Steven R. Smith
Encyclopedia
Steven R. Smith is an American music
ian, instrument-builder, and printmaker often associated with the Jewelled Antler
collective. Born in Fullerton, California and based in San Francisco and, more recently, Los Angeles, his musical output began in the mid-1990s and continues on at the present. His main instrument is guitar
, both acoustic and electric, although other instruments, including the hurdy gurdy
, bouzouki
, fretted spike fiddles
, and assorted ethnic instruments, have been incorporated into his work.
Smith’s music tends to range from dense, orchestrated pieces to sparse solo excursions on electric guitar and is improvised as often as composed. His music has drawn elements from psychedelic rock, traditional folk music, soundtracks, free jazz, and modern composers, and tends to be contemplative and somewhat mournful. Some of his records feature elaborate packaging, woodcut
and linocut
prints, and hand-made chapbooks. Throughout his career Smith has recorded for a number of independent labels such as Important Records, Soft Abuse, Catsup Plate, Root Strata, Immune Recordings, Last Visible Dog, Jewelled Antler, Darla Records
, and Emperor Jones
. In November 2007 Smith issued Owl, his first solo release to extensively feature vocals and lyrics.
In addition to his ongoing solo work, Smith has been a member of the instrumental psych-rock group Mirza; the improvisational group Thuja; Hala Strana
, a project which focuses on the traditional music of Eastern Europe; and most recently Ulaan Khol. A reluctant live performer, Smith has appeared in the occasional live setting with Mirza and Thuja, but remains elusive in regards to solo performances.
hala strana
ulaan khol
thuja
mirza
American music
The music of the Americas is very diverse since, in addition to many types of Native American music, the music of Africa and the music of Europe have been found there for some five centuries, creating many hybrid forms that have influenced the popular music of the world.-See also:*Canadian...
ian, instrument-builder, and printmaker often associated with the Jewelled Antler
Jewelled Antler
Jewelled Antler is a musical collective created in 1999 by Loren Chasse and Glenn Donaldson as an extension of their work in the organic drone folk-noise group Thuja. The idea was to release handmade CD-R's of various solo and collaborative projects and one-off bands, encompassing drones, songs,...
collective. Born in Fullerton, California and based in San Francisco and, more recently, Los Angeles, his musical output began in the mid-1990s and continues on at the present. His main instrument is guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, both acoustic and electric, although other instruments, including the hurdy gurdy
Hurdy gurdy
The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin...
, bouzouki
Bouzouki
The bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
, fretted spike fiddles
Rebab
The rebab , also rebap, rabab, rebeb, rababah, or al-rababa) is a type of string instrument so named no later than the 8th century and spread via Islamic trading routes over much of North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Europe, and the Far East...
, and assorted ethnic instruments, have been incorporated into his work.
Smith’s music tends to range from dense, orchestrated pieces to sparse solo excursions on electric guitar and is improvised as often as composed. His music has drawn elements from psychedelic rock, traditional folk music, soundtracks, free jazz, and modern composers, and tends to be contemplative and somewhat mournful. Some of his records feature elaborate packaging, woodcut
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
and linocut
Linocut
Linocut is a printmaking technique, a variant of woodcut in which a sheet of linoleum is used for the relief surface. A design is cut into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife, V-shaped chisel or gouge, with the raised areas representing a reversal of the parts to show printed...
prints, and hand-made chapbooks. Throughout his career Smith has recorded for a number of independent labels such as Important Records, Soft Abuse, Catsup Plate, Root Strata, Immune Recordings, Last Visible Dog, Jewelled Antler, Darla Records
Darla Records
Darla Records is an independent record label founded by James Agren while he was in New York. Darla Record's first release was a 7-inch by Grifters, an indie rock/lo-fi band from Memphis.- Background :...
, and Emperor Jones
Emperor Jones
Emperor Jones is a small Austin, Texas based independent record label founded in 1995 by Craig Stewart. It has released albums by acts such as Alastair Galbraith, The American Analog Set, Roky Erickson, Thuja, ST37, The Mountain Goats, Stick Men with Ray Guns, Peter Jefferies, Pip Proud, Rusted...
. In November 2007 Smith issued Owl, his first solo release to extensively feature vocals and lyrics.
In addition to his ongoing solo work, Smith has been a member of the instrumental psych-rock group Mirza; the improvisational group Thuja; Hala Strana
Hala Strana
Hala Strana is the name of a recording project of American musician Steven R. Smith. Smith began recording under the name in 2002 as an outlet which allowed him to explore the traditional music of Eastern Europe more fully than possible with his solo work...
, a project which focuses on the traditional music of Eastern Europe; and most recently Ulaan Khol. A reluctant live performer, Smith has appeared in the occasional live setting with Mirza and Thuja, but remains elusive in regards to solo performances.
Discography
steven r. smith- log the man dead – CS (autopia, 1995)
- gehenna belvedere – LP (autopia, 1996)
- autumn is the end – CD (darla, 1998)
- from ashes come – CD (3 acre floor, 1999)
- slate branches – CD (3 acre floor, 2000), LP (little brother records, 2000)
- death of last year's man e.p. – 7” (autopia, 2000), CDep (emperor jones, 2001)
- tableland – CD (emperor jones, 2001)
- lineaments – CD (emperor jones, 2002)
- kohl – CDr (jewelled antler, 2002), LP (emperor jones, 2005)
- antimony – CDr (digitalis industries, 2004)
- crown of marches – CD (catsup plate, 2005)
- the anchorite - LP (important records, 2006), CD (root strata, 2008)
- owl - CD (digitalis industries, 2007)
- cities - LP (immune recordings, 2009)
hala strana
Hala Strana
Hala Strana is the name of a recording project of American musician Steven R. Smith. Smith began recording under the name in 2002 as an outlet which allowed him to explore the traditional music of Eastern Europe more fully than possible with his solo work...
- karst e.p. – 3”CDr (jewelled antler, 2003)
- hala strana – CD (emperor jones, 2003)
- fielding – 2xCDr (jewelled antler, 2003), 2xCD (last visible dog, 2004)
- these villages – CD (soft abuse, 2004)
- white sleep - lathe cut 7" (soft abuse, 2006)
- heave the gambrel roof - LP/CD (music fellowship, 2007)
ulaan khol
- I – CD (soft abuse, 2008)
- II – CD (soft abuse, 2008)
- III – CD (soft abuse, 2010)
thuja
- the deer lay down their bones – CD (tumult, 2000)
- ghost plants – CD (emperor jones, 2002)
- museum #1 – 3”CDr (jewelled antler, 2002)
- museum #2 – 3”CDr (jewelled antler, 2002)
- hills – CDr (last visible dog, 2002)
- suns – CD (emperor jones, 2002)
- all strange beasts of the past – CD (emperor jones, 2003)
- fable – 3”CD (jewelled antler, 2003)
- pine cone temples – 2xCD (strange attractors, 2005)
- thuja – LP (Important, 2008)
mirza
- mirza – 12”ep (autopia, 1996)
- anadromous – CD (darla, 1997)
- iron compass flux – 2xLP/CD (darla, 1998)
- last clouds – CD (ba da bing!, 2001)
External links
- Official site
- Steven R. Smith at Emperor Jones
- [ Steven R. Smith at Allmusic]
- Musical biography