vocals were completed without Auto-Tune or Melodyne. - The third verse includes titles from other VOICEMAILS songs: “I JUST CALLED,” “voodoo,” “labubu,” “broken,” “yours” and “ghost.” - SMA cites Qveen Herby, Ariana Grande and Eminem as influences. - The song also draws on personal experiences, including an estranged relationship with SMA’s sister. - SMA says mentor Dounia Tazi helped guide a period of growth centered on positive affirmations and self-love. - VOICEMAILS is one of three “baby albums” SMA is finishing while she develops a live set, builds an audience and works toward touring.

Between the lines: - The reverse-order rollout turns the ending into the hook, which can make the audience work backward through the story and stay engaged across multiple releases. - The project appears built to connect music with image and identity, not just a single song. - SMA is positioning the release as both personal catharsis and a proof point for her vocal and creative development.

What's next: - SMA plans to release the rest of VOICEMAILS piece by piece, revealing the relationships, anger, reflection and growth behind the project. - The full project will eventually circle back to “GOODNIGHT AND GOODBYE.” - SMA will extend the release into two visual worlds: Y2K nostalgia and fairytale fantasy. - The visuals include an early-2000s-style pink room at 1 Take Studios in Phoenix, a giant ballgown, an inflatable flower-filled pool and footage shot at the Albuquerque botanical gardens. - Friends Kacee Aguirre, Mallory Laborie and Samantha Bo helped film, build sets and develop ideas under SMA’s direction.

The bottom line: - SMA is turning a breakup narrative into a multi-part launch strategy, with “GOODNIGHT AND GOODBYE” serving as both the end of the story and the beginning of her rollout.