Wendy Smith: A Voice for Change, A Vision for the Future

Wendy Smith: A Voice for Change, A Vision for the Future

“If you can’t see it, you can’t be it”
Born and brought up in and around Middlesbrough, Wendy Smith always believed she could have a career in music. “Music was my life from being very young,” she says. “I didn’t always have what I needed in my childhood, but I had a family and schools that really valued music. So I had a lot of music around me when I was growing up.”

That belief and early encouragement set her on a path that would define her life. After meeting Paddy and Martin McAloon of Prefab Sprout, she joined the band, and for 22 years, her voice helped shape their distinctive sound. “They said to me that they were recording a demo called Cherry Tree, a beautiful song, and asked me if I would sing on it. That was the first singing I did with the band, myself and Paddy’s voices blended really well together, as if it was one voice, not two voices.”

Rooted in the North East, Wendy found strength in staying close to home. “One of the things that made it possible for us to stay in the North East, which is what we wanted to do was that we had Kitchenware Records. We were very lucky to have the support in the North East that we needed. It’s just brilliant to be able to have a sustainable career here. You know, to get to travel, that’s amazing, but there’s no place like home.”

Now Creative Director at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Wendy continues to champion opportunity, inclusivity and access for all. “The mission at The Glasshouse is for everybody to be involved in music — from babies who come to our classes through to children who are training to be musicians, artists on our stages — to be inclusive and accessible to everybody. It’s really music across the whole lifespan and artist development.”

Working hand in hand with Generator and other regional partners, she’s passionate about creating pathways for musicians at every stage. “It’s not just about the person who wants to have a professional career or be on a stage. It’s also all of the value of learning music in health and well-being… it’s about the lifelong love of music and that kind of just right and equality of everybody to be involved in music.”

Wendy has long been an advocate for women in music - both on stage and behind the scenes. “Women have always shaped the music industry as artists, managers and all sorts of different roles. But often we are minimised, downplayed, sidelined, criticised for being young, criticised for being old.” Quoting Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s words from The Ivors, she adds: “People hate women, they really do. But we need to remember to protect them, and equality is really important to me, to The Glasshouse.”

Her message to the next generation is simple but powerful: “For aspiring artists, it’s about connecting with other people, whoever they are, and organisations that can remind you of who you are. This is what you’re capable of, this is where you can go, this is your potential. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”

As the North East’s music scene continues to thrive, Wendy’s vision remains clear, one of collaboration, equality, and creativity without limits. “I just want to see opportunities equally for everybody in music in the North and for us all to pull together and really develop the music ecosystem here.”

Film credits:
Funded by: Destination North East England
Produced by: Generator
Production team: Will Creswick, Krishna Muthurangu, Matty Ride-Smith
Music: Prefab Sprout