B.J. Smith

Benjamin J Smith, known commercially as B.J. Smith, is a versatile producer, composer, remixer and multi-instrumentalist whose storied career and varied musical projects are notable for their instinctive grasp of mood, melody and texture. The visual nature of Smith’s work has seen him become an in-demand creator of library music, releasing numerous themed works not only rooted in his familiar neo-folk but also numerous other styles and sub-genres. In recent years, Smith has worked more extensively in music for the screen, most notably alongside Wayne Roberts on scores for Go Back To Where You Came From (Channel 4 Television) and After Eight: The Story of Saptal Ram (Black & Brown Films). An enthusiast improviser, collaborator and guest musician, since late 1990s and early 2000s, he has featured in numerous bands and studio projects, most notably Akwaaba and Fug, as well as a collective whose members also included future Crazy P star Chris Todd. Smith would later reunite with Todd, alongside Crazy P partner Jim Baron, as White Elephant, and in recent years Smith has joined Baron’s ‘JIM’ live band on his debut UK tour. Over the last two decades Smith has released a quartet of albums on Claremont 56 as Smith & Mudd, with label boss Paul Murphy (Akwaaba). Both being part of the label’s Bison ensemble alongside the late, great Holger Czukay (CAN) and muse Ursula Kloss (AKA Ursa Major). From 2013 onwards Smith has been releasig standout works on Phil Cooper’s NuNorthern Soul.