Mindy Smith Maps Out Closer Tour

Touring in support of her self-titled fifth album out June 26 on Giant Leap/TVX Records, the 20-city tour includes stops in Birmingham, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Minneapolis and Knoxville, among others.

"I spent the last several years trying to get my bearings and investing in myself," says Smith, "I think unless you're willing to do that, it's going to be very difficult to convince other people that they should invest in what you're doing. I stepped back and regained control of the things that I could, which were publishing�the current songs that I'm writing I own my publishing on�as well as masters and recordings. People don't realize that unless you own those masters, you really don't own anything. You get to own your personality, I suppose, but that doesn't pay the bills necessarily."

Offering 11 original compositions�seven of which Smith wrote with the remaining four as co-writes with Daniel Tashian, Kate York, Tami Hinesh and Lori McKenna�the album was co-produced with Jason Lehning and recorded at Sound Emporium Studio in Nashville with Bryan Sutton (guitar), Lex Price (bass), Ian Fitchuk (drums), Joe Pisapia (guitar), Jason Lehning (guitar) and Dan Dugmore (pedal steel).