PJ Smith, aka Roy is fronting a new track about conspiracy theories that is making a surprising tilt for the festive charts
“A firm of facebook Mas are on their way to the scene of the crime. Gym owners are still quoting the Magna Carta.”
These might not be the lyrics you would associate with a festive tune aiming to rise up the charts in time for Christmas Day, but a collection of Liverpool artists have put together a unique, original take on conspiracy theories and questions of identity in these confusing times that is starting to gather heat in the run up to December 25.
‘Loss is Not Infinite’ would be, in truth, the most surprising track to take a tilt at the Christmas Number One but these are surprising times and that is sort of the point here. The track takes its title from a short story put together by Liverpool spoken-word performer Roy, whose real name is PJ Smith.
The words formed part of Roy’s critically acclaimed Algorithm Party collection but have now been put to music by Liverpool-born, now London-based producers God Colony and also features members of Fat White Family, Stealing Sheep and 2 Bears. The result is mesmerising, so mesmerising that it is now being played on BBC Radio 6 Music by famous DJs like Nick Grimshaw and Craig Charles and is gathering interest.
READ MORE: Liverpool hotels could bring in new visitor charge from next yearREAD MORE: Tensions rise at city school as parents divided amid ‘bullying and fear’ claims
Roy’s lyrics focus on people who have been taken in by conspiracy theories, particularly in the strange days of Covid and beyond – taking aim at some of the contradictions involved. He talks of ‘a fella with a poppy’ who has a ‘swastika tattoo’ and of a ‘skinhead lecturing your nan about 15-minute cities.’ He refers to an ‘enlightened taxi driver’ who ‘informs you that the earth is actually square.’
Speaking to the ECHO about the track, PJ, aka Roy, said: “I’ve been asked to do collaborations in the past but never have, but Tom from God Colony was very persistent and just kept on at me. He wore me down.
“I turned up to the studio with what I had originally written for Loss is Not Infinite and they said they would need a bit more than that. I just got a pen and paper out and wrote some stuff down. When I heard it 18 months later I thought, ‘they have made something good here.’
“We have got no one plugging it for us, no agents or anything just us sending it out. But Radio 6 Music picked it up and its had a really good response.”
Speaking about the inspiration for his conspiracy-laden lyrics, PJ added: “It is something I have noticed. When people’s identity is to do with one thing like drugs or the gym and they are changing it to something else, they can feel a bit lost in that weird bit in the middle and more susceptible to things. This is saying that feeling of loss isn’t infinite, its not forever so don’t be buying into far-right stuff.”
“I’ve met a lot of people with outlandish views. I’m all for a bit of curiosity and questioning things but that’s different to when your mate needs help. Social media is very powerful. My mate said that before social media if someone was saying that god controlled the weather they would be writing it on the bog walls, but now its on social media.”
When he’s not being Roy, PJ runs Damien John Kelly House with his mum Jacquie Johnston, a Wavertree-based centre for men recovering from alcohol and drug addiction issues. All proceeds from the sales of the single will be going to the organisation to help with their work.
The track comes with a hugely evocative music video directed by photographer Sam Batley, which depicts a dishevelled-looking Mr Blobby character making his way around Merseyside. PJ added: “The video is amazing. 30 years ago Mr Blobby had a Christmas number one, imagine getting him back where he belongs? He’s been lost for a while, but he’s has a gastric band fitted, a hair transplant and now he’s back in the game.”
You can download Loss is Not Infinite and help its bid for Christmas number one in the all usual places such as Itunes and Amazon, with all proceeds going to Damien John Kelly House. The video can be viewed on Youtube here.
