Track of the Day: James Lloyd Smith – Lake Walk (2025)
With dancing eyes, a heart-warming grin, and the general demeanour of that shy guy in the coffee house, James Lloyd Smith oozes calm in his bashful nature. To be honest, at first glance, it’s not easy to believe a musician lies within his soul; however, if it did, then it’s a James Blunt folk singer – and, honestly, that’s what he is. Reaching audiences with a charming lilt of old-school folk, Smith’s music is the theme song to long nights curled in front of the fire with a cup of tea and chocolate biscuits. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Lake Walk’.
The first release since 2023’s ‘A Song About Coffee That I Recorded Into Voice Memos While Lawn Mowers Hummed In The Distance’, ‘Lake Walk’ is a pivotal point in Smith’s musical journey. The former song is pretty much what it says on its label, with the raw, rough, but charming sound; however, ‘Lake Walk’ is more polished, sophisticated, and leans further toward an upbeat indie-folk tone as compared to previous songs like 2020’s ‘Lonely (Bee and PuppyCat). Yet, while the contemporary indie underbelly lies beneath, Smith’s old-school folk exterior remains.
Self-produced, James Lloyd Smith uses a DIY approach to his music, which, oddly enough, seems to be apparent in their “labour of love” sentiments. ‘Lake Walk’ is smooth and soothing while still vulnerable in its delicate languidness. A hushed harmony of acoustic guitar, brush of snare drums, an interspersed double bass and electric bass, then the slices of piano, ‘Lake Walk’ breathes complexity into simplistic soundscapes.
“The Kent countryside… has had a huge influence on my sound. I try to write music that to some degree reflects how the landscape makes me feel… a thank you letter to the edifying quality of the natural world.” – James Lloyd Smith on ‘Lake Walk’
In addition to the single, James Lloyd Smith released an official music video for ‘Lake Walk’. You can view the video below or on his YouTube channel. Please note that while the first few seconds use light effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy, the video itself is a calm, simple one viewable by all.
Find out more about James Lloyd Smith on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
Listen to more folk music on The Other Side Reviews Folk playlist:
