Will Smith Says New Music Comes from 'Deep-Dive Soul Searching' 2 Years After Oscars Slap: 'Well of Authenticity'

10/04/2024 08:55 AM

"I'm trying to tap into the most honest and authentic space within me," the actor and rapper noted during his An Evening with Will Smith event in Los Angeles

Will Smith is treading fresh ground.

The actor and rapper, 56, opened up about his new music during his An Evening with Will Smith event at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 3.

While Smith didn't reference the March 2022 Oscars slap incident directly while speaking with moderator Lecrae, he said of his new music, "In the last couple of years I've been really deep-dive soul searching more than almost any point in my life. And I've found a new well."

"There's like a well of authenticity that I'm trying to tap into the most honest and authentic space within me," said the Academy Award winner. "And things are coming out that are very different than anything I would've done in the past."

For Smith, it's all a result of "trying to be experimental" and "honest," which is his main focus "more than I'm trying to make a hit."

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"I'm not even thinking about it in terms of hits. I'm thinking about it in terms of human connectivity. I want to say things," he added.

The four-time Grammy winner revealed that one of his first new songs — "You Can Make It," which was released in June — is something that "was on my heart."

"That's almost like the nicest thing you can say to another human, right? Is like, 'You can make it,' " Smith said. "As we sit in this audience, every single person is going through something, right? And you just tap in for a minute to the people around you, just feel into it a little bit."

Pointing to an audience member, he added, "And sir, I know you can make it. I know you can make it. I know you can make it... Little things like that go so far with people. So for me, that was the first song that kind of opened up the new space [of] where I wanted to be."

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It has been over two years since Smith got onstage at the Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, and hit Chris Rock in front of millions watching the ceremony. The confrontation was over a joke the comedian made about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Smith (who went on to win Best Actor for his role in King Richardthat night) has since apologized, and no charges were pressed. The Academy banned the actor from attending its events for 10 years.

A film industry source told PEOPLE in June that Smith "has had plenty of time to reflect on his life and is doing well" now.

"He wants to move forward and continue with his career. His life has improved and he is optimistic with a lot of projects upcoming," the source added at the time.

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