“There’s a chance he might draw comparisons to Lewis Capaldi because us critics can be a lazy bunch, but Smith has a very different sound – darker, moodier – and his vocals have a nice gravelly quality.” – The Independent
“This is weighty, folk-influenced stuff. Think Parachutes era Coldplay with John Mayer in his more earnest moments thrown it…Smith’s ear for a chorus and powerful voice make a very potent combination.” – HMV – Next Big Thing
“Smith’s vocal style has a strong echo of Chris Martin and the single’s piano infusion will certainly appeal to fans of early Coldplay, not to mention Keane.” –
The Scotsman – Under The Radar
“Spine-tingling” – Euphoria Magazine
Following on from the rousing success of his debut EP ‘Loveless’ and his recent comeback single ‘Brother’, which together have amassed more than 37 million streams online, hotly-tipped Scottish singer-songwriter Aaron Smith is back once again to announce the details behind his highly-anticipated sophomore EP ‘For My Father’, out on July 31st through Platoon, and previewed by the raw and emotional new offering ‘Your Turn Now’
‘For My Father’ marks an intimate milestone in the artist’s career as he opens up fully about his childhood and the troubles he experienced throughout it. In an almost cathartic exercise, his new single ‘Your Turn Now’ aims to confront the demons that haunted his adolescence and how, as an adult, he can reflect on those experiences and use his songwriting to truly express the impact that those times have had on him.
Speaking about the track, Aaron said, “I always say with my music that I like anyone who’s listening to take their own meaning from the track and maybe use it to reflect on something that may have happened in their own life. For me, ‘Your Turn Now’ is about a bad relationship I had with a family member. It’s from a time in my life where I did not feel safe or settled at home. The story the song tells stems from facing years of emotional abuse and manipulation which in turn took away my childhood.”
The new EP ‘For My Father’ was recorded and produced with Joe Rubel, with the exception of ‘Brother’, which was recorded by Ed Tullet (who works/performs with Novo Amor) and was produced by Ed and Joe. Grammy and Mercury-shortlists Mix & Mastering engineer Prash mastered the EP. The single ‘Unconditional’, lifted from the upcoming collection, also features guest vocals from Holly Humberstone.
‘For My Father’ Tracklist:
- Unconditional
- Brother
- Your Turn Now
- Doubts
In July 2019 Aaron Smith created quite a stir with the release of this debut single ‘Unspoken’, which featured in the #1 spot on both Spotify UK New Music Friday and Apple Music’s ‘Best of the Week’ playlists, pipping both Beyoncé and Sam Smith to the post. ‘Unspoken’ has gone on to clock up over 21 million streams worldwide. Early in 2020 Aaron recorded an acoustic version of the single for BBC Scotland in his hometown of Polmont. Watch it here
The release of his debut single ‘Unspoken’, created a groundswell of industry interest from the likes of Music Business Worldwide and Music Ally. It featured on BBC Radio 1’s ‘Best New Pop Songs’ for August 2019 and in numerous Spotify and Apple Music playlists including ‘The Most Beautiful Songs in The World’, ‘The A-List: New Artists’, ‘Pop Right Now’ and ‘Future Hit, and saw him tipped by tastemakers including The Scotsman, The Independent and HMV as the latter’s their Next Big Thing.
Aaron’s stunning follow up single ‘Better Than You Loved Me’ featured on debut EP ‘Loveless’, which also included two more beautiful tracks ‘In My Way’ and ‘Better Man’. ‘Better Than You Loved Me’ was accompanied by a highly emotive and incredibly powerful video directed by award winning film director/writer Ross Syner which touches on the very sensitive subject of domestic abuse. Watch ‘Better Than You Loved Me’ video HERE
Earlier this year Aaron Smith took to the stage for Stand Up To Cancer at Union Chapel alongside; Maisie Peters, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Marika Hackman, White Lies and Kitt Philippa. Not to mention sold-out headline shows in London and Glasgow in March 2020.
Aaron Smith’s music sounds so bucolic, so natural, that it encourages you to think of something beautiful, almost pastoral. The reality, though, is a little harsher. The songwriter’s journey, his experiences of both love and trauma, fuel his music.
Picking up the guitar following a bout of friendly competition with his cousin, Aaron became infatuated with music; later, he discovered a makeshift studio in a dusty corner of his school’s music department, and began sketching out songs – simple, at first, but then more complex, more confident. “It wasn’t great, but it was workable,” he recalls. “I was self-taught, really. I wrote my first song when I was 14, put it on Facebook, and started from there. That’s how I discovered I could write songs.”
2020 will see Aaron release more new music. Keep up with him on his socials for more music, updates, and additional exciting news to be announced.
https://www.facebook.com/aaronsmithsmusic
