Tyson is currently working on new material to perform with his new trio as well as solo. The songs head in a somewhat new direction to much of Tyson's previous recorded material. Stay tuned for more info and sounds!
Tyson Smith "There's Nothing We Can't Pretend" - Debut album now available
Two years after the initial recording session and almost eight years after some of the songs were written, Tyson Smith released his debut album "There's Nothing We Can't Pretend".
The variety of influences encountered during Tyson's musical meanderings is plainly evident in the 11 tracks featured on the album.
With funk, rock, jazz, blues, folk and world music elements the album is nothing if not eclectic. In Tyson's own words it is "...in many ways a compilation album - pages from my musical diary penned during the last half dozen years against various backdrops..."
The album still manages to maintain a sense of cohesion - thanks at least in part to the consistently funky musicians that Tyson enlisted to record with him. Alongside Tyson's often quirky lyrics and impressive guitarring, some of New Zealand's most well respected musical talents are featured; including fellow Hollie Smith sideman Darren Mathiassen on drums, Jonathan Crayford on keys, Johnny Lawrence on bass and the omnipresent Lisa Tomlins on backing vocals on a couple of songs. Various tracks also feature horns and ethnic percussion.
All the material on the album was written and arranged by Tyson and recorded and mixed when time and bank accounts allowed at Trident Studios in Wellington. Tyson describes the process as "an occasionally-sharper-than-expected learning curve" and says he came away from it with a much bigger grasp on the recording industry than he might've had if other producers had been involved. He is currently working on new and rather different material with plans in the wings for another album at some point in the not too distant future.
"There's Nothing We Can't Pretend" is available in Marbecks and other NZ stores or can be purchased online here. To download the album click here.
Tyson is also guitarist for singer Hollie Smith (holliesmith.co.nz)
and is a member of the world music ensemble "Mundi" led by his sister Tamara. Mundi's new album "In The Blink Of An Eye" was released earlier this year. See mundi.co.nz for details.
