Michael Smith and the genesis of Daydream Nation
Daydream Nation is the brainchild of musician and all around cool dude, Henry Gibson (Echoes, Royal Bangs, Cold Hands) for WUTK in Knoxville, TN. Originally conceived as a Shoegaze/Dreampop/Brit-Pop program, the show took on a different life with each successive host. In 2015, following the departure of then host Dan Hood, Michael Smith took over as the show’s curator. Having previously revamped WUTK’s 80s program, and re-establishing the station’s local music show as a presence in the local scene. Michael would not allow the creation of his closest friend to disappear.
Born in Knoxville, Michael began his venture into radio during the summer of 2010 as an afternoon rotation DJ with WUTK. Within his first shift Michael knew something felt right, and dove headfirst into that universe. After his first month he’d join the music department, immediately playing a key role in WUTK becoming a finalist for MTV’s 2010 Woodie Award as “Best College Radio Station”, winning CMJ’s 2011 award for “Most Improved Station”. Michael would go on to rise in ranks at WUTK, making it to Music Director. During this time he became host of the stations 80’s program, “The 80’s Rockoff”, directing the show’s focus to more alternative and underground artists of the era, while simultaneously hosting the local music show “Locals Only” and rebuilding the strained relationship that existed between the (younger) local music scene and the radio station.
In the fall of 2015, Michael became the host of Daydream Nation. As someone always attracted to a darker aesthetic, he saw the similarities in the sound of the Goth-Darkwave music and the world of Shoegaze and Dreampop. Fusing these genres together, Michael developed Daydream Nation into something that is uniquely his own. Ultimately growing restless, Michael departed WUTK and Knoxville in 2018 for Nashville, where he currently resides. After taking a hiatus from radio, Michael resurrected the Daydream Nation imprint (with the blessing of the show’s creator), and joined DKFM.
