A fan's decades-old letter to musician Elliott Smith, written when she was a teenager, has finally received a response, albeit posthumously. The author, Kirby Van Amburgh, wrote to Smith in 2000, expressing her admiration for his music and its impact on her life.
Van Amburgh, then 17, felt a connection to Smith despite their differing lifestyles. She was drawn to his vulnerability and the diary-like quality of his songs. Feeling inspired, she sent a fan letter to his record label, Kill Rock Stars, hoping to convey her gratitude. However, she never received a reply, and Smith died tragically in 2003 at the age of 34.
Twenty-three years later, in 2023, Van Amburgh was contacted by Jamie Fisher, a writer working on a biography of Elliott Smith. Fisher had found Van Amburgh's original letter among Smith's belongings and inquired if she had ever received a response. This discovery confirmed that Smith had indeed received and kept the letter.
Fisher revealed that Smith had written a reply to Van Amburgh, which was found alongside her letter. In his response, Smith thanked her for her kind words, wished her success with her writing, and recommended Mikhail Bulgakov. He also shared that he sometimes wished he had pursued a career as a writer, as his music often deviated from mainstream tastes. Smith signed off by encouraging her to "go out and kick ass!"
Van Amburgh described reading Smith's letter as an emotional experience. She felt that his words were more meaningful to her at age 40 than they would have been at 17, providing encouragement when she needed it most. Inspired by the exchange, she has since returned to her creative pursuits, including writing and playing music, activities she had largely set aside after having her daughter.
"Nobody Broke Your Heart," an intimate biography of Elliott Smith by Jamie Fisher, is scheduled for release on August 25 by Penguin Random House.