GET TO KNOW: Robert Luther Smith

For singer-songwriter Robert Luther Smith, music has always been a way of observing the world around him. Drawing on decades of experience and influences spanning blues, rock, soul and funk, his songwriting explores the peculiarities of human behaviour, relationships and the disappointments that shape everyday life.

His latest single 'Bluesman' introduces the central character of his new album, Blues Man. Part fictional wanderer and part reflection of Luther himself, the character travels from place to place, observing love, loss and the strange unpredictability of life while searching for something that continually seems beyond his reach.

So with the new single out now, we sat down with him to discuss his origins and influences over the years.

What was the first band or artist you fell in love with? 

In love? Joni Mitchell’s Blue. Joni Mitchell’s lyrics are fantabulous – went to a party down a red dirt road – but was into the whole American thing mostly because my brother bought the records, 12” in plastic wrappers. I always wondered where he got the money from.

But I absolutely loved the whole psychedelia thing, mainly for the artwork then for the music, which was led by the Beatles, John Lennon in particular. I am the Walrus and Strawberry |Fields in particular piqued my interest.

Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like? 

I formed several bands and played in a few as well. The first serious band was the Hit Men in 1977. I’d actually done the Denmark Street thing and signed with a couple of labels but really they didn’t know what to do with me, so I did it myself in the shape of the Hit Men who were funky but also rocky which is what I called funk-rock. I got a deal with RCA after I recorded an album at Tony Arnold’s Penn Hill studio.  I was frequently compared to Billy Joel and Hall and Oates and I played a lot of keyboards then

What has been your primary inspiration in writing music? 

I started writing poetry when in primary school and then realised I could add music and write songs but I got into guitar first then writing songs on piano. I found it cured my melancholia, but then I just got into the whole songwriting thing inspired by too many to mention but Burt Bacharach started me off, then Hendrix and the Beatles.

What is a song you wish you had written yourself? 

Several really. Stevie Wonder’s All in Love is Fair.

If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be? 

Touring as support with Hot Chocolate in their big tour in 1982.

Which artist would you most love to share a stage with? 

Still living and British? Then Sting.

And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well? 

Sting would be interesting but so would Stevie Wonder or Donald Fagen.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I see myself here in the family home with my records selling in one form or another and playing some great gigs….

Listen to Robert Luther Smith's new single 'Bluesman' below.