Plain Mister Smith revealed his latest single, ‘El Presidente’, on the 3rd of November via Popaganda Records. The track features Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and producer Findlay Brown on vocals. Always in a pinstripe suit with a globe concealing his head, Plain Mister Smith is the brain-child of the elusive and enigmatic musician Mark Jowett, who is based between Vancouver and London. Making a name for himself in the world of indie pop/folk, Plain Mister Smith is a former guitarist for Canadian Electronic band Moev, also playing the cello in the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra.
‘El Presidente’ is musically and playful, but the thematic content of its lyrics are poignant – albeit a little bit absurd and rather witty. The song is about a record label president who took a chance with Plain Mister Smith by giving him a deal. The instrumentation is captivatingly warm and colourful, the arrangement charismatically unpredictable – the song has folky undertones with some synthesized elements and tinges of the lilting psychedelia of the sixties. Findlay Brown’s vocals are soothing yet aloof, floating lazy over the instrumental arrangement. ‘El Presidente’ is a pleasure to listen to.
Plain Mister Smith revealed: “There was once a record label president that took a shot in the dark with two punks starting a small indie label in Canada, and gave them a deal. One of those punks was me, Plain Mister Smith, and El Presidente is about that crazy legend of a record company president.”
Follow Plain Mister Smith:
Facebook – X – Soundcloud – TikTok – Youtube – Instagram – Spotify
Follow Findlay Brown: