Plain Mister Smith has released ‘Lucian & Francis’ via Amelia Records/Symphonic, the fifth single pulled from his upcoming album set for spring 2026. The multi-instrumentalist previously played guitar in the Canadian darkwave band Moev and currently performs as a cellist with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra. Splitting his time between Vancouver and London, he has carved out a distinctive lane under the Plain Mister Smith name, earning support from influential outlets including NPR Music, Wonderland Magazine, CLASH Magazine, NOTION, Under The Radar, Earmilk, METAL, Noctis Mag and Atwood Mag.
Featuring Californian singer-songwriter Tyson Mostenbocher, ‘Lucian & Francis’ moves through introspective indie-folk and psych-rock territory with a distinctive blend of wistful guitar licks that trace unhurried melodic paths and heartfelt strings that lend warmth and emotional depth to the arrangement. The vocals follow a contemplative, meandering course, creating space for the song to unfold naturally. At its core, the track delivers quirky and uncanny lyrics that examine the powerful effect of British painters Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon. Using sharp, well-balanced wordplay, Plain Mister Smith captures the contradictory response their work provokes, lines such as “heinous but genius” cut straight to the visceral reaction these paintings create while highlighting how they boldly challenge conventional norms. The song bears the unmistakable dreamy yet mature signature sound of Plain Mister Smith, offering listeners a strong indication of the album to come and appealing strongly to fans of Tame Impala, Temples, and The War on Drugs.
Plain Mister Smith had this to say: “I’ve always been struck by the numinous intensity of both Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon’s phenomenal paintings. “‘Lucian & Francis’” is about how their paintings give him the heebie jeebies combined with a kind of cerebral elation. It’s amazing what humans can do with paints and brushes and a little existential hysteria mixed in…”
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