I’m DAVID SMYTH, a freelance writer and teacher of writing skills. I met umpteen superstars and ruined my hearing as the music critic of the London Evening Standard between 2002 and 2024, where my work regularly appeared HERE.

Right now I’m a regular fixture in Runner’s World (as well as appearing on their podcast), and have also been published in Men’s Running, Men’s Fitness, The i Paper, The Scotsman, Q, The New Statesman, The Daily Telegraph, Mixmag, The Guardian, Harper’s, Blender, The Fader, M the PRS for Music magazine, Muzik and Golf World. I’ve been interviewed on Radio 6 Music, BBC London and LBC,  written band biogs for publicists, media trained newly signed musicians, and hosted panel discussions at festivals. I was a judge on the 12-strong Mercury Music Prize panel from 2010-12 and am a co-author of the Rough Guides book The Best Music You’ve Never Heard.

I could write something for you if you’d like to CONTACT ME.

As a music consultant I have provided bespoke soundtracks for Dunhill and Mulberry stores, working with Music Concierge.

Since 2015 I’ve been a senior lecturer teaching writing-related modules at undergraduate and FE level at BIMM University in Brighton. Between 2011 and 2013 I was a lecturer in the Journalism department of London Metropolitan University, and have also taught classes at BIMM London, City University, Regent’s University London, London College of Communication, Middlesex University and Coventry University.

This site is an extensive archive of my writing. In most cases the articles here are my own pre-edited versions and not necessarily the exact published text. My selected highlights are HERE, my interviews are HERE and my reviews are HERE.