Indie Rockers Souls Extolled Have a Whole Lotta Love

Singer-guitarist Zach Black talks new LP soulsex and finding the light in moments of darkness

"...reemerging health issues. At the same time, Black, a locksmith by day, struggled to keep his business afloat...."

Jan. 31, 2025 Music Feature by Miranda Garza

Pelvis Wrestley’s High-Concept Pop Mythology

Bandleader Jammy Violet embraces queer world-building on sophomore LP

"...reflection on divine anticipation, features credits from both Chris “Frenchie” Smith and recently passed Nané bandleader Daniel Sahad...."

Feb. 9, 2024 Music Feature by Genevieve Wood

A Band Called Ma’s Slow Burn and Five More Songs From Austin Artists

New music picks from Ifé Neuro, Kydd Jones, Fuvk, and more

"...meaning with this wistful outlook. Americana-touched production by Chris "Frenchie" Smith adds to the dreamy no-man's-land. In a very..."

Aug. 11, 2023 Music Column by Elizabeth Braaten

Pleasure Venom's Introspective Punk Road to Rebirth/Return

Revamped and fully realized Austin quartet breaks down debut

"...Deserve" and "Severed Ties" – the latter produced by Frenchie Smith alongside "Lose It!" – Rebirth/Return captures Pleasure Venom's..."

Dec. 9, 2022 Music Feature by Kriss Conklin

The 2021-22 Austin Music Industry Awards Winners

"...Chris “Frenchie” Smith (The Bubble) Best Radio Personality..."

March 4, 2022 Music Feature

What We’re Listening to Right Now

Blakchyl x Hyah!, Empyrrean, Homemade Bangs, the Applicators, and more sounds for your week

"...since 2015 streaming-era entrance Scandal. Reuniting with producer Chris "Frenchie" Smith, New Wave-sided Halloween single "Sound of Cars" leaned..."

Jan. 7, 2022 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

What We're Listening to Right Now

Duel, Cactus Lee, Kady Rain, Sweetfeed, Startographers, and the You're Gonna Be Great 2 comp

"...The single, produced by rock & roll faith healer Frenchie Smith, sounds like Green Day crossed with Mariah Carey's..."

Oct. 15, 2021 Music Column by Raoul Hernandez

Austin Music: What We're Listening to This Week

Hot Summer Nights 4 Mixtape, Y2, Witchcryer, Suzanne Santo, Hovvdy, and James McMurtry

"...Guitarist Frenchie Smith, who produced most of the tracks on HSN4,..."

Aug. 27, 2021 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

New Austin Music Worth Your Bandwidth This Week

What we’re listening to

"...mastery. Recorded at the Bubble and produced by Chris "Frenchie" Smith, Between Us explores the vast expanse of psychedelia..."

April 23, 2021 Music Feature by Derek Udensi

New Austin Music Worth Your Bandwidth This Week

What we’re listening to

"...roll. Recorded live in two days with producer Chris "Frenchie" Smith (...Trail of Dead, Ringo Deathstarr), the first release..."

April 2, 2021 Music Feature by Michael Toland

Faster Than Sound: Music Venues React to Stage 5

New city recommendations halt shows at many venues ahead of New Year's Eve

"...and Stone Wheels. Produced by Einar Pedersen and Chris "Frenchie" Smith at the Bubble, find ATX Gen Next: Adventures..."

Jan. 8, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

William Harries Graham’s Your “Confidant”

Onetime ATX prodigy unpacks love on new single, EP, and video

"...Pederson, and Chris Searles at the Bubble with Chris “Frenchie” Smith. The frontman describes the thought behind the sessions..."

Dec. 14, 2020 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Video Premiere: Sydney Wright Outs a Vicious Tenderfoot

“Term usually describes novice[s] that lack general sensibilities”

"...harder than my previous releases, so I chose Chris ‘Frenchie’ Smith to produce ‘Tenderfoot’ at the Bubble Recording Studio..."

May 29, 2020 Music Post by Raoul Hernandez

The Gravity of Sound

The Bubble's new studio stands as Mark Genfan's swan song

"...hinges on willing inspiration out of others. That's Chris "Frenchie" Smith, Grammy-nominated co-owner and producer at the Bubble, Austin's..."

Oct. 25, 2019 Music Feature by Kevin Curtin

Scott Collins Digs His Own Grave in New Video

Songwriter and TCM Westerns enthusiast faces down death

"...lyrical meditation on death and redemption from last year’s Frenchie Smith-helmed EP, Roadmaps...."

July 19, 2019 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Dogs & Diamonds

"...Disaster from 1998-2007. Though this disc, recorded by Chris "Frenchie" Smith, was cut with guitarist Laney Santana and bassist..."

April 19, 2019 Music Review by Tim Stegall

2018/19 Austin Music Industry Poll Top 10s

Nearly half of this year's Austin Music Poll/Austin Music Awards winners are now known

"...3) Chris "Frenchie" Smith..."

Feb. 22, 2019 Music Feature

Playback: That’s the Breaks

In studio with Confucius and Fresh, hosts of KUTX’s first ever hip-hop specialty show

"...occupied since 2005, confirmed owners Alex Lyons and Chris "Frenchie" Smith. Overseen by sound design consultants Acoustic Spaces, the..."

Aug. 31, 2018 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Austin Music Industry Award Winners Announced

Best radio station, record store, club, music writer, and more honored

"...Best Producer 1) Adrian Quesada 2) Chris “Frenchie” Smith 3) Danny Reisch 4) Cris Burns 5) Bryan..."

Feb. 25, 2018 Music Post by James Renovitch

Playback: Hot Shivers

New Whiskey Shivers, Butthole Surfers, Casualties, murals, and takes on American literary classics

"...While traces of their trademark "thrashgrass" remain, the Chris "Frenchie" Smith-produced disc breaks Whiskey Shivers out of their mold...."

July 21, 2017 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Fastball

"...never exhausted their subtly potent charms. They remain pop songsmiths in the classic sense: maintaining fidelity to the hook,..."

June 23, 2017 Music Review by Greg Beets

2016-17 Austin Music Awards

"...Chris "Frenchie" Smith (The Bubble Studio) and Paul Minor..."

March 13, 2017 Photo Gallery

Austin Music Awards' Industry Accolades Announced

Best radio station, record store, club, and many more

"...AJ Vallejo 2) Bryan Ray 3) Tim Gerron 4) Frenchie Smith 5) Omar Vallejo 6) George Reiff 7) Adrian..."

March 6, 2017 Music Post by James Renovitch

Leopold & His Fiction

"...album Darling Destroyer. Aided by local super producer Chris "Frenchie" Smith, the Austin outfit fleshes out its sonic palette..."

Feb. 3, 2017 Music Review by Bryan Rolli

Playback: Austin Musician Union Overthrown

Local 433 hangs in the balance, a new hit for Fastball, and End of an Ear begins its new lease on life

"...Fastball's first album since 2009's Little White Lies. The Frenchie Smith-produced disc is expected to hit the market in..."

Oct. 21, 2016 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Casual Strangers

"...Written and recorded at home – and tweaked by Frenchie Smith at the Bubble – Paul Waclawsky and Katey..."

Oct. 21, 2016 Music Review by Michael Toland

Playback: 35 Years of Chronicle Music Covers

We wade through the roughly 300 issues stamped with the mug of a musician

"...Chris "Frenchie" Smith, Jennifer Stephens (3/29/02)..."

Sept. 2, 2016 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Coming of Age With Jane Ellen Bryant

Bad at growing up, good at promo

"...Attack axe man and The Bubble studio owner Chris “Frenchie” Smith. When I ran into the veteran producer (currently..."

July 11, 2016 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Scorpion Child

"...colorful production and more ambitious songwriting. Studio wizard Chris "Frenchie" Smith, owner of the Bubble and a prolific Austin..."

June 10, 2016 Music Review by Michael Toland

Swallow Some Otis the Destroyer

Fuzz rockers tease new Belushi EP

"...Otis’ latest, a four-track sprint produced by Bubble bosses Frenchie Smith and Sean Rolie, comes branded with name of..."

Feb. 29, 2016 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

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