‘The Fray’ is Smith’s sixth studio album, written and recorded in a universally difficult 2020, and his vulnerability throughout is offered to his listeners, unadorned. “It’s been a hell of a year, but I feel I’ve created my most honest work as a result, and as a necessity. A lot of these songs are about accepting that life is hard, but just holding on and trying to enjoy it anyway.” Smith’s  stubborn optimism in tough circumstances shines through on the title track, in which he sings “Holding onto hope / I don’t need a decent reason / Yes and though it disappears sometimes / It returns with every season”.

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John Smith

Far Too Good

John Smith - Salty and Sweet

Gigs

Berlin

Prachtwerk

After reaching unfathomable levels of success with nu-rave originators Klaxons, James Righton morphed into one man pop sensation Shock Machine, releasing an acclaimed 2017 album before his first solo adventure under his own name, 2020’s The Performer. In 2022 Righton is reinventing himself yet again, via the stunning synth sounds of Jim, I’m Still Here, the new album made in collaboration with David & Stephen Dewaele (Soulwax) will be released on July 8 via their label DEEWEE. The 12-track album features the 2021 released single “Release Party” and a guest feature from ABBA’s Benny Andersson. On this third post-Klaxons release Righton downs his family man tools to embody a lavish, rockstar alter ego; Jim.....
“The alter ego of Jim came to me whilst promoting my previous album ‘The Performer’ during the first week of lockdown. Life shut down and became centered around family and domestic life. At the same time (and this did feel rather strange) I had to promote The Performer. I was asked more and more to live stream concerts through various social media platforms. So. I’d put the kids to sleep, head downstairs to my garage studio, put on my Gucci suit and became someone else. The juxtaposition of these 2 lives felt extreme but also interesting to me. I created Jim. Jim would be the deluded rockstar, living out his fantasies from the confines of his garage. James was Dad.
At the same time as creating Jim I also spent more time than ever thinking. Just thinking. I thought about the people I love, the people I miss, the places I wanted to go to, the things I wanted to do. I was looking forward and back. Time allowed thoughts in. Thoughts became words and the words became songs. I wrote about my wife, my children, friends who I miss and a friend who sadly passed away from Covid during the first month of the pandemic. As a result this album is more personal, raw and unlike any other I’ve made. I let the words dictate.
   
To be clear Jim and James are both me. Jim is an exaggerated semi fictional version of me. James changes nappies, makes dinner and reads bedtime stories to his kids. Jim craves external validation, likes, followers and adds to playlists. But in truth you can never fully detach Jim from James. The balance and constantly shifting nature of this duality I find endlessly fascinating.
I hope you enjoy the music.”

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James Righton

Edie

James Righton - The Performer

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