Twenty years in, and John Smith still carries himself like someone who has something to prove. Not to anyone or anything other than to the songs themselves. The British singer, songwriter and guitarist has collaborated with artists like Sarah Jarosz (I’m With Her), The Staves, the Milk Carton Kids, Lisa Hannigan, Patty Griffin, Joan Baez, David Gray, Tom Jones, Katherine Priddy and Jackson Browne. And those are great, but for me, the magic happened as soon as he sat down in front of me, by himself, and started playing and singing his song The World Turns and covers of Richard Thompson’s Beeswing and Rowland Jon Salley’s Killing The Blues at the Mailmen studio in Utrecht.
“The songwriter isn’t necessarily in charge of the songs.”
As John Smith marked his 20th anniversary in music last October, Smith’s new release Gatherings celebrates, revisits, and reimagines songs from his first three albums, with brand new interpretations of his own and audience favourites from over 2,000 live shows.
Reflecting on these treasured compositions, Smith said: “I’ve learnt as time goes on that the songwriter isn’t necessarily in charge of the songs. Sometimes it feels as if it’s the other way round, that a song will reveal itself fully when it’s ready to be sung.”
His motivations are pure.
Kelly Joe Phelps once said: “I believe in John Smith; his motivations are pure, his vision is straight, his music is honest and true. Were I to discover another man’s music flowing through my body and out my hands, and that music to be his, I would consider myself both lucky and blessed.”
John Smith is on tour in Europe right now
As we speak, John Smith is back out on tour through Europe and the UK, please visit his website to see if he’s playing near you. And if he is, do not hesitate to get some tickets.
Photos
Originals
Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
Tidal | Apple Music
Killing The Blues (Rowland Jon Salley)
Tidal | Apple Music
John Smith
Credits
Filmed & edited by Matthijs van der Ven. Audio recorded & mixed by Martijn Groeneveld & Amèl Joore.
Location
Mailmen studio
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Thanks
Martijn Groeneveld
Amèl Joore
There is no better way to discover music than watching great musicians cover the songs they love. The Influences has been producing these videos ever since 2008.
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