Paul Smith (English singer)

For other people with the same name, see Paul Smith (disambiguation).

Paul Smith (born 13 March 1979) is an English singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer of indie rock band Maxïmo Park.

Paul Smith
Smith performing with Maxïmo Park in Latvia in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Paul Smith
Born	(1979-03-13) 13 March 1979 (age 46) Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, England
Genres	Indie rock, art rock
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2003–present

Biography

Smith performing in November 2009

Born in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, Smith is the eldest of three children, and was educated at Northfield School. He attended Newcastle University completing a BA and MA, studying Art History and English Linguistics, following a 1-year Foundation Studies course at Cleveland College of Art and Design in Hartlepool. He briefly worked as an art teacher^[1] at Stockton Riverside College before he was asked to join Maxïmo Park.

In 2014 Smith teamed up with Field Music singer Peter Brewis to record an album, Frozen by Sight, derived from his travel writing, and featuring string arrangements by Brewis.^[2]

In 2015 he released Contradictions, a solo album, as Paul Smith and the Intimations,^[3] and in 2018, released a fourth solo album Diagrams.^[4]

Artistry

Smith grew up idolising Morrissey and has been compared by critics to the Smiths' former frontman and to Jarvis Cocker for his introspective lyrics and on-stage hyperactivity.^[5][6][7][8]

Personal life

He is a fan of Middlesbrough F.C.^[9]

Solo discography

• Margins (2010)
• Frozen By Sight (with Peter Brewis) (2014)
• Contradictions (as Paul Smith and The Intimations) (2015)
• Diagrams (2018)