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Paul Smith (English singer)

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Paul Smith
Smith performing with Maxïmo Park in Latvia in 2017
Smith performing with Maxïmo Park in Latvia in 2017
Background information
Born
Paul Smith

(1979-03-13) 13 March 1979 (age 47)
Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, England
GenresIndie rock, art rock
OccupationsVocalist, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active2003–present

Paul Smith (born 13 March 1979) is an English singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer of indie rock band Maxïmo Park. He has also released solo albums and, in 2023 as Unthank: Smith, an album with Rachel Unthank which received a four-starred review from Jude Rogers in The Guardian.

Biography

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BERJAYA
Smith performing in November 2009

Born in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, Smith is the eldest of three children, and was educated at Northfield School. He attended Newcastle University completing a BA and MA, studying Art History and English Linguistics, following a one-year Foundation Studies course at Cleveland College of Art and Design in Hartlepool. He briefly worked as an art teacher[1] at Stockton Riverside College, before the then-girlfriend of Maxïmo Park drummer Tom English noticed Smith singing along to Stevie Wonder's "Superstition",[2] where he was asked to join the band, active for three years by that point, taking over on vocals from guitarist Duncan Lloyd and then-bassist Archis Tiku, both of whom co-fronted the band in its infancy, with the latter two, by that point, wanting the focus on writing the band's songs instead.

In April 2007, Smith contributed vocals to a pop soul[3] remix of Maxïmo Park's 2005 single "Apply Some Pressure" by DJ and producer Mark Ronson for his studio album of cover versions, Version.[4] Smith recorded the vocals for Ronson after Ronson invited him to perform on the instrumental he had made based on the band's original.

In 2014 Smith teamed up with Field Music singer Peter Brewis to record an album, Frozen by Sight, derived from his travel writing, and featuring string arrangements by Brewis.[5]

In 2015 he released Contradictions, a solo album, as Paul Smith and the Intimations,[6] and in 2018, released a fourth solo album, Diagrams.[7]

In February 2023 Smith released an album with Rachel Unthank of folk band The Unthanks.[8] Reviewing the album for KLOF Magazine, Hannah Webber described Unthank: Smith’s Nowhere and Everywhere as "a triumph, an amalgamation of musical style and defiance of genre, one that celebrates and commemorates the experiences of ordinary people".[9] It received a four-starred review from Jude Rogers in The Guardian.[10]

Artistry

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Smith grew up idolising Morrissey and has been compared by critics to the Smiths' former frontman and to Jarvis Cocker for his introspective lyrics and on-stage hyperactivity.[11][12][13][14]

Personal life

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He is a fan of Middlesbrough F.C.[15]

Discography

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Maxïmo Park

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Solo

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  • Margins (2010)[30]
  • Frozen By Sight (with Peter Brewis) (2014)[5]
  • Contradictions (as Paul Smith and The Intimations) (2015)[6]
  • Diagrams (2018)[7]

With Rachel Unthank, as Unthank: Smith

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  • Nowhere and Everywhere (2023)[10]

References

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  1. ↑ Benzine, Adam (30 April 2007). "The 5-Minute Interview: Paul Smith, Singer". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 November 2007.[dead link]
  2. ↑ Duerden, Nick (22 February 2007). "An audience with Maximo Park's front man". The Independent. Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (13 April 2007). "Mark Ronson, Version". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  4. ↑ Mark Ronson feat. Paul Smith – Apply Some Pressure – hitparade.ch, retrieved 22 August 2025
  5. 1 2 "Maximo Park's Paul Smith and Field Music members team up for new album". NME. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 "PAUL & THE INTIMATIONS SMITH - Contradictions - Amazon.com Music". amazon.com. 2015.
  7. 1 2 Maine, Samantha (15 August 2018). "Maxïmo Park's Paul Smith has announced a new solo album, listen to new track 'Silver Rabbit'". NME. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  8. ↑ Welford, Ali (15 February 2023). "Interview: Unthank:Smith". Narc. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Webster, Hannah (10 February 2023). "Unthank : Smith – Nowhere And Everywhere". KLOF Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  10. 1 2 Rogers, Jude (17 February 2023). "Unthank Smith: Nowhere and Everywhere review – folk veteran and Maxïmo Park man find joy". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Park come out to play". Manchester Evening News. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  12. ↑ Simpson, Dave (21 October 2005). "Tales of woe and vodka". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Maximo Park". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Maximo Park : A Certain Trigger". NME. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  15. ↑ Dunn, Alex (24 November 2010). "Paul Smith". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "Maximo Park: A Certain Trigger". Uncut: 102. [T]here's a romantic soul at play. Frontman Paul Smith loves the dejections of the north as much as Jarvis Cocker.
  17. ↑ "Maximo Park: Missing Songs | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 20 February 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  18. ↑ "Maximo Park Unveil New Album Details". NME. 22 January 2007.
  19. ↑ "Maximo Park name new album – exclusive". NME. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  20. ↑ "Quicken The Heart Tracklisting and Release Date". maximopark.com. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "Maximo Park – 'The National Health'". NME. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  22. ↑ "Too Much Information by Maxïmo Park". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  23. ↑ Zaleski, Annie (2014). "Maxïmo Park – Too Much Information". Alternative Press. March 2014 (308). Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.: 93. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Maximo Park– 'Too Much Information'". NME. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "British band Maximo Park have a new song to help migrants at sea". Newsweek. 22 February 2017.
  26. ↑ "Make What You Can: An Interview with Maximo Park, PopMatters". 13 April 2017.
  27. ↑ "Maxïmo Park release 'The National Health' from upcoming live-in-the-studio film & album 'As Long As We Keep Moving'". 18 January 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  28. ↑ "2021-03-05 Top 100 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company.
  29. ↑ "2024-10-04 Top 100 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company.
  30. ↑ White, Chris (2010). "Paul Smith Margins Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
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