Songs In the Key Of Life: Smith & Mudd Make Music With No Boundaries
Download: Paul Murphy's Claremont 56 Sinning in LA mix
For a music lover there are few things in life that are as rewarding as when a brand new artist enters your life, armed with an entirely different sonic experience than you’ve ever heard before. In 2009, I will remember discovering the sounds of Smith & Mudd. This duo of Paul Murphy and Ben Smith have been the biggest discoveries of the year for me. I am admittedly so smitten with their melodious sound because it is the kind that suits any season and will surely stand the test of time, as it’s simply too emotionally rich and diverse not to.
“I started Claremont 56 so I could release my own music without any boundaries,” Paul told us. “When you're writing music for other labels they tend to want a side for the dancefloor and because my music was slowing up a bit, it wasn't working for the labels. I figured that if I pressed small amounts of the tracks then there must be 300-500 people around the world that would be into it so I kicked off with 300 copies of ‘Villa Stavros.’ These sold out in a day so I got off to a good start!
His little label has become the darling of the dance music world, not for its pulsating beats, but more for its mid-tempo grooves. Not quite floor-filler, but not exactly pure chillout either. The Claremont 56 sound is a genre-less beast, but also one that never misses its mark or is shy about breaking new ground.
Like most great finds, I was turned onto the Smith & Mudd sound through fellow tastemakers, Ben Mynott and Phil Mison, both musicians themselves and dons of the downtempo scene, whose compilations are among the most cherished in my vast collection. It was the Smith & Mudd track “24/7” that instantly hooked me and was the freshest thing I had heard in this scene since Ben’s “Fragile State” and Phil’s “Cantoma” projects hit my headphones.
“I've known Phil for a while and we have similar music tastes so I would guess that we were both influenced by the same music from the 70s & 80s,” Paul shared. “My main influences come from the music I grew up on; electro, soul, hip hop, 80s chart music and of course, disco and house.”
There are elements of all of the above in each Smith & Mudd track and the entire label roster shares this same philosophy in sound. Their now classic debut album, Blue River, and latest long-player, Le Suivant, unfold like those timeless mixes that you would painstakingly create and always keep in constant rotation. With a bevy of sounds and moods to be had, you’ll soon find yourself like me and including at least one of their tracks on all of your mixes.
“We never set out to make a specific track, we just get an idea down and see where it takes us,” Paul explained. “Our influences are also very different. Ben has the folk/rock side and I have the disco/house side and somehow, subconsciously, these mold together to create our sound and it may even change two or three times before it gets to where we want it.”
The first album took about eight years to make and so that was a long, long journey.
It was a journey that was well worth the wait and is the kind of music that people will be discovering for years to come, just like I did. While their albums contain no immediate pop smashes but yet hold your attention as any chart topper would. The Smith & Mudd sound is unlike anything you’ve ever heard and also boasts some of the highest replay value my ears have ever encountered.
“I think the key is to fully believe in the music you're releasing and ignore what other labels are doing, just be true to yourself,” Paul waxed. “I also spend a ridiculous amount on packaging which I believe is a huge part of a release.”
He’s right about that and the releases on Claremont 56 are more akin to paintings in a gallery, each infused with a memorable and warm image to reflect the music inside, all ensconced in a luxurious case.
With Le Suivant, still a regular fixture in my listening rotation, I am completely hooked and cannot wait to see what comes next for both Smith & Mudd and the Claremont 56 label.
“The latest stuff Ben and I have been working on is a bit darker which is nice for a change,” Paul shared with us. “We've also started a new project that is more band based, it's called BISON, so hopefully we'll be on tour with that soon. Our sound evolves constantly and that makes it more fun because it feels like we're on a long journey rather than stuck on groundhog day.” Paul then offered up his thoughts on the future direction of Claremont 56.
I don't have any predictions for the direction of the label, which is great, it means that I can release whatever I want, whenever I want but it will always just be good music!
I asked Paul if he had any Los Angeles experiences to share. He reflected warmly on his time spent here and envisioned bringing the Smith & Mudd sound to the City of Angels sometime soon.
“I've been a couple of times now and I really love it. It took me a while to get to grips with it because unlike most cities, there's no real center and you can't really walk to the next place. I usually stay in Long Beach with my friend Scotty and we’ve had some great trips out there. Blue whale watching, Catalina Island and a few drunken nights in Pikes, have been highlights. I also got to see a bit of Santa Monica and West Hollywood with my girlfriend.” He then added, “I could definitely live there and Pink’s hotdogs on La Brea is a must.”
I’m not big on guarantees in life, but I can safely say that if you’re as open-minded about your music like I am, then immerse yourself in the Smith & Mudd sound. If you’re still a little unsure of what that sounds like, Paul also properly put things into perspective as well.
If someone had never heard of Smith & Mudd before, I’d tell them that folk + disco + house and a few stadium rock solos equals Smith & Mudd!
With one listen to the exclusive Claremont 56 compilation mix that Paul compiled for our Sinning In LA series, you can experience for yourself what we feel are some of the best sounds around right now!
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