A radio-charting producer, songwriter, and musical artist with roots in Altona is earning attention for her work.
Known as Daggerss, Laura Smith was one of seven talented producer-songwriters selected for Music Publishers of Canada 2025 Women in the Studio National Accelerator program, which supports the professional growth of music producers from across Canada.
Now in its seventh year, the accelerator program targets mid-career producers who are already producing for others and aims to equip them with skills and connections vital for them to take the next step in their music industry career.
This year’s program runs virtually from June through October and will include an in-person residency week in Toronto this month. Throughout the program, participants will engage in a range of workshops covering topics including technical and songwriting skills, branding and financial literacy and will provide opportunities for creative collaborations and networking with key music industry professionals.
“It feels great to be part of the movement of changing things in the studio,” said Smith, who welcomes the opportunity to be part of helping advance others in the industry.
“Since I started producing, I’ve just been attracting more female, non-binary or gender-expansive artists,” she said.
“I think for a long time, even for myself, I just had limited options of people to work with … so it’s kind of fun to work with someone that you can see yourself in,” Smith suggested. “I feel really honoured to be able to help elevate the voices of people who have been a little less represented … and also to mentor other up and coming producers.”
Daggerss is known for her glittery, emotionally rich sound, built on lush synths and infectious melodies from her Sprkl Studio.
She has toured, recorded and written songs internationally and boasts multiple sync placements on major film/tv networks that include Being Human (NBC), Motive (CTV) and Mysticons (Nickelodeon).
In 2024, Daggerss was part of the SHE-Q incubator and song camp at the National Association of Music Merchants Show, Women In Music Canada’s export program to Sweden, the S.A.C. pro songworks songwriting camp and Manitoba Music’s LA export mission, all while writing and producing countless songs for artists from around the world.
Smith was a co-founder and leading member of indie pop duo Rococode and is currently an organizer for the Good + Plenty Producers Club, advocating for women, 2spirit, non-binary and gender-expansive individuals within the music and music production industry.
She grew up with music including playing piano and singing in choirs, then she met her partner Andrew Braun, who was also from Altona, in Vancouver when they were both studying jazz, and they started a band and toured and recorded for about eight years.
“Then I took a break from music because it’s a crazy industry, and I started teaching piano, but I’ve come back to it now,” she said.
“I think with the Women in the Studio program, a big part of the intention is to give a voice to more women because there’s been such a disparity,” she suggested, citing one estimate that perhaps no more than six per cent of the music people listen to is produced or recorded by women.
And perhaps it can be extra challenging coming from a rural area, but she sees that as changing with today’s technology.
“After COVID, people are very willing to work remotely, and I’ve actually worked with a few artists who have only worked remotely from all over the world,” she noted. “So it’s kind of a cool time for music creation, although it’s nice to be in the room with people.”
As for her own music, she aims to just be true to herself and make music that is authentic to her.
“Just trying to keep creating music for the long term is my goal … I just want to make good music with cool people.”
