Myles Smith Biography: Age, Early Life, Career, Songs and Rise to Fame
Myles Smith is a British singer-songwriter who rose from local open-mic performances and social-media covers to international recognition with his breakout hit “Stargazing.” Known for combining folk-pop melodies, acoustic guitar, emotional songwriting, and large, uplifting choruses, Smith has emerged as one of the most recognizable British singer-songwriters of his generation.
Born and raised in Luton, England, Smith spent years developing his musicianship before attracting a major online audience. His journey was not simply an overnight viral success. He began playing guitar as a child, performed publicly from an early age, studied at university, experimented with entrepreneurship, and steadily built an audience through live performances and social media.
The enormous success of “Stargazing” transformed his career in 2024, while subsequent releases and major industry recognition helped establish him beyond a single viral hit. Here is a closer look at Myles Smith’s biography, age, background, music career, biggest songs, education, musical style, and rise to fame.
Who Is Myles Smith?
Myles Smith, whose full name is Myles Michael Smith-Thompson, is an English singer and songwriter from Luton, Bedfordshire. He was born on June 3, 1998, making him 28 years old as of 2026.
Smith is primarily associated with folk-pop and contemporary singer-songwriter music. His sound incorporates acoustic pop, indie, folk, Americana, and occasional country influences, usually built around expressive vocals, guitar-driven arrangements, and memorable choruses.
He became widely known internationally through the 2024 single “Stargazing.” The song became his first major global crossover hit and significantly expanded an audience that he had already been developing through original releases and online cover performances.
Myles Smith Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Myles Michael Smith-Thompson |
| Professional Name | Myles Smith |
| Date of Birth | June 3, 1998 |
| Age | 28 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Luton, Bedfordshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter |
| Main Genre | Folk-pop |
| Instrument | Guitar, vocals |
| Years Active | 2020s–present professionally |
| Breakthrough Song | “Stargazing” |
| Notable Songs | “Stargazing,” “Nice to Meet You,” “Solo,” “My Home” |
| Debut EP | You Promised A Lifetime |
| Record Label | RCA/Sony Music |
| Major Award | BRITs Rising Star 2025 |
Myles Smith’s Early Life and Childhood
Myles Smith was born and raised in Luton, a town in Bedfordshire, England. His connection to Luton has remained an important part of his identity, both personally and professionally.
Smith grew up in a British Jamaican family and was exposed to a broad mixture of music. Rather than developing within a single musical tradition, he listened to artists and genres ranging from pop-punk and rock to singer-songwriters, pop, and hip-hop.
That variety later became important to his own musical identity. His songs may be categorized broadly as folk-pop, but his influences extend beyond the traditional boundaries of the genre.
Music became a serious interest early in his childhood. His mother gave him his first guitar when he was around nine years old. Smith subsequently taught himself guitar and piano.
By approximately 12 years old, he was already performing at local open-mic events, including pubs and Irish bars around Luton.
Those performances became an important training ground. Long before millions of people streamed his songs, Smith was learning how to hold an audience, communicate through lyrics, and perform with little separating the singer from the listener.
Education and Life Before Fame
Myles Smith’s story differs from the traditional narrative of a musician who moves directly from school into the entertainment industry.
He attended the University of Nottingham, where he studied sociology and graduated in 2019.
His education and interests outside music later contributed to his business-minded approach to building a career. Before becoming internationally recognized as a recording artist, Smith was involved in entrepreneurial work, including a business connected with diversity, equality, and inclusion.
At the same time, music remained an important part of his life.
The combination of university education, business experience, live performance, and independent online promotion would eventually give Smith an unusually broad foundation when his music began reaching a much larger audience.
From Open Mic Nights to Social Media
Years before “Stargazing,” Smith was developing his skills in small venues.
Performing from around the age of 12 allowed him to become comfortable singing in front of audiences. He performed covers and was influenced by successful singer-songwriters and bands whose music emphasized strong melodies and emotionally direct writing.
Among the artists Smith has discussed as influences are Ed Sheeran, Green Day, Adele, Labrinth, Mumford & Sons, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
His next major opportunity came through social media.
Smith began uploading cover performances online, particularly on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Instead of relying entirely on the traditional route of repeatedly playing clubs and hoping to attract industry attention, social media allowed him to bring stripped-back performances directly to listeners.
His cover of The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather” gained significant attention in 2022. Other covers also performed strongly, helping him build an increasingly engaged audience.
The online momentum proved that listeners were interested not only in Smith’s voice but also in his interpretation of familiar songs.
The challenge was turning that attention toward his own music.
Myles Smith’s Original Music and Record Deal
As his online following expanded, Smith began establishing himself through original material.
Songs such as “Solo” and “My Home” became important early releases. They demonstrated that his appeal could extend beyond cover versions and that audiences were willing to connect with his own songwriting.
His growing popularity eventually led to a deal with RCA Records/Sony Music in 2023.
Signing with a major label gave Smith additional resources and international reach, but the foundation of his audience had already been established independently through years of performing and his social-media presence.
That mixture of traditional musicianship and modern digital audience-building became one of the defining features of his early career.
Debut EP: You Promised A Lifetime
Smith released his debut EP, You Promised A Lifetime, in 2024.
The six-track project provided a broader introduction to his songwriting and helped establish the emotional themes that would characterize much of his work.
His songs frequently focus on love, uncertainty, relationships, belonging, vulnerability, and the complicated emotions surrounding human connection.
Musically, the EP combined accessible pop songwriting with acoustic and folk-influenced instrumentation.
However, the release that dramatically changed the scale of Smith’s career arrived shortly afterward.
“Stargazing” and Myles Smith’s Global Breakthrough
Myles Smith released “Stargazing” on May 10, 2024, and the song quickly became his defining breakthrough.
Written by Smith with Jesse Fink and Peter Fenn, “Stargazing” combined an instantly memorable melody with romantic lyrics and a chorus designed for communal singing.
The track benefited from enormous interest on short-form social media, where Smith had previewed the song before its official release. That early response translated into streaming demand once the full recording became available.
“Stargazing” reached No. 4 on the UK Official Singles Chart and became Smith’s first UK Top 10 hit.
More importantly, its success extended far beyond Britain.
The track generated hundreds of millions of streams, achieved major international chart success, and introduced Smith to listeners around the world. By the end of 2024, it had become the biggest single of the year by a British artist on the UK Official Singles Chart.
The success demonstrated the effectiveness of Smith’s musical formula: emotional accessibility, strong acoustic foundations, an instantly recognizable vocal performance, and choruses capable of working equally well through headphones or in large concert venues.
“Nice to Meet You” and Life After “Stargazing”
Following a breakthrough as large as “Stargazing,” the next challenge was establishing a sustainable career.
Smith continued releasing music rather than attempting to reproduce his breakthrough song exactly.
One particularly important follow-up was “Nice to Meet You,” which also reached the UK Top 10. Its success gave Smith another significant chart record and helped demonstrate that his audience extended beyond a single song.
His second EP, A Minute…, further expanded his catalogue.
Rather than radically abandoning the sound listeners associated with him, Smith continued refining a blend of contemporary pop, folk textures, emotional songwriting, and energetic choruses.
Myles Smith’s Musical Style
Myles Smith’s music is commonly described as folk-pop, although that label does not fully capture the range of influences in his work.
His arrangements frequently use acoustic guitar as a foundation, but the finished recordings are structured for modern pop audiences.
Several characteristics regularly appear in his music:
- Acoustic and folk-inspired instrumentation
- Warm, expressive lead vocals
- Direct and emotionally accessible lyrics
- Large, memorable choruses
- Themes involving love and relationships
- Pop production designed for both streaming and live performance
- Elements of Americana and contemporary indie-pop
His songwriting emphasizes connection. Rather than relying heavily on abstract imagery, many of his lyrics communicate emotions in straightforward language that listeners can quickly understand.
That accessibility is an important part of his appeal.
Musical Influences
Smith grew up listening to a particularly broad range of musicians.
Green Day represented an early influence and demonstrated that music could provide space for people who felt outside expectations or the mainstream.
Ed Sheeran offered another important reference point, particularly as an example of how guitar-based songwriting could translate to enormous contemporary audiences.
Smith has also spoken about the influence of Adele, particularly regarding emotionally powerful songwriting.
Labrinth was significant for another reason. Seeing a Black British artist succeed while following an unconventional musical path helped demonstrate that Smith did not have to fit expectations about what style of music he should perform.
Those influences help explain why his work can contain elements of folk, pop, rock, and Americana without feeling restricted to one traditional category.
BRITs Rising Star Award
A major milestone arrived when Myles Smith was named the BRITs Rising Star winner for 2025.
The award placed him alongside an established list of previous recipients that includes artists who went on to significant careers in British and international music.
The recognition followed a remarkable period for Smith. Within a relatively short span, he had progressed from a growing online singer-songwriter to an artist with international chart success, major streaming numbers, television appearances, and increasingly large live audiences.
He was also named BBC Introducing Artist of the Year for 2024, adding another major recognition to his breakthrough period.
Myles Smith’s Live Career
Live performance was part of Smith’s development long before his chart success, making touring a natural extension of his career.
After beginning with open-mic performances as a child, he eventually progressed to headline concerts, festival appearances, international touring, and major support opportunities.
His performances have included prominent stages such as Glastonbury Festival, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and international festivals and television appearances.
His songs are particularly suited to live audiences because of their prominent choruses and singalong structure. The same qualities that helped tracks such as “Stargazing” spread online also allow them to translate effectively to festival crowds and larger venues.
Myles Smith’s Most Popular Songs
Although his catalogue continues to develop, several releases have played especially important roles in Myles Smith’s career.
Stargazing
“Stargazing” remains Smith’s signature breakthrough song. Released in May 2024, it became an international success and his first UK Top 10 single.
Nice to Meet You
“Nice to Meet You” became another major UK hit and strengthened Smith’s position following the extraordinary success of “Stargazing.”
Solo
“Solo” was one of Smith’s important early original releases and helped shift attention from his online covers toward his songwriting.
My Home
“My Home” was another early song that contributed to his growing audience before his mainstream international breakthrough.
Together, these releases document Smith’s transition from online discovery to an established recording career.
Why Did Myles Smith Become Famous?
Myles Smith became famous through a combination of years of live performance, social-media exposure, original songwriting, and the global success of “Stargazing.”
His rise is sometimes associated primarily with TikTok, but that description leaves out much of the story.
Smith had been performing since childhood. By the time social media introduced him to a larger audience, he had already accumulated years of experience playing guitar and singing in front of people.
Viral cover performances provided visibility, while original songs such as “Solo” and “My Home” helped turn casual viewers into listeners.
“Stargazing” then provided the breakthrough capable of moving his career onto an international level.
Myles Smith’s Career and Future
Myles Smith’s early career illustrates how the path toward becoming a successful singer-songwriter has changed.
His story combines traditional artist development—learning an instrument, performing open mics, studying songwriting, and playing live—with the audience-building opportunities created by social media.
What separates his rise from many short-lived viral moments is the musical groundwork that existed before the breakthrough.
By the time “Stargazing” became a worldwide success, Smith had spent years learning how to perform, developing his songwriting, releasing original material, and building relationships with listeners.
With major chart records, successful EPs, international touring, hundreds of millions of streams, and a BRIT Rising Star award behind him, Myles Smith has developed from a Luton open-mic performer into an internationally recognized British singer-songwriter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Myles Smith
How old is Myles Smith?
Myles Smith was born on June 3, 1998. He is 28 years old as of 2026.
Where is Myles Smith from?
Myles Smith is from Luton, Bedfordshire, England, where he was born and raised.
What is Myles Smith’s real name?
His full name is Myles Michael Smith-Thompson, while he performs professionally as Myles Smith.
What is Myles Smith famous for?
Myles Smith is best known for his international hit “Stargazing,” released in 2024. He is also known for songs including “Nice to Meet You,” “Solo,” and “My Home.”
What genre is Myles Smith?
Myles Smith primarily makes folk-pop and contemporary singer-songwriter music, incorporating elements of acoustic pop, indie, Americana, and rock.
When did Myles Smith start playing guitar?
Smith began playing guitar at approximately nine years old and started performing at open-mic events around the age of 12.
Did Myles Smith go to university?
Yes. Smith studied sociology at the University of Nottingham and graduated in 2019.
What was Myles Smith’s breakthrough song?
His major international breakthrough was “Stargazing,” which was released in May 2024 and reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
What awards has Myles Smith won?
Among his major early-career honors, Smith won the BRITs Rising Star award for 2025 and was named BBC Introducing Artist of the Year for 2024.
Final Thoughts
Myles Smith’s biography is a story of gradual development followed by an exceptionally rapid international breakthrough. Long before “Stargazing” became a global hit, the Luton-born singer-songwriter had spent years learning guitar, performing at open mics, studying his craft, and finding ways to connect directly with audiences.
Social media accelerated that process, but strong songwriting ultimately turned online attention into a recording career.
From “Solo” and “My Home” to “Stargazing” and “Nice to Meet You,” Smith has built his reputation around melodic folk-pop, emotionally direct lyrics, and an ability to create songs that feel intimate while still being suited to enormous audiences.
His progression from childhood open-mic performer to BRIT Award winner represents a distinctly modern route into the music industry—one built from traditional musicianship, digital discovery, and a strong connection between songwriter and listener.