Andy Smythe

Andy Smythe is a British singer/songwriter who has been active on the London folk scene since the ‘90s. London, however, isn't Smythe's home town; he is originally from Shropshire, England. But London is where Smythe now lives, and London is where he has developed a small but enthusiastic following. Known for his reflective, thoughtful, contemplative lyrics, Smythe has a variety of influences--some British, some American, some neither British nor American. In the British media, Smythe has often been compared to the late Nick Drake--and other valid comparisons have included Donovan, Tim Buckley and Van Morrison (who is neither British nor American but rather, Irish). Smythe has cited Bob Dylan as an inspiration, and in fact, there are echoes of the seminal Dylan in some of Smythe's lyrics (although Dylan has a rougher, harder, grittier vocal style--Smythe's expressive singing tends to be on the gentle side). At times, Smythe incorporates Celtic elements, which explains why he has enjoyed some favorable coverage in the Irish media. Since emerging in the ‘90s, Smythe has performed in a variety of settings. Like a lot of his fellow singer/songwriters and folk-rockers, the Shropshire native has had his share of unaccompanied solo gigs (which found him playing either acoustic guitar or electric keyboards). Other times, he has performed with full bands or in duets with London-based violinist David Camrass. Smythe's recording career began in the late ‘90s; his self-titled debut EP was released in 1999 and was followed by his first full-length album, Changing Seasons, in 2000 (when the album came out in Great Britain on Dreaming Element Records). In 2003, Dreaming Element released Smythe's second full-length album, Love Unspoken. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide