On Oct. 21, 2003, singer/songwriter Elliott Smith took his own life. Last week marked the 11th anniversary of his passing. Smith inspired countless people during his life and countless more since his passing. His songs are more emotional and powerful than any artist I’ve heard before or since. Smith is truly my biggest inspiration.

Many people focus on Smith’s problems and the circumstances of his death, but I believe the focus should be on his life. The music he made, the people he inspired, and the lives that he touched.

His songs have made me feel more emotion than any other musician. “The Last Hour” has in my opinion the most heartbreaking line of any song “I’ve been thinking of the things that I missed. Situations that I passed up for this. One-way love I took for ours, I’m through trying now.”). Smith had a way of singing that no one else has ever come close to. He could convey more pain and sadness in a single whispered line than most artists can deliver in an entire career.

I have spent endless nights listening to his music over and over, evaluating and reevaluating my life and problems that I’ve had. Elliott Smith makes me feel and makes me think, much more so than anyone else. His music has been the reason and the solution to many melancholy moments in my life.

Every song I’ve written and almost every guitar piece I’ve come up with comes from inspiration given to me by Smith. I know this is true of many other people. Smith’s music was and is adored by copious amounts of people.

While I may not have known of his music for years after his passing, he has given me more confidence, inspiration, and knowledge of music to me than anyone ever has.