Plain Mister Smith RELEASES ‘Dream To Be Free’ feat. Jordan Klassen Single

LISTEN: Plain Mister Smith – ‘Dream To Be Free’

Stream/ buy: Plain Mister Smith – ‘Dream To Be Free.’

[On ‘Dream To Be Free’] “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.”

Spill Magazine

[On ‘Miss Sunshine’] “the cut boasts an infectious guitar pattern, focused production choices and playful yet potent lyricism.”

WONDERLAND Magazine

“Plain Mister Smith is a musical mystery by design.”
NOTION

“It’s another message from the reclusive talent, who blends folk tropes with neat pop elements.”

CLASH Magazine

“Plain Mister Smith’s newest release, New Wave Sangfroid, proves to be anything other than plain (…) The song immediately draws you in with lush synth tones, evoking echoes of folklore and indie-pop inspirations that are clear in the song.”

METAL Magazine

“Plain Mister Smith crafts a world of both entrancing absurdity and dark poignancy.”

 Under the Radar Magazine

“Touching upon existential angst within a span of genres and emotions, the EP is intimate yet relatable as it leaves us with a sense of otherworldly intrigue.”

EARMILK

“Listening to Plain Mister Smith can really feel like voyaging lonesomely in a kayak or canoe in the Canadian wilderness.”

Atwood Magazine

The evocative Plain Mister Smith released his latest single, ‘Dream To Be Free’ featuring singer-songwriter Jordan Klassen on 6 February 2026 via Amelia Records/Symphonic. The single, which premiered on acclaimed tastemaker Spill Magazine, is the fourth of a string of singles from his upcoming album set to drop in Spring 2026. Formerly the guitarist of the Canadian darkwave band Moev, the multi-hyphenate artist is also a cellist for the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra. Under the Plain Mister Smith moniker, his music has received support from a range of tastemaker publications and radio stations, including NPR Music, Wonderland Magazine, CLASH Magazine, NOTION, Under The Radar, Earmilk, METAL, Noctis Mag, Atwood Mag, and more.

Based between Vancouver and London, Plain Mister Smith marches to the beat of his own drum and is known for his ability to conjure up eclectic, indie-folk, and psych-rock soundscapes with catchy and quick-witted lyricism, along with an air of introspection.

‘Dream To Be Free’, which will entice fans of Death Cab for Cutie, The War on Drugs, and Pavement, is a dreamy track that toes the line between introspection and whimsy with deft ease. Twinkling keys, soft, syncopated drums, and kaleidoscopic instrumentation carry Plain Mister Smith’s and Jordan Klassen’s plaintive vocals, painting a picture of a city flashing by in memory.

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 faraway place can seem like an ultimate act of freedom, or it can be a more subtle escape from home. This trip took place during Daimonji time, which is when locals light giant bonfires 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 rebirth.”