AATR INTERVIEWS RISING SINGER SONGWRITER CHRISTIAN SMITH
18th December 2023Captivating UK solo artist CHRISTIAN SMITH will release his hugely engrossing new single, Aurora, through Rogue, on Friday 12th January. Drawing in from a range of areas, we exclusively spoke to Christian and asked him to reveal the five tracks that have influenced his sound the most:Handwritten was the first track that introduced me to Gaslight back in 2012 which kickstarted an obsession with listening to their entire back catalogue. Old White Lincoln stood out as a song that on paper was so basic yet delivered so much feeling and relatability that whilst listening to the track, you felt as though you were part of the situation being described.Springsteen set a standard and became a pinnacle for storytelling songwriting, which I feel I’ve always drawn on when it comes to my songwriting. No Surrender has been a standout track since I discovered Springsteen as a teenager, specifically for the no backing down message it portrays.Born in the 90’s and growing up throughout the 2000s, Oasis was one of the juggernaut bands of my childhood. Guitar-driven, anthemic rock ‘n’ roll that had a huge influence on the style of music I was drawn to later on throughout my teen years and adulthood. There are many Oasis songs that I could name as influential, but The Masterplan sticks out due to its ability to have such a dynamic build throughout and deliver a working-class message of resilience and determination.American Idiot was the first real punk album I owned, I remember the day I got the CD and being captivated by punk rocks answer to Bohemian Rhapsody, the first time I witnessed true diversity within a song, the ability to change between style and structure and have a piece of music still fit together.I discovered Dave Hause off the back of listening to Gaslight and Brian Fallon, his song writing style (I felt reminiscent of Joe Strummer) and the East Coast combination of heartland and punk rock have been a massive influence on my song writing over the past 4-5 years. Thought-provoking lyrics delivered with a hard-hitting punk rock melody.”
For more on Christian Smith, see – www.Facebook.com/ChristianSmithMusicUk
[…] Expressing a sound that’s embedded in rugged heartland rock, singer, and songwriter CHRISTIAN SMITH has diligently crafted a wealth of material in anticipation of a full onslaught throughout 2024 and beyond. Combining thought-provoking lyrics with anthemic guitar-driven melodies, Smith tips his cap to the blue-collar vibes of Springsteen and Petty whilst also embracing the emotive and hooky guile of The Gaslight Anthem and Dave Hause. (we recently interviewed Christian about the songs that shaped him HERE) […]