FEATURE: Spotlight: Smith & Liddle — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

PHOTO CREDIT: Eddy Maynard

Smith & Liddle

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I am not sure whether…

there are a whole load of duos out on the scene at the moment. I think we tend to think about bands and solo artists. Once was the time when there were a lot of Pop and R&B duos. Maybe in Country or Folk there are more examples. However, I think that there is something about a duo that you do not get from a band or a solo act. That dynamic, chemistry and blend. Smith & Liddle released the stunning debut album, Songs for the Desert, last October. It was hugely lauded and acclaimed for its sun-drenched West Coast sound. Some noting that their gorgeous harmonies were reminiscent of The Mamas & The Papas, Fleetwood Mac, and Doobie Brothers. I only just came across them because I was looking at BBC Introducing: North East and their tips for this year. Smith & Liddle were in the mix. And quite rightly! I do think that Songs for the Desert is worth of a Mercury Prize nomination later in the year, such is the brilliance of the album. Composed of Billy Smith (guitar and vocals) and Elizabeth Liddle (vocals and piano), you definitely need to listen to this duo! I love how they marry Soft Rock, Folk and Pop of the 1960s and 1970s. At a moment when modern Pop is ruling, there is something about what Smith & Liddle provide that is so much more evocative, long-lasting and warm. Listen to Songs for the Desert and you are transported! In terms of their aesthetics, too, they are brilliant. The album cover and promotional photos. Their music videos. They have really though about every single aspect. I do think they will release a load more albums and get some huge tour dates. I really love their music so wanted to spotlight them now. I am going to bring in some interviews with this exceptional duo. I will end with a review of Songs for the Desert, but it is important to get some insight into Smith & Liddle. A few interviews to highlight. Apologies if there is any repetition in terms of information and answers. However, as they only started releasing singles last year, there is going to be some limitations. There is no doubting the fact they are a fascinating duo.

I am going to start with a brief interview from NARC. from November. Listening to Billy Smith and Elizabeth Liddle singing together, their music gets right into the heart. I think their songs could perfectly fit into films and T.V. shows. They are so scenic and evocative. I only had to listen to a few minutes of Songs for the Desert and I was utterly invested:

“Elizabeth Liddle and Billy Smith write pristine, 70’s indebted classic and country rock: echoing the influence of Laurel Canyon and Fleetwood Mac, and more obscure West Coast rock and psych. Billy admits that is was their love of the music of the 1970s that brought them closer together- having orbited each other in other bands until they started writing together in 2023.

Eyes On You, was the impetus for the band to write more- a seam rich enough to develop over a whole record. ‘Songs For The Desert’ is a beautiful, melodically sumptuous record- elevated by glorious, harmonic songwriting influenced by The Mamas and The Papas and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Billy attributes producer Josh Ingledew’s influence on the sonic palette of the record, “the chilliest guy on the planet” who was happy to be a conduit for all of the band’s influences and ideas – “if the song needed a cheesy 80s synth or a 90 second guitar solo with a lengthy fade out, it was going to have it. Music is all about expressing who you are and we are both huge fans of everything created in the golden decades. He says ‘yes’ to crazy ideas but will also find the perfect sounds to bring your ideas to life.” Billy and Elizabeth relay that there wasn’t a “single stressful memory” in recording the album, and are grateful to the contribution of friends Robb Maynard on drums, Phil Richardson on organs, Emma Robson on some BV’s and Niles Krieger on the strings.

Eager to get the record out into the world, Smith and Liddle play shows in Germany and the Netherlands in early 2026- a year that Billy anticipated will include “a lot of driving, a lot of playing and a lot of good times”- so catch then while you can before this magnificent record finds the audience it deserves”.

I think some of the most original, interesting and promising artists are coming from the North East. I did mention the Mercury Prize earlier. Though not a new artist, Sam Fender hails from that part of the country, and he won the prize last year for People Watching. I do feel Smith & Liddle are bound for glory and huge long-terms success. NE Volume spoke with Smith & Liddle about a debut album that they are really proud of. You can see why. There are no weak moments to be heard. Everything blends perfectly. One of the most remarkable debut albums in recent memory:

“How does it feel to release your debut album, ‘Songs for the Desert’?

We’re just really proud of the entire album. We had some great musicians play on it – our drummer Robb Maynard, keyboard player Phil Richardson, and Emma Robson, a fantastic local musician. We’ve also got Niles Krieger from a band called The Often Herd, who played fiddle. We recorded it at Blank Studios in Newcastle with Josh Ingledew, and it’s out now.

Your last single was ‘Minute Ago’. What was the writing process like?

‘Minute Ago’ came out in September. It’s a song that Liz had the chorus idea for spinning around in her head for months last year. She just couldn’t find a way to finish it, so we sat down together and wrote the rest of it. It’s a bit like how Fleetwood Mac worked – Stevie Nicks would sing a song, then Lindsey Buckingham would sing a song, and then they’d write together. I guess this is Liz’s moment on the album – this is where she really shines. Our third single, ‘Eyes on You’, will be released the week before the album comes out.

What’s the story behind the album title? And how does it tie the songs together?

The story behind the title is quite funny. Basically, our drummer Robb would come into the studio while we were recording the album – which didn’t have a name at the time – and he’d forget all the song titles. He kept asking, “Is this the Camel song or the Desert song?” So we joked that we were writing songs for the desert here. Our idols came out of Laurel Canyon in ’70s California, and that whole desert sound from the era was what really inspired us. That’s why we called the album ‘Songs for the Desert’.

You’ve been releasing music videos alongside your singles, with a distinctive style. Is that something you’ll continue to develop?

Definitely. We try to capture that ’70s look in all of our videos and recreate the feel of those classic music shows where bands would come on and perform live. We’ve made videos for nearly every song.

We released ‘Piece of You’ – the first single from the album – back in May, and we filmed it in Saltburn’s Valley Gardens. We filmed ‘Minute Ago’ at the Social Room in Stockton. We’ve got two more music videos on the way, both in collaboration with Rob Irish”.

Released on Hallowe’en of last year, Songs for the Desert instantly connected with fans and the press. So much love out there for them. Just Listen to This sat down with Smith & Liddle to talk about their unforgettable debut album. I am going to try and see them play live if they are back in London again. I can imagine they are heart-stopping when you see them in the flesh. Truly, a duo that everyone needs to have in their lives:

“When did you begin songwriting?

Billy: “Both of us started writing songs from the early of 11-12. Elizabeth told me she would record her songs onto the old IPod, whereas I had an old tape recorder to use. There’s probably hundreds of songs in old books lying around in the loft.”

You have your debut album ‘Songs For The Desert’ which is released on 31st October 2025. How did you want to approach the making of the album?

Elizabeth: “We wanted to approach the album musically like our favourite 60s artists would but have a modern flavour on the production side. Everything you hear on the album is real instruments and even the synths are all analog. We just wanted to have fun with it and create something special to us. ‘Songs For The Desert’ has a collection of songs that we are so proud of.”

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

Billy: “Mostly, the album was recorded at Blank Studios in Newcastle, however we recorded different parts in other places like our bedrooms and garages. We produced this album with Josh Ingledew, whom we had many similarities to when it came to music. We spoke a lot about Todd Rundgren & The Beach Boys.”

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

Elizabeth: “In every studio session, Billy and Josh would have what I call “silly hour” where they would go off on a tangent and experiment with weird sounds that were 95% of the time never used. However, we did create the backwards guitars in ‘Piece Of You’ that sounded like seagulls and that was kept in the master track!”

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

Billy: “One instrument that turned things around a lot was the Danelectro 12-string that I bought near the backend of recording. It added loads of thickness in the guitar tracks. In songs like ‘Down The Hole Again’, we took inspiration from ‘Pet Sounds’ and used lots of percussion like sleigh bells and cabasa to get that Beach Boys sound and we layered lots of vocal harmonies around a ribbon mic. I think we used the R84. In the west coasty tracks like New Day, the fender Rhodes with a phaser and the Juno were undeniable as always”

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Elizabeth: “‘No Place’ is the last track of the album and is our happiest because its a track about where we picture ourselves in the future and the reason why we made this album in the first place. Angriest, we’ll say ‘In A Haze’, only because when we were writing the lyrics, I’d just had a tooth filling and in a lot of pain! ‘Eyes On You’ is the most reflective because it’s the first song we ever wrote together and lyrically is about reflecting.”

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Elizabeth: “I am from a small village in County Durham and Billy lives an hour down the road in Middlesbrough. I’ll describe my hometown as quiet, peaceful and very scenic. Billy describes his town as dark, rainy, full of life haha”

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Billy: “any book written by Middlesbrough legend ‘Bob Mortimer’. If you haven’t read his autobiography, it’s hilarious. He talks about a lot of places near my house so it’s nice to read what it was like back in the day.”

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Elizabeth: “Let us just name a lot of cool acts you might not of heard of: Barbara & Ernie, Dane Donahue, Chi Coltrane, Little Feat, Delaney & Bonnie. We’re going through an ‘America’ phase at the minute. Gerry Beckley, we want to meet you!”.

Just before I wrap things up, I do want to bring in this review from Get Ready to Rock. They were full of love and praise for the staggering Songs for the Desert. Given the beauty and quality of this album, I do hope that other sites and sources pick up on Smith & Liddle. They deserve widespread radio play and focus from some of the biggest music magazines and websites. Such an incredibly talented and close-knit pair who are so in tune with one another. You can feel the closeness between Billy Smith and Elizabeth Liddle:

“There must be something in the air at the moment, or at least this year. We’ve had excellent albums from Morganway, First Time Flyers, and now Smith & Liddle. The connecting theme is melodic classic pop rock with a rootsy/country undertow.

Smith & Liddle are Billy Smith and Elizabeth Liddle who combined forces in 2024 when Billy was looking for a vocalist.

The vibe on this album is unashamedly retro with some great songs and playing.

Opener ‘Piece Of You’ showcases the duo’s fine harmonies that could have come straight from the West Coast c.1971 replete with jangly guitars. They actually hail from the north-east coast (UK).

Several tunes are inevitably going to draw comparisons with mid-seventies Fleetwood Mac such as ‘Eyes On You’, ‘Stay A While’ and ‘Minute Ago’. In fact pretty much everything.

This might be a minor niggle: it’s an album that is a product of certain influences rather than pushing the envelope. But there’s time for that. With so much talk about AI recycling our musical heritage real life artists have surely to offer something different? In this example, and to stay period authentic, at least Smith & Liddle recorded everything using analogue techniques.

‘New Day’ reminds a little of a more jaunty Chris Rea (‘On The Beach’) whilst one of the standouts is ‘In A Haze’. Like much of the stuff on the album it seems the duo get a lot of their inspiration writing in the kitchen.

It would be a great shame if this album slipped through the cracks. Watch out for live dates and go lend your support. ****1/2”.

There is definitely this incredible pedigree in the North East of England. I recently wrote about Middlesbrough artist Loren Heat and their incredible music. They are an artist that you will also want to check out. Smith & Liddle are extraordinarily talented and make this soul-stirring music. I look forward to seeing where their careers take them. Just about to play a few dates in Germany before going to Netherlands on 21st January, let’s hope that Smith & Liddle get a lot of gigs this year. Their music should be heard by everyone! Truly one of the most wonderful and must-hear acts…