Fraser T. Smith is an English record producer, songwriter and musician. Some of the singles he collaborated on include Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain", James Morrison's "Broken Strings", Tinchy Stryder's "Number 1" and Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart". In 2016, Smith teamed up with Stormzy to produce his debut album Gang Signs & Prayer", which won best album at the 2018 Brit Awards. Earlier that year he produced seven tracks on Kano's Made in the Manor album and co produced the debut EP from South London rapper Dave. Smith has also worked with Sam Smith.
Early life and education
Smith started his career playing guitar in pubs and clubs both as a solo musician and in bands. In 1992, Smith met Rick Wakeman with whom he toured and recorded. Smith then went on to work with Tony Hadley and Adam Wakeman. In the mid-1990s, they formed Jeronimo Road; a progressive rock band. Smith then became involved in playing guitar in studio sessions, performing on over 200 records, including Rui da Silva's number one "Touch Me" and Tim Deluxe's "It Just Won’t Do".
Career
In 1999, Smith was introduced to the then-unknown Craig David and spent five years working as his guitarist performing on television and radio, as well as at concerts including the John Lennon Tribute Concert at Radio City Hall in New York, the Tsunami Relief Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and Live 8, London. They remixed songs together under the pseudonym of Treats and have written the songs "World Filled With Love", "6 of 1 Thing", and "Hot Stuff". Smith decided to stop touring and performing and went on to focus on songwriting and production full-time. In 2012, Smith was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for his writing on "Broken Strings". In 2015, Smith was nominated for Album of the Year in the 57th Grammy Awards for his contribution to Sam Smith's album, In the Lonely Hour. Between 2013–2016, Smith worked with long time collaborator Kano on his album Made in the Manor, which was subsequently shortlisted for the 2016 Mercury Prize and nominated for Album of the Year at the 2017 Brit Awards. It went on to win Best Album at the MOBO Awards. Smith also collaborated with Mexican duo Jesse & Joy on their album Un Besito Más, which was released in December 2015. At the 17th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, the album received the nomination for Album of the Year and won for Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album. MOBO Awards: the single "Ecos De Amor" was nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. MOBO Awards: Un Besito Más also won a Grammy award for Best Latin Pop Album and a Lo Nuestro Award for Pop Album of the Year. In 2016, Smith was approached by grime and hip hop artist Stormzy. They spent ten months writing and producing his debut album, Gang Signs & Prayer, released independently through #Merky Records on 24 February 2017. The album was supported by the lead single "Big for Your Boots". During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Smith produced the Live Lounge Allstars' charity version of the Foo Fighters' "Times Like These," featuring dozens of musicians recorded from their homes.
