Mike Smith | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Mike Smith on stage with Blur at Wembley Stadium 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Smith |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Member of | The Ailerons Live band member of Gorillaz Blur The Good, the Bad & the Queen |
| Formerly of | Touring member of The Brand New Heavies Jamiroquai |
| Website | mikesmithmusic |
Michael Smith is a British musician, arranger, musical director, music producer and composer.
He's been part of Blur's touring band since 1994, as keyboard player and musical director.[1]
Smith grew up in Bridport, Dorset and cites his music teacher Rex Trevett as the reason he took up music.[1]
He obtained a 1st Class Degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music at the City of Leeds Leeds College of Music and a Post Graduate Degree in Jazz and Rock at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[1]
Smith gained experience as a studio musician, playing and touring with The Brand New Heavies[2] and Jamiroquai.[3] In 2015 he was part of PJ Harvey's live music installation at Somerset House recording her album The Hope Six Demolition Project.[4]
Smith was originally hired as a saxophonist when Blur toured with a brass section. After a hiatus he returned to Blur for the Think Tank (Blur album) which he played saxophone on, and has a writing credit for the track Jets. He joined the album tour as musical director and keyboardist and has remained in this role ever since.[1]
Smith is the keyboard player and musical director of the Gorillaz live band.[1] He is the only other constant live member since the band's debut, alongside co-founder and singer Damon Albarn.
Alongside Damon Albarn, Smith co-composed and arranged the score for The Kid Who Would Be King as well as the award-winning Broken (2012 film) starring Tim Roth and Cillian Murphy.
Smith won a Royal Television Society regional award in 2013 for Best Music for his score to 8 Minutes Idle.[5] He worked with Christoph Bauschinger to score The Exchange (2021 film).
Documentary film composing includes ‘Last Stop Coney Island: The Life and Photography of Harold Feinstein’, ‘Madeleine – One Year On’, and ‘Betrayal’ (Scott Calonico 2019 Tribeca Film Festival).
Smith was also a co-music producer for Aardman’s 2018 animated feature A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.[6]
