Unashamedly pop.
Venn Smyth writes songs that dance around subjects important to him. These include identity, equality, mental health and finding your voice. His brand of queer pop blends synth, sax, ballads and bops, and has earned its place at No.1 on the LGBTQ Music Chart more than once.
He built a following online whilst supporting fellow queer music makers across the globe with his ‘Venn’s Quop’ playlist and podcast. This has been translated into real life as he takes his energetic yet heartfelt performances to venues in London and beyond. The Glory, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Phoenix Arts Club and Green Man Festival have hosted Venn this year, and a UK tour is in the works for his debut full length album ‘Master of Disguise’. 2023 has also seen him reach the finals of Brighton’s Voice of Broadway and the semifinals of London’s Pride’s Got Talent competitions.
‘Master of Disguise’ was recorded in London and Deal with gold and platinum record certified songwriter, producer and mixing engineer, Jack Gourlay. He also worked with Kwame Kwaten’s Ferocious Talent company to kick-start this pop project.
Coming from rural Scotland, Venn found himself captivated by music from an early age. He studied Classical Music at Edinburgh Napier University, with saxophone and composition as his focus. He found further inspiration in the eclectic world of Sufjan Stevens, Laura Marling and Erasure to name but a few. After graduating he performed in duo The Minister’s Cat with guitarist Ali Tod, who has gone on to perform with Rodrigo y Gabriela and Brandi Carlile. He was also a saxophonist with Banyuls Saxophone Quartet, performing in Scotland and Spain. Venn hosted successful open mic nights in both Edinburgh and London, and alongside performing and writing, managed largescale youth music projects with Studio 3 Arts and the National Orchestra for All. He also established an LGBTQ+ Youth Choir in partnership with the London Gay Men’s Chorus. He led the group to write and record original music, including a performance which was headlined by Scissor Sisters’ Ana Matronic. He has composed for film and charity projects. In 2016 he was asked to write a piece for artist Jordan McKenzie’s Shame Chorus project alongside composers such as Jessica Curry and Leo Chadburn, as well as iconic songwriter Billy Bragg.
Ben Howell who found fame with his mash-up of the BBC News Theme and Dua Lipa’s ‘Hallucinate’, remixed his song ‘Burn Me’ which was featured on Spotify’s Pride playlist. Venn is on the roster for Queenz Sounds who manage and support female LGBTQ+ musicians, and he will be performing at their festival in Glasgow at Slay on 21 October to close his UK tour.
Praise and plays
“Time to slow things down. London-based singer and songwriter Venn Smyth has just unveiled his brand new single titled Burn Me, a captivating piano-based ballad! Venn Smyth writes songs that dance around subjects and stories important to him. These include identity, queerness, community and finding your voice.
What drew me towards this song was the lush and emotive piano-based ballad that creates quite an intimate atmosphere that is perfect for his message to soar. Another thing I really like is Venn's powerful vocal delivery and how it is packed with so much raw emotion, instantly making the song sound even better. I can completely relate with Burn Me's message about losing the confidence one had when younger and that in order to find it again we should burn some of the walls we've built up. I am a sucker for stripped-back, piano-based ballads with powerful vocals and lyrics and Burn Me is definitely a great example of that. Have a listen to this gem below!”
Caesar Live N Loud - see blog post here
Sober was played on Jim Gellatly’s Amazing Radio show
“A superb songwriter” Miles Elliot, judge of Voice of Broadway and Pride’s Got Talent
“A lovely voice, a lovely ballad. A fantastic song!”
“Music that feels authentic and heartfelt, but retains that impeccable danceable quality” Culture Fix blog
Play and feature on GlitterBeam Radio.
“Really wonderful. Reminiscent of the kind of songs Justin Vivian Bond would sing, reminded me of short bus, Rufus Wainwright, Jake Shears. A very downtown NYC queer feel about it.”
Jonny Woo, drag artist and owner of The Glory bar in London. Burn Me music video also featured on their Glory TV show.
Burn Me music video featured on queer music video showcase Queerantine hosted by Kisos and Elliot Jones.
“Real hints of Elton John… such a powerful voice. I love the emotion in it, the power… the rawness of it all.”
Featured on Track by Track New Music Drop podcast.
“(Sunrise) It’s a gorgeous contemporary dancefloor anthem tackling the hard-hitting theme
of grief, whilst retaining an optimistic mood through its shimmering production.”
Blog post on Culture Fix
