Luke Smith

Luke Smith (born 4 May 1978) is an English record producer, mixing engineer, musician and songwriter. He was the co-founder, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist of the band Clor. His production and writing credits include Foals, Depeche Mode, Everything Everything, Palace, Anna of The North, Keaton Henson, Charlie Cunningham, Crystal Fighters, Slow Club, Fryars and Petite Noir. He has worked on such popular and critically acclaimed albums as Total Life Forever and Sounds of the Universe.

Career Clor From 2003 to 2005, Smith founded with Barry Dobbin and provided lead guitars and vocals for the band Clor. He co-wrote and produced their eponymous sole album which was released in 2005 to critical acclaim. In May 2006, Smith and his co-founder announced Clor had split up. Later, in 2010, their album was voted number 1 topping NME's “100 greatest albums you've never heard".

Production and writing In 2007 to present, Smith has produced a number of critically acclaimed releases. Of his work, Smith’s most noted is his production of the seminal second album Total Life Forever by Foals in Gothenburg in 2010 and programming of the twelfth studio album Sounds of the Universe by Depeche Mode in 2009.

He has writing credits on a number of these recordings; he co-wrote The King of Anxiety, the debut EP by Petite Noir, from which the song "Chess" has 4.5 million streams.

His recordings have been released on labels Mute, Parlophone, Domino, Pias, Moshi Moshi, Kitsune, Transgressive, Geffen.

+ Production and Writing Artist Product Release details Shitdisco "Kingdom of Fear" 2007, Fierce Panda Fryars "The Ides" EP 2007 Depeche Mode "Sounds of the Universe" 2009, Mute Records Everything Everything "Photoshop Handsome" single 2009, Polydor Charlotte Hatherley "New Worlds" 2009, Fullfill Foals "Total Life Forever" 2010, Warner Slow Club "Paradise" 2011, Moshi Moshi Crystal Fighters "Champion Sound" single 2011, Zirkulo Eugene McGuinness "The Invitation to the Voyage” 2012, Domino Is Tropical "I’m Leaving" 2013, Kitsuné Theme Park "Theme Park" 2013, Transgressive Fryars "Power” 2014, Fiction Records Petite Noir "King of Anxiety" EP 2014, Domino Crystal Fighters "Everything is in my Family" 2016, PIAS Part Company "Seasons" 2017, Labelgum Anna of the North "Lovers" 2017, PIAS Yasmine Hadman "Al Jamilat 2017, Crammed Discs Noémie Wolfs "Hunt You" 2016, Universal Music Belgium Highs "Dazzle Camouflage" 2017, Indicia Bazart "2" 2018, PIAS Life "A Picture of Good Health" 2019, Afghan Moon Chartreuse "Even Free Money Doesn't Get Me Out of Bed" EP 2019, PIASTen Fé"Future Perfect, Present Tense"2019, Some Kinda LovePalace"Life After"2019, Fiction Keaton Henson "Monument" 2020, PIAS Keaton Henson "Fragments" EP 2021, PIAS Blanketman "National Trust" EP 2021Everything Everything"Man Alive"2023, UniversalPuma Blue"Holy Waters"2023, Blue FlowersSailor Honeymoon"Sailor Honeymoon"2024, Good GoodCharlie Cunningham"In Light"2025, KartelTen Fé"Stil In Love"2025, Some Kinda LoveShura"I Got To Sad For My Friends"2025

Performance and music direction Smith is a multi-instrumentalist and provides guitar and keyboard performances, amongst other instruments played by him, on nearly all of his productions.

Smith was appointed and worked as the Musical Director of Lily Allen's Sheezus world tour He played guitar live as well as being responsible for the show's music at large. In 2019, Luke worked on musical direction for the Raconteurs.

He has scored the music for a number of film, radio and TV projects.

Remixing Smith is well known for his remix work including his remixes of "Hotride" by The Prodigy and "After Dark" by Le Tigre in 2006, "Nothing But Green Lights" by Tom Vek and "Sister In Love" by Envelopes in 2005, "X-ray" by The Maccabees (band), "Behave" by Charlotte Hatherley and "Reactor Party" by Shitdisco in 2006, "Benedict Arnold" by FrYars in 2008. Smith going under the name Lagos Boys Choir also remixed the hit singles "Focker" by Late Of The Pier, "Bullet Proof" by La Roux and "Miles Away" by Depeche Mode throughout 2008 and 2009.

Nominations and awards In 2010, the album Sounds of the Universe was nominated and shortlisted for the Best Alternative Music Album award in the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2010, the album Total Life Forever was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize.

His work Spanish Sahara, the lead single off the album, won the 'Best Song' award at the NME Awards in 2011.