Multi-award-winning artist, songwriter, musician, and producer, Fraser T Smith has today released his brand-new album Django's High under his Future Utopia monicker, described by CLASH Magazine as "an ever-evolving endeavour, a space for free-flowing ideas and pop nous."
This in-demand artist was kind enough to take time out of his hectic schedule to answer Townsend Music's questions about the new record and we are proud to have a test pressing of the album, signed by Fraser, to give away to one lucky winner.
Fraser T Smith is a highly acclaimed artist, producer, songwriter, and musician, known for his work in contemporary music. He has co-written, mixed, and produced seven #1 singles in the UK, as well as two Billboard #1 singles in the US and contributed to no less than eighteen #1 albums. Throughout his career, Smith has worked with renowned artists such as Adele, Stormzy, Sam Smith, Florence and the Machine, Drake, Gorillaz, Kano, Dave, and more. In October 2020, he released his debut album, 12 Questions, under the name Future Utopia. The project's second album Django’s High is released today and is co-produced by Kasabian songwriter and frontman, Sergio Pizzorno. The record is a globe-trotting, soul-stirring second album that sees Fraser taking centre stage, singing vocals for the first time. A Spaghetti Western-style soundtrack for a movie of the mind, Django’s High is influenced both by cinema and an isolation-forged desire of Fraser’s to push the limits of himself and his songwriting.
TM: Your first Future Utopia album, 2020's 12 Questions had a star-studded range of vocal contributors across every track whereas on Django's High, you've taken a completely different approach.
Fraser T Smith: 12 Questions was a big concept album for me. The "12 Questions" were the framework around which the answers from the collaborators hung. I didn’t see the album as being star-studded - I wanted to find the most interesting people I knew or could find, to answer the questions. You’re right, there were some big names on there, by virtue of my having worked with them in the past, but these names also sat alongside less-known, but equally influential names such as Albert Woodfox, a Black Panther, who spent 44 years in solitary confinement; Beatrice Mushiya, the mother of Duran Kajiyama, who was tragically killed in a knife attack; and Katrin Fridriks, a modern conceptual artist and environmental activist. After the album had been released, I felt mentally exhausted. I’d put so much into the record and learned so much from the process and the answers. We were coming out of lockdown, and I wanted to perform some shows to bring the music into the live arena. We did some great performances, but it soon became clear that the scale needed to take the show out with so many guests would prove prohibitive.
TM: Django’s High sees you taking centre stage as the project’s main vocalist for the first time. What was the impetus for this evolution of the project? FTS: I remember sitting with my wife and manager, Sarah one day in the garden, and she said "You need to make another album". I began to envisage what this would look like, and immediately felt sure I didn’t want to make ’12 Questions pt 2’. I’m so proud of that record and I didn’t want anything to detract from it. Instead, I wanted to switch things up, to show progression, and make a record that felt lighter, less dense, and more personal. Having become obsessed with the Coen Brothers' No Country For Old Men I thought it would be cool to make a psychedelic Spaghetti Western. I love Ennio Morricone, and that 60’s / 70’s funk era. At first, when I recorded the demos, I laid down the vocal ideas for other people to sing, but eventually, I decided to use my own voice, and I’m pleased I made this decision, as it’s now given Future Utopia a strong identity.
"'Stars Align' is a song for the lovers… I wrote this for my wife and soulmate, Sarah, and it’s about how, when you meet the right person, the stars seem to align, and everything clicks into place." - Fraser T Smith
TM: With its psychedelic synth textures, twangy guitars and astral lyrical themes, new single ‘Stars Align’ evokes an intergalactic vista that feels, at its core, cinematic. Were there any particular movies, film genres or soundtracks that influenced the writing of this album?
FTS: It’s really a combination of Spaghetti Westerns and Sci-Fi: A Fistful Of Dollars meets Bladerunner; The Good, The Bad And The Ugly meets Tron; retro 60’s vs the 80’s vision of the future.
TM: Django’s High was co-produced by Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno, who you worked with previously while recording Kasabian’s last album The Alchemist's Euphoria (2022) What qualities as a producer did Sergio demonstrate that made you believe he was the right man to sit alongside you for this record?
FTS: Serge and I became very close through the making of The Alchemist’s Euphoria. We bonded as mates, humans, runners, Leicester City fans, and musicians. There was only one person who could’ve overseen this record, and it was Serge. He’s such a creative, empathetic artist. A visionary who completely gets what I’m trying to achieve, and believes in me. With this comes complete honesty and humility. I respect and admire him so much, and needed him across this album. It was such a big departure for me in terms of sound, that I needed him to let me know I was on the right track. That I wasn’t losing my mind. He pushed me to work on some of the arrangements, take some sections out, and refine some of the songs. In writing and producing these songs, I was so close to the project - living inside it completely - that I needed some perspective. I’d never felt like this before, as usually it’s me that’s being called on to give the perspective when I produce for other people. Serge was invaluable, and I’m so proud to call him my friend.
I still have a vivid memory of Serge, me and our lovely wives, last summer, driving around Ibiza in a hire car, windows down, dusty roads, both our albums blaring out of the car speakers.., singing along, laughing our heads off - magical!" - Fraser T Smith
TM: Last year you announced details of your ‘Future Producer Academy’ in partnership with PPL and the Music Producers Guild, aimed at tackling the pervasive issue of underrepresentation in the music industry. Could you expand a little on how you hope to encourage more diversity in the industry and what better representation looks like to you?
FTS: The idea of the Future Producer Academy came when I was honoured by the Music Producer’s Guild last year with a lifetime achievement award. My first thought was: "It’s great to be honoured in this way, but how can I help give back to the next generation of producers’?" I formed the Future Producer Academy with the help of the MPG and the PPL and now with the added help of the online learning platform, Virtuoso, and the Music Guardians, who focus on the safeguarding of young people, we aim to balance the lack of diversity within the creative realm of music production and beyond. The basic premise is that we’re opening the doors to sixteen young producers around the country, aged 16-24, to become part of a 12-month course where we engage industry mentors, big studios, labels and manufacturers to help teach the cohort the lessons which will lead to long term success in the music industry. We aim to set ourselves apart from other institutions by securing long-term placements within the industry at the end of the course. Our entrance policy is open to everyone, but our emphasis is inclusion and ensuring that we give a chance to individuals from challenging upbringings who wouldn’t normally be given this kind of opportunity. I’m still shocked at the lack of diversity in students attending courses when I go and talk at colleges around the country. This is, of course, the future, and it doesn’t represent our wonderful multicultural society and this has to change.
TM: Django’s High is available on Orange Vinyl, Black Vinyl, Cassette and CD editions on the Official Future Utopia Store. In today’s streaming culture, does having your and your artists’ albums released on tangible formats remain important? And do you still listen to music on physical formats in 2024?
FTS: I’m really happy to see that the sales of vinyl and physical products are on the rise. I’m a physical product, analogue-loving guy! Every sound on the records I make come from physical instruments, rather than virtual models.
There’s something beautiful about holding a CD, cassette or piece of vinyl in your hand, and playing it on your dedicated music player. Sitting down to listen, reading the inlay sleeve, becoming immersed in the world. I’ve always been this way and always will be, and it’s so great to see that the future generations of music lovers feel the same. Independent record outlets are key cultural hubs within towns and cities around the country, and big up to the owners and staff who work on, advise and cherish the music me and all the other creators around the world, make. We need to keep this connection going, which just isn’t the same in the digital world!
Dajngo's High is available on Exclusive Orange Vinyl with Poster and Exclusive Deluxe CD. All bundles include a Bonus CD featuring three unreleased tracks.
Enter our exclusive giveaway to win a test pressing of Future Utopia's new album Django's High signed by Fraser T Smith.
The winner will be chosen on Monday, July 22 2024.
N.B: If the competition entry module is inaccessible, enter the giveaway directly via the button below.
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