Brisbane indie artist Your Man Alex Smith has never shied away from bold creative leaps, but his latest project, 'Empty Chair', is a whole new level of ambition.
The genre-hopping concept album, launching alongside an immersive stage production (14-15 & 21-22 March), takes listeners on a deeply personal journey through Smith's experience with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).The album, five years in the making, is an intricate sonic tapestry, blending orchestral grandeur, pop-rock, hip hop, and musical theatre. Featuring session musicians from around the world, including the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, it's as musically adventurous as it is thematically weighty.
"I wanted to push everything as far as I could," Smith says. "I've always found that when I bring in more people, the music gets better. So this time, we reached out to session musicians in Ukraine, a banjo player in Ipswich, and even got the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra involved."
At its core, 'Empty Chair' is a deeply personal exploration of Smith's journey with BPD. He hopes the album fosters understanding among those unfamiliar with the condition while offering validation to those who live with it.
"There's not a heap of representation in the media for people with BPD," he notes. "For the longest time, all we had was the 'bunny boiler' from 'Fatal Attraction', which isn’t exactly great."
Smith is also mindful of the stigma surrounding BPD and wants 'Empty Chair' to challenge misconceptions. "Some people hear 'BPD' and think of someone destructive or manipulative, but the reality is, unmedicated or undiagnosed, we're just struggling. That doesn't excuse bad behaviour – people still need to take responsibility, go to therapy, and get help – but I want to encourage empathy, not fear."
By intertwining his personal experiences with dynamic storytelling, Alex hopes the album and stage show will resonate beyond just the BPD community. "Music has the power to make people feel seen, and that's what this project is about," he says. "If it reaches even one person who needs to hear it, then it's done its job."
The title track, 'Empty Chair', is one of the album's most poignant moments. "I wanted one song that truly captures what BPD feels like," Smith says. "Everyone's experience is different, but I wanted people to hear it and think, 'yes, that's exactly it'."
While the album has its share of dark, introspective moments, Smith's signature humour and theatricality shine through, particularly on 'Raccoon Party', a track as fun as it is emotionally layered.
"I love 'Raccoon Party'," he laughs. "It's a lighter moment on the album, but even then, the lyrics shift slightly in the stage show to tie into the overarching narrative."
Unlike his previous album, which was adapted into a musical after its release, 'Empty Chair' was conceived as both an album and a theatre production from the outset. This shift allowed Alex to fully embrace his theatrical instincts.
"Normally, I try to keep things a bit commercial, but with this, I thought, 'screw it, this is going onstage – I'm going full musical theatre'."
The stage show, co-produced by Phoenix After Dark ensemble, brings the album to life in a way that mere streaming can't. "Streaming has made it hard to get people out to live shows," Smith admits.
"I wanted to create something that would make it worth leaving the house for. We have a full light show, choreography, and even a Matilda Award-winning actor, Michael Enright, in the cast."
Looking ahead, Smith hopes to continue blending music and theatre, though he acknowledges the challenge of being an independent artist. "I spend three to four years saving and working, then I release something big. Hopefully, one day, I'll get to the point where a show like this carries itself."
The 'Empty Chair' album will be released 14 March. Your Man Alex Smith presents his 'Empty Chair' stage production in collaboration with Phoenix After Dark at Pavilion Theatre @ Beenleigh Showgrounds (Brisbane) 14-15, 21-22 March.
