Music / May 28, 2021

J Smith releases debut album ‘(…) And you chose not to laugh’

Photo Credit: Anthony O'Connor
Music / May 28, 2021

J Smith releases debut album ‘(…) And you chose not to laugh’

Words: Dylan Murphy

The 10 track offering from the Dublin singer lands following a string of emotive singles.

Last year marked the end of the road for Gypsies on the Autobahn and since then, former frontman J Smith has been forging his own path as a solo artist.

Whether that’s releasing emotive singles like ‘In the Death of Something Beautiful or providing a new lens to tracks through reworkings on his YURN alias, the singer and instrumentalist embraces uncomfortable feelings in search of creating something beautiful

It’s this approach that forms the foundation of his debut album (…)And you chose not to laugh which touches on the tragedy faced by him and his wife having suffered a pregnancy loss for the first time in 2018.

Speaking on the heartbreak Smith said, “It’s something so many people face, with 1 in 4 pregnancies resulting in miscarriage. I learned of this after the fact. At the time,I thought I knew nobody who had gone through it, but friends and family came out and shared their stories. All of a sudden we didn’t feel so alone. I hope that’s what this song does for people.”

Featuring his brother Daniel Smith, Donagh Seaver O’Leary (Sodalblonde/Little GreenCars) and other frequent collaborators and sitting at 38 minutes it’s an immersive and intimate offering from the Dublin singer.

Listen to (…) And you chose not to laugh below:

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