Manchester-based poet, writer and producer Antony Szmierek has announced the release of his debut album, Service Station At The End Of The Universe, which is scheduled to drop on 28th February via Mushroom Music/Virgin Music Group. Alongside the announcement, Szmierek has released new single ‘The Great Pyramid Of Stockport.’ The song’s energetic dance beats provide the perfect backdrop for Szmierek’s knack for storytelling, with an engaging northern narrative and his trademark lyricism delivered with genial charm. Speaking about the track Antony comments:
“Stockport Council abandoned plans for a Valley of the Kings themed shopping plaza, leaving only an empty pyramid behind. Nobody really knows what the pyramids in Giza are for. What we do know is that we’re not here long, and that the impossible is more possible than we think it is, motivationally speaking. That big blue pyramid serves as a reminder that human beings never really change – even if our pyramids are now by the side of motorways and full of office space.”
The single is accompanied by an official video durected by Zac Watson, that features Antony against the backdrop of Stockport’s pyramid-shaped abandoned shopping plaza, juxtaposed with scenes from the real pyramids of Egypt.
Antony cut his teeth on the Manchester spoken word scene and gained notoriety for his seamless flow skewering everything from the hardships of contemporary British life to finding the unexpected beauty in the everyday. It was his 2023 single ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Fallacy‘ that kicked off his meteoric ascent. Set against the backdrop of a pounding kick drum and club-ready synths, he lets loose a stream of consciousness that lays out his vision of musical vulnerability and communal escapism: “Everything’s ironic now, post-post-punk. Take me away” he says on the track.
Debut album Service Station At The End Of The Universe promises to provide a culmination of the deep dancefloor poetry that began with ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Fallacy’, as well as showcasing a new side to his writing, producing moments of downbeat, dark poignance along with pop melodic hooks and thumping dancefloor orchestrations. It is co-produced by Antony alongwith his long-time collaborators Robin Parker, Max Rad, Louie Fulford-Smith and fresh Mancunian talent Yves Jones.
Antony Szmierek live dates
2024
October
19 – SWN Festival, Cardiff
2025
March
6 – The Leadmill, Sheffield
7 – University Stylus, Leeds
8 – Boiler Shop, Newcastle
9 – St Luke’s, Glasgow
19 – The Waterfront, Norwich
20 – O2 Academy, Birmingham
21 – Albert Hall, Manchester
23 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
27 – Koko, London
30 – The Trinity Centre, Bristol
April
4 – The Grand Social, Dublin
9 – Le Badaboum, Paris
10 – Ancienne Belgique
11 – YUCA, Cologne
13 – Ideal Bar, Copenhagen
14 – HÄKKEN, Hamburg
15 – Kantine am Berghain, Berlin
17 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
19 – Ekko, Utrecht
For more information on Antony Szmierek please check out tiktok and instagram.
