Project SMOK is the indie-trad trio of Ali Levack, Ewan Baird and Pablo Lafuente, whose nonconformist and progressive style has set them apart since their formation in 2017. Known for their ability to effortlessly blend traditional Scottish and Irish music with contemporary new-age pop influences, Project SMOK are at their most comfortable when pushing boundaries, making listeners stop and re-evaluate their musical expectations. They do away with perceived genre limits from the first note. The close-knit group transitions effortlessly between the innovative, explosive and emotive, drawing outside inspiration from indie pop, to more time-honoured West Coast styles of playing.
Their tunes are built around the distinctive whistle playing & piping of Ali Levack, winner of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year award in 2020. With Ewan Baird’s fierce bodhrán playing and Pablo Lafuente’s nuanced guitar style, the trio effortlessly blends their styles into a powerful and dynamic sound. Throw in instrumental virtuosity, blistering drive, infectious rhythm and a delicate sensitivity and you have the unique and thirst-quenching sound of Project SMOK.
In addition to their high energy live performances, the band’s eclectic discography has solidified their place at the forefront of the traditional music scene, amassing over 15 million streams worldwide. Blending innovation with their fearless and distinctive style, Project SMOK continues to push the boundaries of modern traditional music. Their seamless fusion of genres captivates new audiences, making traditional music more accessible to those who might not have explored it before.
"I don't think I can find words suitable for how good they are.”
– Bruce MacGregor, BBC Travelling Folk
“You will simply not hear a better group for sheer, unadulterated virtuosity…”
– MNPR Magazine
“…one of the freshest sounding albums in any genre likely to be released this year”.
– Bright Young Folk (Review of their second album, ‘The Outset’
“…a new powerhouse of Scottish folk music.”
– Folkworld
“Project SMOK deliver a masterpiece of trad.”
– At the Barrier
“…a trio who push the boundaries of traditional music.”
– Bagpipe.news
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