Myles Smith at Omeara

It’s rare to come across a musician who is as emotionally stripped as Myles Smith. Alfie Jukes set the precedent for a rustic night of honest, British music; however, the authenticity and vulnerability of Smith is unparalleled by anything in the pop arena of today.

At only 25 years old, Smith’s set was infinitely soulful from beginning to end and proof that there might still be some hope left for the UK Top 20 charts on what constitutes “good music”. The profoundly emotional experience was not only a credit to the singer’s heartfelt and inclusive performance but also thanks to the intimacy of the venue, Omeara, that was responsible for encouraging this deeper connection between the artist and the fans.

At one point, the line between musician and crowd was blurred as Smith grabbed his microphone and jumped right into the mosh-pit on the infectious chorus line, “Take my heart / Don’t break it,” from his latest single Stargazing; a song so good, they played it twice.

Despite his Z generation, the chart-topping folksy guitar wizard insisted fans put their phones away and enjoy being present to the magic that is live music. The crowd obeyed and the energy amplified instantaneously just in time for his top-streaming love-loss song, My Home, from his debut album You Promised a Lifetime. As Smith explained, the song is about the highs of falling in love and the despair of losing it, which was evident in the combination of pain and passion that reverberated from the pit of his core to the back of the room.

My First Heartbreak followed this deeply emotive theme of heartbreak and loss as the singer reminisced about the first time he felt abandoned, which was by his father at 13 years old. This visceral moment was so intense, tears began to flow, but were swiftly wiped away for the upbeat melancholic tune, Solo, a song that explores the repercussions of a broken relationship beyond repair. Smith made it clear that great art comes from great pain.