PLAIN MISTER SMITH – “DREAM TO BE FREE (FEATURING JORDAN KLASSEN)
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PREMIERE
Plain Mister Smith is set to unveil his new single “Dream To Be Free” on February 6, 2026, marking the fourth release from his forthcoming album due to arrive in Spring 2026 via Amelia Records/Symphonic. Featuring acclaimed singer-songwriter Jordan Klassen, the track finds the Vancouver- and London-based artist leaning fully into his gift for evocative, transportive songwriting.
Formerly the guitarist of Canadian darkwave outfit Moev, and currently a cellist with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, Plain Mister Smith has carved out a singular lane as a multi-hyphenate artist unbound by genre. Under his current moniker, he has earned support from tastemaker outlets including NPR Music, Wonderland Magazine, CLASH, NOTION, Under The Radar, Earmilk, METAL, Noctis Mag, Atwood Mag, and more—an endorsement of his quietly magnetic presence in the indie sphere.
Based between Vancouver and London, Plain Mister Smith marches to the beat of his own drum, conjuring eclectic indie-folk and psych-rock soundscapes threaded with catchy, quick-witted lyricism and a deep current of introspection. “Dream To Be Free” is a luminous example of that balance. Appealing to fans of Death Cab for Cutie, The War on Drugs, and Pavement, the song toes the line between introspection and whimsy with effortless grace.
Built on twinkling keys, soft syncopated drums, and kaleidoscopic instrumentation, the track carries the plaintive, intertwining vocals of Plain Mister Smith and Jordan Klassen. Together, they paint a cinematic portrait of a city slipping past in memory—fleeting, vivid, and quietly transformative.
With “Dream To Be Free”, Plain Mister Smith continues to build anticipation for his upcoming album—offering a song that feels both deeply personal and expansively universal, like a postcard from a moment that never quite leaves you.
ARTIST QUOTE
Plain Mister Smith told us: “Dream to be Free” is a mesmeric reflection on a decades old trip to Kyoto where memories came flooding back – how such a trip to a far away place can seem like an ultimate act of freedom, or it can be a more subtle escape from home. This trip took place during Diamonji time, which is when locals light giant bonfires aflame on the hills around Kyoto, to guide the spirits back to the spirit world. In a way this trip felt like a return to a source of re-birth.”
Plain Mister Smith
[Single]
(Amelia Records/Symphonic)
Release Date: February 6, 2026
Pre-Save Dream To Be Free HERE
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Sandra Lockwood
