The wordsmith from Manchester, Antony Szmierek, performed at Rotondes on Thursday night to a dazzling crowd. From the moment he burst onto the stage, Szmierek brought an energy that was wholly his own, infectious, unrelenting, and making it impossible to look away.
Some say Luxembourg's crowds are hard to please, rarely able to let loose and "just twist" – but that was far from the truth last night. Maybe it's the type of crowds Szmierek attracts or perhaps he's just that good, but virtually every person in the room was glowing, compelled to dance and smile from start to finish. Putting on a 2-hour set, Szmierek performed bigger hits such as Rafters and Circle of Light, as well taking some experimental risks with his producer Max Rad and the brilliant supporting band.
Szmierek's music is hard to fully put into words but is oddly reminiscent of a James Joyce-esque stream of consciousness, unrelenting observations, which pull you out of your own head and somehow form a perfect backdrop to be in the moment and the people around you. Poetic thoughts, personal anecdotes, and day-to-day observations come chiming through infectious pop and electronic house beats. Szmierek has a remarkable knack for turning wordy, thought-provoking lyricism into something you simply cannot help but move to.
Climbing up and down from the stage and reaching for fans' hands (and shoulders, shout-out to our resident news reader John Baker) he seemed to be reminding himself as much as anyone else that he is truly living his dream. For someone who told RTL Today Radio's Lucy Genazzini that he lives in his brain "and very little in the real world", Szmierek nevertheless lives and breathes the philosophy of staying present, whether in his lyricism or in the way he commands a stage. He even asked the crowd to introduce themselves to each other.
Speaking after the show, Ben Hale, Szmierek's sound engineer, shed light on his time supporting Szmierek on his tour. The team has been on the road for a while now, and while the sun is setting for this tour, Szmierek has a packed festival season on the horizon with booked slots at Sziget and Boomtown to only name a few. Hale explained that "every show is a bit different", a testament to Szmierek's preparedness and dedication, which allows him to go off piste at times and flow with the crowd.
What makes Szmierek special is that his songs capture the everyday moments that might otherwise seem mundane or insignificant, but the very act of observing them is meaningful. Moments of human attraction and human connection should be celebrated loudly, and in Antony's hands, it's those moments that are sonically transformed into something all the more entrancing.
Antony Szmierek visited RTL studios prior to his show, joining Lucy Genazzini on the Afternoon Session on RTL Today Radio to talk about his latest music, his life on tour and the upcoming release of his sophmore album Decoding Birdsong, so definitely make sure to check out the full exclusive interview below.
All of us over here at RTL Today Radio cannot wait for what's next in store for Szmierek and if his latest releases such as "Chalk" or "The Heron" are anything to go by, we are truly in for a treat.
