Luke Smith (record producer)

Luke Smith (born 4 May 1978) is an English record producer, mixing engineer, musician and songwriter. He was the co-founder, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist of the band Clor. His production and writing credits include Foals, Depeche Mode, Petite Noir, Anna of The North, Everything Everything, Slow Club, Crystal Fighters, Shitdisco, Fryars, Ten Fé, Theme Park and Is Tropical. He has worked on such popular and critically acclaimed albums as Total Life Forever and Sounds of the Universe.

Career

Clor

From 2003 to 2005, Smith founded with Barry Dobbin and provided lead guitars and vocals for the band Clor.[1] He co-wrote and produced their eponymous sole album which was released in 2005[2] to critical acclaim.[3][4][5] In May 2006, Smith and his co-founder announced Clor had split up.[6] Later, in 2010, their album was voted number 1 topping NME's “100 greatest albums you've never heard".[7][8]

Production and writing

In 2007 to present, Smith has produced a number of critically acclaimed releases.[9] Of his work, Smith’s most noted is his production of the seminal second album Total Life Forever by Foals in Gothenburg in 2010[10] and programming of the twelfth studio album Sounds of the Universe by Depeche Mode in 2009.[11][12] Amongst others, Smith also produced the debut album Kingdom of Fear by Shitdisco in 2007 which was awarded 9/10 by NME,[13] the second Slow Club album, Paradise, in 2012[14][15] which was given 8 out of 10 by Drowned in Sound magazine,[16] produced the second album I’m Leaving by Is Tropical in 2013[17][18] which received 8/10 on the popular music blog, The 405.[19] In 2014, Smith produced the much-lauded debut EP King of Anxiety by Petite Noir[20] on Domino records which received outstanding reviews in i-D magazine and The Guardian.[21][22] and has gone on to see its track "Chess" streamed over 3,000,000 times on Spotify. "Chess" also appears on the debut album La Vie Est Belle / Life Is Beautiful by Petite Noir released on Domino.

Smith also produced the 2007 EP The Ides by Fryars,[23] the 2009 single Photoshop Handsome by Everything Everything,[24] 2009 album New Worlds for Charlotte Hatherley,[25] the Champion Sound single for Crystal Fighters[26][26] in 2011, the 2012 fourth album of Eugene McGuinness titled Invitation to the Voyage,[27] the 2013 debut album Theme Park by Theme Park[28][29] and Fryars' second album Power in 2014.[30][31]

Production work took place in 2014 and 2015 on the third album by Is Tropical which is awaiting release.

In 2015, Smith also produced the Hype Machine no. 1 single "The Dreamer" by the Norwegian artist Anna of The North, which was released on Different Recordings / PIAS and has been streamed over six million times on Spotify.

He has writing credits on a number of these recordings; he co-wrote The King of Anxiety, the debut EP by Petite Noir, from which the song "Chess" has over 3,000,000 streams on Spotify.

2016/17 will see the release of a number of other of Smith's production work. Part Company, the French indie pop band from Nice, released their Smith-produced debut album on Label Gum (Woodkid, Herman Dune), the third album by Is Tropical, new album by Crystal Fighters 'Everything Is In My Family' was released in October 2016 on [PIAS], the debut album Lovers by Anna Of The North on Different Recordings / [PIAS] is out on 8 September 2017[32], Yasmine Hadman's second solo album Al Jamilat which came out in March 2017[33], Noémi Wolfs' album on Universal 'Hunts You' and Highs debut album Dazzle Camouflage on Indica Records.

His recordings have been released on labels Mute, Parlophone, Domino, Pias, Moshi Moshi, Kitsune, Transgressive, Geffen.[34]

Performance and music direction

Smith is a multi-instrumentalist and provides guitar and keyboard performances, amongst other instruments played by him, on nearly all of his productions.

In 2014, Smith was appointed and worked as the Musical Director of Lily Allen's Sheezus world tour[34] which played in the UK, Europe, US and Australia.[35] He played guitar live as well as being responsible for the show's music at large.

In 2015, Smith began working on an artist project with Charles Watson of Slow Club. Their song Wind Blows having featured on a BBC Radio 4 series.[36]

Remixing

Smith is well known for his remix work and has put his name to remixes of "Hotride" by The Prodigy[37][38] and "After Dark" by Le Tigre[37][38] in 2004, Perfume by Sparks[39][40] in 2006, "Nothing But Green Lights" by Tom Vek[41][42] and "Sister In Love" by Envelopes[43][44] in 2005, "X-ray" by The Maccabees (band),[45][46][47] "Behave" by Charlotte Hatherley[48][49] and "Reactor Party" by Shitdisco[50][51][52] in 2006, "Benedict Arnold" by FrYars[53][54] in 2008. Smith going under the name Lagos Boys Choir also remixed the hit singles "Focker" by Late Of The Pier, "Bullet Proof" by La Roux and "Miles Away" by Depeche Mode throughout 2008 and 2009.[55][56]

Nominations and awards

In 2010, the album Sounds of the Universe was nominated and shortlisted for the Best Alternative Music Album award in the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.[57]

In 2010, the album Total Life Forever was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize.[58]

His work Spanish Sahara, the lead single off the album, won the 'Best Song' award at the NME Awards in 2011.[59]

References
  1. "Clor - New Songs, Playlists & Latest News - BBC Music". BBC. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  2. "Clor - Clor". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. "Clor - Clor | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  4. "Clor : Clor | NME". 12 September 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  5. "Clor: Clor". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  8. replies 22:21, Juninho10192; December '10, 28. "Tomorrow's Nme The 100 Greatest Albums You've Never Heard..." Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "Luke Smith (3)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  10. "Foals announce new album title and release date | NME". 23 February 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  11. Sounds of the Universe (CD liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 2009. CDSTUMM300
  12. "'Sounds Of The Universe' The Album". 20 February 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  13. "Shitdisco | NME". 17 April 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  14. Kelly, Stephen. "BBC - Music - Review of Slow Club - Paradise". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  15. "Slow Club". Dazed. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  16. "Album Review: Slow Club - Paradise". Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  17. "Get millions of songs". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  18. "Is Tropical Release New Album 'I'm Leaving'". Purple Sneakers. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  20. "The King of Anxiety - Petite Noir | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. Todd, Bella (31 January 2015). "Petite Noir: 'Nowhere really feels like home'". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  23. "FrYars - The Ides EP". DrownedInSound. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  24. "Everything Everything band interview | Miloco Studios Clients". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. "Champion Sound (Luke Smith Mix) — Crystal Fighters". Last.fm. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  27. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. White, Post Author: Claire (8 January 2013). "Theme Park announce debut album release". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  29. Haydock, Mike. "BBC - Music - Review of Theme Park - Theme Park". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  31. "Review : Fryars - Power". 23 December 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  32. "Anna Of The North unveil sublime track "Lovers" and detail debut LP". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  33. Denselow, Robin (16 March 2017). "Yasmine Hamdan: Al Jamilat review – dreamy Arabic electronica from an underground hero". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  34. "Luke Alexander Smith". Luke Alexander Smith. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  35. "Lily Allen Concert Setlists". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  37. Replies 18:51, Roastthemonaspit47; May '06, 10. "Clor Split". Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. "Clor split up". Moopy. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  40. "Get millions of songs". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  41. "Tom Vek - Nothing But Green Lights". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  42. "Nothing But Green Lights (Clor Remix) — Tom Vek". Last.fm. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  43. "Envelopes - Sister In Love Re-Mixes". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  44. "Sister In Love (Clor Remix) — Envelopes". Last.fm. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  45. "The Maccabees - Precious Time / X-Ray". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  46. "X-ray (Luke Smith Remix) — The Maccabees". Last.fm. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  47. "Back To Mine with Harriet Jaxxon". 14 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  48. "Charlotte Hatherley - Behave". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  49. "Behave (Luke Smith Remix)". YouTube. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  50. "Shitdisco - Reactor Party". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  51. "Reactor Party (Luke Smith MPC Remix) — Shitdisco". Last.fm. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  52. "Bang Gang Deejays mix Light Sound Dance". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  53. "frYars - The Perfidy EP". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  54. "UPDATED: frYars gets himself a new EP, tours with Goldfrapp". Drownedinsound.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  55. "Miles Away / The Truth Is (Lagos Boys Choir Remix) — Depeche Mode | Last.fm". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  56. "Bulletproof (Lagos Boys Choir Remix) — La Roux". Last.fm. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  57. "Grammys 2010: Selected winners". News.bbc.co.uk. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
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