Imagine a voice that carries the soul of Adele, the power of Celine Dion, and the energy of Beyoncé—that’s Antonique Smith. Her bio describes her perfectly, capturing the many accolades she’s earned throughout her career. From Broadway to the Grammys, the New Jersey native has had a remarkable journey, but a talent like hers doesn’t come from luck alone.

“I’ve been interested in the arts since I was 3. There’s literally nothing else I ever wanted to do,” Antonique told I Love Us. “I had a little tape recorder, and I would create characters, make up stories, and record radio shows where I was the host and the guest. I was honing my skills as an actor and singer without even realizing it.”

A Voice Inspired by the Greats

From an early age, Antonique’s voice was nurtured by some of the most powerful influences in music.

“Without a doubt, it was hearing Whitney Houston’s voice as a little girl that made me want to sing,” she said. “I didn’t know she was from my hometown—I just knew that voice was amazing and I wanted to sound like that. At 7, I joined the choir and sang in church, which led to influences like Yolanda Adams. Mary J. Blige also had a huge impact—her swag and passion were powerful. Later, Celine Dion and Aretha Franklin became major influences on me, too.”

Her powerhouse vocals go hand-in-hand with her songwriting skills, which earned her a Grammy nomination for co-writing “Hold Up Wait A Minute (Woo Woo).” She has also written songs featured in major TV shows like Shots Fired by Reggie and Gina Bythewood.

Music as Healing

For Antonique, songwriting is therapy. She draws from personal experiences and those of the people around her, hoping her music can bring relief to her audience.

“I pray that my singing heals people, makes them think, inspires them, and makes them feel,” she said. “With so much craziness going on, we have to have a place to feel, and I hope my performances give that to people.”

Merging Art and Activism

Antonique’s passion doesn’t stop at music. Her activism runs just as deep, and she doesn’t see a separation between the two.

“They intersect in a way that love and passion are at the foundation of both me as a creative and me as an activist,” she explained. “I love creating art, singing, and storytelling. That’s the foundation of Antonique the creative. I also love people and this beautiful world—God’s creations. That’s the foundation of Antonique the activist. They are one and the same.”

Dubbed the “Voice of the Movement” by renowned environmentalist Bill McKibben, Antonique is a dedicated climate activist. She co-founded Climate Revival alongside Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., aiming to connect the dots between faith communities and the fight for environmental justice.

“I’d been what I call an ‘artivist’ in the climate movement for 10 years, and I was frustrated watching things get worse,” she said. “So I went to my amazing bro Rev Yearwood—who was recently named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Sustainability Leaders—and we brainstormed what was missing in the movement. Inspired by MLK organizing the civil rights movement in churches, we realized that people of faith and people of color weren’t being reached in the way they needed to be. That’s what birthed Climate Revival.”

Fighting for the Future

Antonique and Yearwood are laser-focused on making sure Black and Brown communities are aware of how climate change disproportionately affects them.

“Folks need to understand that this movement is more than recycling and using solar panels,” she emphasized. “The biggest cause of climate change is pollution from big oil. Power plants and petrochemical factories are placed in communities of color and poor areas, causing cancer and asthma. That same pollution is changing the climate, leading to extreme storms, heatwaves, wildfires—like what we’re seeing in Los Angeles—droughts, and more. Lives are being lost, communities are being destroyed, and meanwhile, big oil is making a trillion dollars a year while getting $20 billion in tax breaks. How crazy is that? People are struggling to pay their bills, but billionaires are getting tax breaks. There’s so much to fight for, and we can only win if we come together. That’s the mission of Climate Revival—to build a loving army to fight for our health and existence.”

To mark the 10th anniversary of ‘Love Song to the Earth’, Antonique has teamed up with Toby Gad to re-release the powerful anthem, bringing renewed awareness to climate justice and the urgency of protecting our planet. “It’s a love song that you would sing to someone you love—but to Earth,” she said.

The Revolution Needs Artists

Antonique makes it clear that climate change isn’t just about the future—it’s about now.

“Communities need to start paying attention now because it’s not just about the planet being in jeopardy—it’s about people dying right now from pollution and climate disasters we see almost every day,” she warned. “There are cancer clusters across the country. The worst is Cancer Alley in Louisiana, where over 200 petrochemical factories operate within 85 miles between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. They have a 95% cancer rate. People are dying.”

For Antonique, being an artist means using her voice for more than just music—it’s about making real change.

“The great Toni Cade Bambara said, ‘The role of the artist is to make a revolution irresistible.’ I just want to share my gifts in ways that bring healing, hope, unity, and love,” she said. “I hope I can have a positive impact on the world. And I hope I can inspire more people to join the climate movement to fight for our health and existence.”

Whether she’s lighting up the stage or leading the fight for climate justice, Antonique Smith is a force to be reckoned with.

Cover photo: Antonique Smith Marks 10th Anniversary of ‘Love Song to the Earth’ with Re-Release / Credit: Kwaku Alston