Antony Szmierek’s luminous spoken word finds relief in vulnerability of all kinds: the ephemerality of home; surrendering to the moment; love, loss and the mysteries in between. In his songs, they swirl together like sediment in a wine glass. It’s an approach that could easily turn mawkish, but his forthcoming debut album, Service Station at the End of the Universe, proves he has a deft touch.
Two years ago, Szmierek was working as a special education needs teacher in Manchester and self-publishing novels in his free time. All the while, his “pop poetry” – a blend of Self Esteem’s towering choruses and Georgia’s dancefloor bombast – was drawing an audience, first on the gig circuit and later on social media. His facility with language led to prominence within the city’s storied music scene, soon resulting in a star turn on Later… With Jools Holland.
Szmierek has a fanbase that cuts across generations: he has freestyled with gen Z devotees on stage, but is also a regular on BBC Radio 6 Music. What these listeners share is a profound emotional response to his writing, which contrasts surreal depictions of his northern locale (including graffiti on the M60 and the long-vacant Stockport Pyramid building) with nods to a complex, single-parent upbringing. In an increasingly gloomy world, this is music that feels human and affecting.
Service Station at the End of the Universe is out via Mushroom Music on 28 February. Szmierek tours the UK from 25 February to 7 March
