Plain Mister Smith released his new single, ‘Lucian & Francis,’ today, March 27, 2026, through Amelia Records/Symphonic. This is his fifth standalone track, leading up to a full album set for spring 2026. The multi-instrumentalist, formerly a guitarist with Canadian darkwave group Moev and now a cellist with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, works between Vancouver and London. His work has received consistent support from outlets such as NPR Music, Wonderland Magazine, CLASH Magazine, NOTION, Under The Radar, Earmilk, METAL, Noctis Mag, and Atwood Mag, strengthening his reputation in left-field music circles.
With Tyson Mostenbocher lending his talents, the track drifts into reflective indie-folk and dreamy psych-rock territory, guided by steady guitar, heartfelt strings, and vocals that wander thoughtfully. The lyrics home in on the continuing impact of painters Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, using sharp, offbeat phrases like “heinous but genius” to evoke the way their art jolts and mesmerizes. Plain Mister Smith’s trademark mix of misty ambiance and grounded songwriting weaves through the song, delivering a clear glimpse of the album’s path ahead.
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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