From a viral valedictorian speech to becoming a musician and activist, Paxton Smith is no stranger to making her voice heard. With songs off of her new EP, “But I Love It”, releasing every month, we have no shortage of things to look forward to! Beyond the music, Smith has had the chance to travel around the country to speak on the importance of reproductive rights and serves on the board for directors for WRRAP — the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project. Read on to learn more about Paxton Smith and her new music.

Where are you based?
Austin, TX, soon to be LA.

What inspired you to pursue music?
I've been doing music my whole life. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew it was what I wanted to do. As a toddler, I would hide under tables and sing to myself just because I loved it so much.

Throughout my childhood, I was deeply involved in classical music, I played the trumpet and sang in choirs. Then, when I turned 18, I realized I wanted to make pop music, which has always been what I was really passionate about.

There was never a single moment that made me want to pursue music, it’s just always been a part of me, something that constantly drives me forward.

How would you describe your musical style? Are there any artists that inspire you?
I make alternative pop music! For this EP I would say there’s a lot of electronic dusty gritty sounds mixed up with pop which I really love. One of my missions for this EP was to express the sounds that I hear in my head and I think I was successful with that. As for artists that inspire me, I listen to a lot of smaller artists, so UPSAHL, Lilyisthatyou, Slush Puppy, and also Sammy Rae and The Friends. For bigger artists, I’ve really gotten a lot from Rauw Alejandro and the production behind Nessa Barrett.

Your debut EP “But I Love It” is releasing. Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect to hear from it?
I’ve already started releasing my EP “But I Love It” using the waterfall method, which means I’ll be putting out one new song each month for six months. I’m really excited about it!

“But I Love It” is my coming of age, and it’s all about contradiction and cyclical thoughts. Growing up has been confusing, to say the least. The world becomes so much more nuanced, and your emotions get a lot more complex, or at least mine have.

This EP is my way of exploring all those complicated, confusing, and often contradictory thoughts and feelings that have come with growing up.

What do you hope listeners take away from this EP?
Like many of the artists I grew up listening to and loving, I hope this EP can be something that accompanies others through their own coming-of-age journey. It’s such a confusing time, full of growth and new experiences, and my hope is that this music helps people feel seen and understood—that they find something in it they can relate to.

At the same time, I want people to be able to party to it, no matter what stage of life they're in. The EP is high-energy and upbeat, even though it deals with some of the more uncomfortable parts of growing up. I love when music can be both emotionally honest and empowering—something that lifts you up while you're going through tough emotions.

Back in 2022 and 2023 you dropped a few singles but have taken a break from releasing anything since then. How have you used this time to grow as an artist?
That’s such a great question! In 2024, I really started focusing on live performances and learning how to put on a great show. I also began working more seriously on the visual side of things.

With this EP, you’ll start to see a lot more of who I am—not just through the music, but through the music videos, photo shoots, and overall visual storytelling. I've been exploring different sides of myself and figuring out how to express them in creative ways.

For me, it’s not just about being a musician—it’s about being a storyteller. There’s always so much more behind the music, and I want to share the full story, not just the song.

Your debut EP also contains a special song titled “Belong Here”. Can you tell us about this song and the story behind it?
Sure! “Belong Here” is the debut song of the EP, and it’s about the imposter syndrome I experienced during my time as an activist. I used to be really deeply involved in abortion rights advocacy. I’m from Texas so it feels especially important to me.

I gained a lot of press attention for my activism and I was very blessed with the fact that I was given a platform to speak on something that matters so much to me. But there are times when you walk into a room full of absolutely incredible people and you feel in your bones that you’re not fit to be there. Especially when you find success, I think it’s almost harder to not feel imposter syndrome when you realize people are actually listening to you. So, the song is about the imposter syndrome that I felt occasionally as an activist.

You were valedictorian at your high school graduation and used it as a chance to speak out against anti-abortion policies being enacted in your state. What inspired you to utilize your graduation as a chance to speak out?
So when Texas passed the six-week abortion ban, I felt so many feelings—the biggest one being a sense of dehumanization. It felt so dehumanizing, and it almost felt like a betrayal from my own political leaders.

In this country that is so dedicated to freedom and being the captain of your own life, the idea that a life-changing decision as big as having a child would be taken out of my hands and given to somebody I don’t even know—and that how it impacted my life would be irrelevant—was just a horrible feeling. Knowing that that was the new law around pregnancy made me feel like I had to do something about it.

I wanted to reach people who were unaffected by what I was talking about. I wanted to reach people who didn’t agree with what I believed on the subject. And I wanted to do it in a way where they couldn’t just turn me off, or scroll past me—they had to hear me.

I wanted to tell them what I felt. I wanted to tell them the human side behind the policy, because I think when it comes to anti-abortion rhetoric, there’s a lack of empathy for the actual women needing care. So I used my speech to talk about that in front of several thousand people, knowing I’d be able to share exactly what I felt.

What are some things you’ve done in between now and your graduation speech to advocate for reproductive rights?
Boy oh boy. Well, the graduation speech went viral. Very viral. I was invited to speak on CNN and MSNBC within the week, and suddenly I found myself with this huge platform.

I started traveling the country, talking about abortion care and why it matters—speaking on panels, giving speeches. I even represented the U.S. at a human rights forum in Switzerland, where I spoke about it there, too.

I joined the board of directors for WRRAP, the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, which is the largest national independent abortion fund in the country. I’ve raised money for them every year to help people afford abortion care who otherwise wouldn’t be able to. That’s especially important now, with people also having to cover travel and childcare costs.

And on top of all that, I’ve done a bit of lobbying—talking directly with politicians and lawmakers to advocate for reproductive rights.

What was it like to be under the public eye at such a young age?
Oh boy, it was something. Me getting into activism and being in the public eye happened so fast. It was such a quick transition. I mean, one day I was just walking around my high school, and then I graduated, and two days later I’m getting calls from CNN and being offered a book deal. It was this crazy whirlwind of things, and it almost didn’t even feel real.

There were moments where it felt like I was watching someone else’s life — like I’d see an article about myself pop up in my Snapchat feed and think, Oh, that girl’s cool. Respect. And then almost immediately I’d realize, Wait, that’s me. It’s such a strange experience to know who you are, and at the same time, see this one small part of yourself become this caricatured identity to the rest of the world.

It’s just a very odd thing to go through.

On top of that, I was constantly thinking about how I’d be perceived publicly. I was advocating for an issue that, as we all know, is seen as controversial. So I wanted to be taken seriously. I felt this pressure to be almost perfect — to never say the wrong thing, to always use impeccable grammar, to speak eloquently, dress professionally just so no one could discredit me before even hearing my argument.

I spent so much time overanalyzing everything I did.

So yeah… it was a lot. And honestly, the biggest word I can use to describe it all is just: odd. Really, really odd.

Being an activist for such a highly debated topic in our country surely brings with it lots of hate and negativity from the public. How do you handle reactions from those who don’t agree with you?
The truth is — and I really wish this were publicized more — I faced almost no backlash for the work I did. Almost none. The biggest backlash actually came from a member of my own immediate family.

As for the negative messages I received online, they were completely overshadowed by the amount of support I got. The reality is that most Americans support abortion rights. Even among conservatives and Republicans, many believe in protecting those rights — or at the very least, they don’t support these extreme abortion bans.

Right now, women are dying, losing their fertility, or ending up in the ICU because doctors are legally barred from helping them until they are literally at death’s door. That’s not how medical care should work. There are a lot of people who don’t support abortion, who also don’t support bans this extreme. No one wants their daughter, friend, or self to go through some of the horrors we’ve seen in the news lately.

I could go on about this forever, but the point is: I believe deeply in what I’m advocating for. Negative comments don't shake me because I know what I’m standing for is important.

You are currently involved with the national abortion fund WRRAP. Can you tell us a little about the organization and how you are involved?
Of course! WRRAP — the Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project — is the largest independent national abortion fund in the country. Just in the last year, we've provided over $3 million in funding to help more than 30,000 patients across the U.S. WRRAP supports people in all 50 states who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford abortion care.

I’m on WRRAP’s Board of Directors, where I help raise money each year and participate in shaping the organization’s direction for the year ahead. It's truly a blessing to work with the team at WRRAP and to contribute however I can.

WRRAP makes a real, tangible difference in people's lives. And while I will never downplay the importance of political work and lobbying for legislative change, there's something incredibly powerful about direct, on-the-ground support, helping patients who need care right now.

Because the truth is, people seeking abortion care often can't afford to wait. And being able to help someone in that moment of need, is one of the most rewarding things I’ve been part of.

What are your thoughts on where the government is headed now with even more anti-abortion rhetoric and policies?
It’s really disappointing to see the current state of reproductive rights, and the truth is, it’s only getting worse. The overturning of Roe v. Wade wasn’t the end goal for the pro-life movement. The overturning signaled to them that now is the time to push even harder, and they’ve taken that as an opportunity to advance a vision where no American woman can access abortion care at all.

That vision is already hurting a lot of people, and it’s going to continue to harm even more. Lives are being changed without people’s consent or control. It’s incredibly upsetting to witness.

That said, I’m still hopeful. The majority of Americans are pro-choice. I believe that with sustained, focused work from advocates, organizers, and everyday people, we will eventually move back in the direction of protecting abortion rights, of aligning our laws with the values most Americans already hold.

What advice would you give to young girls who want to get involved and start advocating for women’s rights? What are some things they can do?
Ohhh hell yeah. It’s a big wide world out there, so for anyone wanting to start advocating for women’s rights, the first step is figuring out what direction you want to go in. Do you want to focus on reproductive rights? Combat violence against women? Expand access to education and career opportunities? There are so many different issues that having a focus helps.

Once you’ve identified the issue you care most about, think about how you want to make an impact. Do you want to be a lobbyist and influence policy? Work on shifting public opinion? Raise or distribute funding for critical services? Knowing how you want to help, not just that you want to help, will guide you.

From there, a great next step is to start looking into nonprofits in your area. Even if they’re not actively advertising for volunteers, don’t be afraid to reach out through email. I promise you there is no nonprofit doing good work on this planet that doesn’t need help.

Are there any upcoming projects you’re working on that we should look out for?
Yes of course! “But I Love It” is coming out all year this year. I'm releasing a new song every month for quite a while so be on the lookout.

It’s been a rough few years, and we expect at least four more. How have you been staying positive?
Another great question. I think, honestly, it’s just really important to look around and notice all the things in your life that you’re grateful for. Taking the time to remind yourself — hey, something great happened today, or I’m grateful for this bed I sleep in, the food I have, or that really cute dog over there — that kind of mindset makes a difference.

Being able to come back to your life, to really see what’s around you, and just push yourself away from the political sphere for a moment — it helps. It reminds you that your life is happening right now, and staying grounded in that can help you stay positive. Because no matter what’s going on out there, there’s always some beauty right here, right around you.

What is your motto in life?
I fluctuate with this one constantly, I actually have three:

1) Always do the right thing even when it sucks

2) I ain't no bitch, I am that bitch

3) Better, always.

To learn more about Paxton Smith, please check out the links below:
Listen to Paxton Smith: https://linktr.ee/PaxtonSmith?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacrUkaXNHVPh5zZ4OS3Nw2X9cr2J_y2GvazyAXQqECaRs8394YrK9i1oDIECA_aem_xmtp8Csqbp4gXPFdMVYfcw

Paxton’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paxtonasmith/

Paxton’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paxtonsmith

WRRAP Website: https://wrrap.org