Sydney indie artist Warwick Smith thought his days as a musician were over, when earlier this year he decided to part ways amicably with his musical collaborator Luke El-Sabbagh.
Although releasing material together under the Warwick Smith moniker the last few years, both had decided to traverse different paths necessitating the change with Warwick unsure if his future involved music.Another major factor in Warwick deciding to purse music solo was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that occurred the day after he and Luke had split up.
Warwick was front row for Glass Animals' Sydney show when he managed to convince the band to bring him onstage during their performance of 'Tokyo Drifting'. To say he nailed the landing would be an understatement, but more on that later.
As he embraces the next chapter of his music life, Warwick has released a new single 'Paper Hearts'.
"This song is very special to me. Probably the most important song I've made so far and so deeply personal. I think at its core it's a story about not wanting to let go of someone without telling them how you feel.
"This song sounds the way I feel about summer. The sticky heat, the humid breeze, an unidentifiable pressure. Overall this is a dressed-up song about loss and denial but I try to keep it a bit more optimistic otherwise it'd be a total bummer.
"I think everyone can relate to this song and will have their own 'paper heart' story to go alongside mine, where they also might've felt a relationship crumbling, not even necessarily a romantic one. But sharing that with each other helps us to heal and endure. Humanity is cool like that."
So last time we chatted you were a duo with Luke; but you have since decided to go solo; we're told it was an amicable parting and you're still mates; was it simply a natural path to take as your own musicianship has evolved?
You know it was something I think was pretty choreographed, we both saw it coming and mutually made the choice to go separate ways but we weren't sure what the other would choose to do musically, if anything.
The entire situation was just a product of our circumstances. I started this project alone so it made sense to continue as such, after I took a short break to figure everything out. I wouldn't really say we're keeping up with each other these days, but nonetheless, he has my full support with whatever he goes on to do, musical or not.
Have there been any moments in the studio since where you wish Luke (or another musician) was there to share ideas, jam out new melodies/ rhythms? Or are you fully embracing the solo path?
Absolutely; having other musicians challenge and critique what I'm doing always helps.
It's pretty daunting to be attacking this thing on my own, but it's also given me a lot of creative and managerial freedom. I'm trying my best to embrace it and it's of course a bit odd to revert back into 'solo-mode' but so far, so good.
As a solo artist, will you approach your time onstage any differently (does it add any anxiety knowing all eyes are on you)?
It's definitely forced me to put a lot of thought into the live material. I have to double my energy to make up for the loss I think.
There'll also be some creative decisions to be made when it comes to being onstage in terms of finding a backing band or using tracks, that kind of thing. As for anxiety, I'm as anxious as ever but I love that feeling when I perform, I love being kept on my toes.
Tell us about your recent adventure joining Glass Animals on stage during their Sydney concert for their performance of 'Tokyo Drifting' (and how did collab with GA come about)?
Even now, I grin like an idiot when I think about it.
Glass Animals, one of my musical heroes, were on tour in Sydney for two nights and I had bought tickets for the second night where their encore song was one of their most amazing, triumphant, hip hop-infused masterpieces called 'Tokyo Drifting'.
The studio version of the song has a rap about midway through from the iconic guest feature Denzel Curry; which I know they normally skip when they do the song live. I just got extremely lucky, I asked if I could do the rap and Dave (GA frontman) was into the idea and brought me up from the crowd.
They got me a microphone and counted me in and I did it! Dave even got me to sing the rest of the song with him and I spent some time with him after the show, kind of in disbelief but trying to keep my cool. It was, as you'd expect, an amazing night for me.
What does an experience like that do to build your own confidence performing in front of such a receptive and appreciative audience?
I think that was honestly the best boost for my morale at the time. This was literally the day after I thought music was over for me and Luke, as a duo, had disbanded.
Getting in front of 6,000 people to perform at the same venue that I saw my first ever live show at (Hordern Pavilion, Panic! At The Disco, 2017) was completely cosmic to me. It reignited the musical spark in me and made me say 'Hey this might work!' when I assumed I was done.
I'm going to eternally chase that reception I felt that night; the amazing energy and love from that room was incomparable.
Not bad dance moves you showcased either; was that all natural flow or have you been going to the local dance studio to create such boss energy?
Haha, very kind of you to say! The dance moves are what typically make people assume it must've been a planned stunt!
Dave and I match almost perfectly with everything we do on stage and that was truly 100 per cent natural. I think he must've shared some of his Wavey Davey energy with me via osmosis because I don't even remember doing some of those moves.
As a new chapter dawns in your music career, you've released the single 'Paper Hearts'; the floor is yours; what's the song about and was the move towards an Ed Sheehan pop vibe a deliberate action?
The song really dives into something I haven't talked about much before, which I guess is just the fear of missing out.
The message, for me, behind the song is losing someone without being able to tell them what they really mean to you or how you really feel. Of course that's subjective and I tried to keep the lyrics vague enough that anyone can really connect and empathise with the story.
As for an Ed Sheeran pop vibe, that was definitely intentional. I decided it was time to make music that I wanted to hear. This song for me sounds like a diminishing summer romance; it's a summer song, as Australia gears up to enter the heat and the US leaves it behind, it felt like the perfect time to start making that kind of feel good bedroom-pop.
You've also recently released the singles 'Mirrorman' and 'She's A Ghost'; are you building towards a release of a larger body of work (if so, what can you share with us)?
'Mirrorman' and 'She's A Ghost' were therapeutic for me, writing two sides to a story which is being the hero and being the villain. I think they group together well, but there's definitely something larger being compiled here.
I can't say I have the most concrete plans but an album is most definitely something I'm aiming for. With my older, earlier music seemingly purged from the Internet, I'm hoping I can put out something a lot more refined as a re-emergence of sorts.
You're now studying a TAFE music business course; how is that going and has it given you a greater appreciation of what is involved to propel an indie career towards the mainstream?
It's been so rewarding – being an independent artist is a tough gig and even tougher to stick with so there's a certain point where you have to make the choice to either take the necessary steps to propel yourself or let it fizzle out.
I've made some great friends and contacts, and I've been balancing it all exceptionally well if I may say so myself. Waking up at 5am is a bummer though, not very rock & roll.
You and some of your TAFE mates are planning to film a music video for 'Paper Hearts' at a theme park; sounds like a fun shoot?
I'm so excited to get that clip done; we knew we wanted to do something together and I knew I needed some help for a video so it just seemed like a natural choice to invite them all in for it.
I won't say too much about the plans but I do think us messing around in a theme park together will definitely capture the feel-good vibes I want. It's going to be a recorded time capsule of sorts. A moving photo album.
You've also had experience becoming a TikTok viral sensation... Do you still get recognised or are your viral days well and truly behind you?
The TikTok days still haunt me but it's a welcome haunting, I'm very gracious of it.
At first, back in early 2020, it was kind of an in-the-street thing where someone would see me and yell my name at me and take photos. Definitely an odd time but of course when the pandemic hit, those interactions stopped.
These days it's calmed down a lot and it's more like, I'll be somewhere with people or I'll meet some mutual friends and my music will come up in conversation, and then someone will say 'Oh no way, I know this song from TikTok' haha.
Last time we chatted, rock climbing had become an obsession of sorts... still finding cliff faces to serenade or are you on to another fitness hobby?
It's funny you ask that because I have in fact found a new fitness hobby. First it was frisbee and then it was climbing and just last week, I picked up e-skating.
So now my main transport around Sydney is riding an electric skateboard, shaped like a longboard, and it's been a tonne of fun. You still get to carve a tonne and do a lot of the, albeit limited, longboard tricks except with the benefit of zooming 38 km/h.
Thanks for your time; anything else you'd like to add?
I think I'd just like to take a moment and sincerely thank the readers, the listeners. I promise you, your support is fuelling this thing and we're going to go bigger and better than I would've ever thought possible.
There's big things in the near future. Keep your eyes open. And of course, a monumental thank you to scenestr for, as always, a beautifully engaging interview and heartwarming support.
