Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Waiting for Smith

Singer-songwriter Harry Floyd—performing under the moniker Waiting for Smith—is an artist to keep your eye on in 2020. After suffering an unfathomable back injury that almost left him paralyzed, Harry turned to music during his recovery. That moment would set him on the path he’s on now, engulfing the world with unforgettable melodies and spreading a much-needed message of positivity through his music. With over 230,000 streams, hundreds of international placements, and features in British GQ and Holland’s JFK Magazine, Waiting for Smith is undoubtedly one to keep on your radar. Pop Culturalist caught up with Waiting for Smith to discuss the release of his personal single, “Long Life.”

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Waiting for Smith: From the earliest age, as far back as I can remember, I was obsessed with dancing. There was also always music playing in my house. I played several gigs at a really young age. I would sing into a hairbrush in front of the mirror. [laughs] Maybe it has to do with me being born to the sounds of Michael Jackson. When I first came into the world, Thriller was playing in the hospital. That must have been the foundation of my addiction to music.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Waiting for Smith: My skiing accident for sure. It’s what gave me my focus. My recovery period gave me lots of time to read and write poems. The Tao has had an amazing influence on my lyrics. I always return to it when I don’t know what to say.

Also, my parents gave me a sense of possibility. They taught me everything is possible if you go for it but that, above all, you should do something you love. Also, whatever you do, you should do it as well as you can, with your whole heart.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Waiting for Smith: It has to be playing a summer of packed festival stages last year. I turned up at my last one at Electric Picnic and thought this is the big one. The organizers were so impressed with us that they’d upgraded us to a much better stage. The band was in top form. When we arrived, the venue was packed. This is going to be great, I thought! But little did I know Billie Eilish was headlining on the main stage right next door—in exactly the same slot. By the time we were ready to start, the whole audience had rushed away. I ended up playing to about eleven people—one of whom was my dad and another was my accountant. But the thing that made this moment stand out to me is that I gave one of the best performances of my life. I gave it my all. After the show, everyone came over to say that my performance was savage. “‘T ain’t what you do, it’s the way you do it,” as Ella Fitzgerald would say.

PC: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Waiting for Smith: There’s no magic button. There isn’t one person who will make you a star overnight. It’s a gradual process. Now I also realize that the road up is so enjoyable. I keep reminding myself to celebrate every little victory.

Like yesterday, when I received a message from a teacher in Spain who said she was going to share my music and story to the kids she teaches for inspiration. That’s just incredible and why I do it. The funny thing is the way that you imagine things happening is never the way it turns out. It’s a long, rocky road trying to make it in music. But it’s surely never boring!

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Long Life.” What was the inspiration behind the track?
Waiting for Smith: “Long Life” was written to cheer me up after breaking my back in a skiing accident and spending a year in bed recovering. It became my positive little anthem for dealing with my sudden change in circumstances. I’d narrowly escaped paralysis, nearly fallen out of the helicopter, had two fits from an allergic reaction to morphine, and died for five minutes.

It felt like something out of that Simpsons episode—you know, the one where he falls out of the ambulance down a cliff. But I knew I was incredibly lucky to be alive and shouldn’t waste a minute. So I surrounded myself with good books, poetry, and films. I learned to play the guitar. “Long Life” just tumbled out of me one morning as if it was someone else singing to me, saying “Don’t worry. It’s all gonna be fine.”

PC: You’ve released a few singles throughout your career. If you had to choose one song that best encompasses you as an artist, what would it be and why?
Waiting for Smith: At the moment, it’d be “Long Life.” Generally, I try to release songs that reflect what I’m feeling in the moment, even though I wrote “Long Life” a while ago. Next up is “Lines of Love.” It’s the perfect follow-up to “Long Life.” It’s really upbeat and makes you want to move.

We’re all constantly changing as people. I’m always trying to capture who I am at the point of the release. In a few months’ time, that might mean a punk track or gospel or rock/electronic. But whatever it is, I try to be as honest as I can. That way, I hope others can relate to what I’m feeling.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2020, assuming the COVID-19 gets under control, what does the rest of the year hold for you?
Waiting for Smith: Fingers crossed, there’ll be a few festivals later this summer. But I’m taking each day as it comes. Internally, “Long Life” is getting massive attention in India right now. We’re about to launch in Germany.

Meantime, I’m live-streaming from home twice a week with Waiting for Smith Wednesdays on Instagram at 6:30 p.m. BST. I’m also shooting and editing lockdown videos for release on Vevo and answering hundreds of nice messages from people saying that my music helps them feel better. The next track, “Lines of Love,” launches on June 19, with more to follow. The next big thing for Waiting for Smith is a proper pizza: Margherita di bufala. It makes me so happy.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Waiting for Smith: Good question! If I’m honest, I’m not sure what people would be more surprised about. I listen to—and like—almost everything, from Mozart to Gerry Rafferty. So perhaps it’d be that I’m an old-school ’90s hip-hop and early ’00s fanatic. For a long time, my taste was Young MC, A Tribe Called Quest, Blahzay Blahzay, Biz Markie, Born Jamericans, Brand Nubian, Danger Mouse, Jurassic 5, Digital Underground, Heather B, Jedi Mind Tricks, M.O.P., Mystikal, Nas, Non Phixion, Slum Village, and Smif-N-Wessun.

PC: First album you bought?
Waiting for Smith: Shaggy—Boombastic. I remember listening to his cover of Mungo Jerry’s “In The Summertime” on repeat. I was obsessed.

PC: First concert you attended?
Waiting for Smith: One of the first big ones was going to S Club 7 with my sisters—against my will, but I kind of loved it. Few years after that, the Rolling Stones at Wembley. I saw my first pair of naked breasts and high-fived Ronnie Wood on stage. Pretty different experiences!

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Waiting for Smith: Really—J.J. Cale. I used to listen to it on repeat, driving around in my beaten-up old Ford Fiesta smoking rolled-up cigarettes with the windows down. I thought it was one of the coolest things I’d ever heard. Then I bought Troubadour, Naturally, and 5.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Waiting for Smith: I’m not sure. I’m thinking more about the audience, the smiling faces that will be there. If I had to pick, I’d really like to play Paradiso in Amsterdam. I’m crazy about the Dutch.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Waiting for Smith: Nuts, fruit and nuts, some more nuts, and plenty of time to look out of the window.

To keep up with Waiting for Smith, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.