Paul Smith (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Smith is the singer for the British
indie rock
group
, Maxïmo Park
.
. He briefly worked as an art teacher at Stockton Riverside College
before he was asked to join the band. He attended Newcastle University completing a BA and MA following a 1 year Foundation Studies course at Cleveland College of Art & Design in Hartlepool.
Before Smith was recruited to Maxïmo Park they were a four-piece band on the verge of splitting up. Bassist Archis Tiku was originally the lead singer along with Duncan Lloyd
, but revealed to the band that he and Lloyd had no intention of being frontmen. Smith was discovered by the then-girlfriend of drummer Tom English in a pub while he was singing along to Stevie Wonder's "Superstition". After a few practices, Smith began to write songs with the group, despite never imagining himself as the frontman. Smith can also play the guitar and regularly performs with his original band MeandthetwinS with visual artists Rachel Lancaster, Laura Lancaster and Narbi Price.
Smith's on-stage behaviour is noted as being a little odd - particularly his dancing, pointing and handchops whilst singing. He has been compared to Morrissey
and Jarvis Cocker
. He also had a part on MTV Cribs
in 2006, in which he did not show his home, but a villa in Ibiza
, in which Maxïmo Park were staying.
In 2007 he made a cover
of "Apply Some Pressure
" with Mark Ronson
. The same year his A-level Art self portrait project was auctioned off for charity, by Stockton Sixth Form College.
Paul Smith released his debut solo album, Margins, on October 11, 2010 before undertaking a full European and UK tour during November and December. Alongside this release, his first photographic book, Thinking In Pictures, was released, too, featuring 74 Polaroids taken over the last 6 years. Recently he appeared as a guest editor for The Mays XIX
Smith is a sports fan
of Middlesbrough F.C.
. In the 2003/04 and 2004/05 seasons, Smith played football for Newcastle IJLW Brazil (now Heaton Rifles), in the Tyneside Amateur League
. Playing as a striker
, he scored three goals (a cup hat-trick) in his nine appearances for the club before leaving due to his growing commitments with Maxïmo Park.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
indie rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park are a British alternative rock band, formed in 2000. They are signed to Warp Records. The band consists of Paul Smith , Duncan Lloyd , Archis Tiku , Lukas Wooller and Tom English...
.
Biography
Smith is the eldest of three children, and was educated at Northfield SchoolNorthfield School
Northfield School is a comprehensive secondary school in Billingham, north-east England.-History:It was established in 1972 on an original site occupying on Thames Road, in the Wolviston Court area of Billingham....
. He briefly worked as an art teacher at Stockton Riverside College
Stockton Riverside College
Stockton Riverside College is a further education college located in Stockton-on-Tees in North East England.The college offers a range of courses for students from Stockton-on-Tees and the surrounding area. These courses include Diplomas, NVQs, BTECs and ESOL programmes...
before he was asked to join the band. He attended Newcastle University completing a BA and MA following a 1 year Foundation Studies course at Cleveland College of Art & Design in Hartlepool.
Before Smith was recruited to Maxïmo Park they were a four-piece band on the verge of splitting up. Bassist Archis Tiku was originally the lead singer along with Duncan Lloyd
Duncan Lloyd
Duncan Lloyd is a guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist for Maxïmo Park. He is also in the experimental band Res Band from Derby.-Biography:...
, but revealed to the band that he and Lloyd had no intention of being frontmen. Smith was discovered by the then-girlfriend of drummer Tom English in a pub while he was singing along to Stevie Wonder's "Superstition". After a few practices, Smith began to write songs with the group, despite never imagining himself as the frontman. Smith can also play the guitar and regularly performs with his original band MeandthetwinS with visual artists Rachel Lancaster, Laura Lancaster and Narbi Price.
Smith's on-stage behaviour is noted as being a little odd - particularly his dancing, pointing and handchops whilst singing. He has been compared to Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
and Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
. He also had a part on MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs and CMT Cribs, depending on which channel it airs, is a franchise reality television program that originated on the MTV Networks' MTV. It later aired on its CMT channel that features tours of the houses and mansions of celebrities. The first show aired September 2000...
in 2006, in which he did not show his home, but a villa in Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, in which Maxïmo Park were staying.
In 2007 he made a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Apply Some Pressure
Apply Some Pressure
"Apply Some Pressure" was the second single released by Maxïmo Park. It reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart in February 2005. The song was re-released in October 2005 and reached number 17 in the UK charts...
" with Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
. The same year his A-level Art self portrait project was auctioned off for charity, by Stockton Sixth Form College.
Paul Smith released his debut solo album, Margins, on October 11, 2010 before undertaking a full European and UK tour during November and December. Alongside this release, his first photographic book, Thinking In Pictures, was released, too, featuring 74 Polaroids taken over the last 6 years. Recently he appeared as a guest editor for The Mays XIX
May Anthologies
The Mays Literary Anthology is an anthology of new writing by students from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. In 1992, when Peter Ho Davies, Adrian Woolfson, and Ron Dimant came up with the original concept for the Mays, the publication was split into two separate...
Smith is a sports fan
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
of Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. In the 2003/04 and 2004/05 seasons, Smith played football for Newcastle IJLW Brazil (now Heaton Rifles), in the Tyneside Amateur League
Tyneside Amateur League
The Tyneside Amateur League is a football competition based in England. It has two divisions including the Tyneside Amateur League Division One, which sits at level 14 of the English football league system. It is a feeder to the Northern Alliance....
. Playing as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, he scored three goals (a cup hat-trick) in his nine appearances for the club before leaving due to his growing commitments with Maxïmo Park.