Antony Szmierek

Antony Szmierek
Antony Szmierek at Way Out West in Sweden in 2024
Antony Szmierek at Way Out West in Sweden in 2024
Background information
BornOctober 1990 (age 35)
OriginManchester, England
Genres
Occupations
Years active2018–present
LabelMushroom Music / Virgin Music Group

Antony Szmierek is an English poet, spoken-word performer, musician and producer from Greater Manchester whose work combines spoken word with electronic and dance music.[1][2] He gained wider recognition with the 2022 single "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Fallacy", which received BBC Radio 6 Music airplay, and was named one of the station's Artists of the Year in 2023.[3][4][5] His debut studio album, Service Station at the End of the Universe (2025), reached number 68 on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK Dance Albums Chart.[6]

Early life and education

Szmierek is from Hyde, Greater Manchester.[4] He worked as an English teacher, including at a college for school leavers with special educational needs.[7] Before focusing on music, he self-published the novels The Albatross and The Hypocrite, and performed spoken word at open-mic events in Manchester.[8]

Career

Szmierek began setting his poetry to music during the COVID-19 pandemic, after buying an electric piano.[8] His early releases include Endless Summer (2020) and Giving Up for Beginners (2021).[9] His single "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Fallacy" received BBC Radio 6 Music airplay and brought him wider attention.[4][5] He released the EPs Poems to Dance To and Seasoning in 2023, and was named one of BBC Radio 6 Music's Artists of the Year that year.[4][5] He later left teaching to work in music full-time.[7]

Szmierek has performed at Glastonbury Festival, including two sets in 2023, and recorded a session at BBC Radio 1's Maida Vale Studios.[10] His debut studio album, Service Station at the End of the Universe, was released on 28 February 2025 through Mushroom Music and Virgin Music Group; its title and songs reference the work of Douglas Adams.[11] It reached number 68 on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK Dance Albums Chart.[12]

Musical style

Szmierek combines spoken-word delivery with electronic, house and indie influences. He has described his approach as "Sincerity Overdrive".[13][4][14]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Service Station at the End of the Universe (2025)[15]
  • Decoding Birdsong (2026)
Extended plays
  • Poems to Dance To (2023)[4]
  • Seasoning (2023)[4]

Chart performance

Service Station at the End of the Universe charted in the United Kingdom, including:

  • No. 1 – UK Dance Albums Chart[15]
  • No. 3 – UK Independent Albums Chart[15]
  • No. 8 – UK Vinyl Albums Chart[15]
  • No. 11 – UK Physical Albums Chart[15]
  • No. 68 – UK Albums Chart[15]

Bibliography

  • The Albatross (self-published)[8]
  • The Hypocrite (self-published)[8]
  • Ultimate Denim Concert USA: An Anthology (2020)[16]
  • Roadmap (lyrics, poems, sketches and stories; Faber Music, 2025)[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Antony Szmierek Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Williams, Sophie (22 February 2025). "One to watch: Antony Szmierek". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Fallacy". Apple Music. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Introducing spoken word artist Antony Szmierek making poetry cool". ITV News Granada. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Antony Szmierek". Faber Alt. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Service Station at the End of the Universe". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Antony Szmierek Interview". Principle Magazine. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Antony Szmierek interviewed". whynow. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Antony Szmierek". Apple Music. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Truck Preview: Antony Szmierek". Northern Exposure. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Shah, Rishi (27 February 2025). "Antony Szmierek – 'Service Station At The End Of The Universe' review: Mancunian pop poet steps up his game". NME. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Service Station at the End of the Universe". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Williams, Sophie (22 February 2025). "One to watch: Antony Szmierek". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Antony Szmierek: Sincerity Overdrive". DIY. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Antony Szmierek". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Ultimate Denim Concert USA: An Anthology". Goodreads. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Roadmap". Faber Music. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
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