In this week’s Quick Fire 15 we chat with Tim Smith, senior colourist and music enthusiast at East London post-production studio Cheat!  

Tim is an incredible talent in the world of colour; his photographic, naturalistic and faithful approach to grading has made him sought after by a wide range of clients from Nike, Coca-Cola, Sony, Mercedes, Burberry, Carlsberg, and FIFA. A staunch collector of records, Tim has graded promos for legendary artists including Burna Boy, Stormzy, Dizzie Rascal, Neneh Cherry, and Kamasi Washington. His passion for the arts and emphasis on close collaboration has resulted in him working with some of the most exciting up-and-coming directors, including Mollie Mills, Jenn Nkiru, Duncan Loudon, Felix Brady, Hugo Jenkins, Bafic and Dan Emmerson.

We find out what music, films and tv he has been watching the most this year, his inspirations, guilty pleasures, plus lots more!

1. What bands or artists are you listening to most right now? 

King Crimson, Lee Morgan, Ian Carrs Nucleus, The Kinks, Karen Dalton, New Madlib/Fourtet, Baris Manco, Selda, David Oistrakh, Robbie Basho, The Heath Brothers to name a few. You can hear a good selection of them on my NTS radio show here!

2. What was the first record you bought? 

Vinyl: 'Hell'  by James Brown (I stole it from my auntie actually)

Cassette: 'Country House' by Blur

CD: 'Bleach' by Nirvana

3. What was the last gig you saw? 

Young Fathers at Brixton Academy. Here’s a photo I took of it....

4. What's your go to Karaoke song? 

Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.

5. Favourite album cover?

Anything Reid Miles did for Blue Note & all covers by Hipgnosis.

6. Favourite movie & soundtrack? 

One of my favourite movies is 'Heat' by Michael Mann.

One of my favourite soundtracks is 'La Planete Sauvage' by Alan Goraguer.

7. Favourite music video? 

'Heart-Shaped Box' by Nirvana (Anton Corbijn)

8. Film director idol? 

Takeshi Kitano, Quentin Tarantino, Scorsese, Cohen Brothers, Danny Boyle, The Shaw Brothers, Michael Mann, Spike Lee... the list is quite endless.  

9. What are you reading at the moment? 

Val Wilmer - As Serious As Your Life

Hunter Thompson - Hells Angels

10. What are you watching at the moment? 

'Columbo', old episodes of 'Time Team' & DIY metal refining videos on YouTube.

11. What has got you through lockdown? 

Buying records on the internet and taking photographs. 

12. Best use of music in a commercial? 

That Aphex Twin Pirelli commercial, Volkswagen with Nick Drakes ‘Pink Moon’ or the Guinness surfer with the Leftfield tune. 

13. What band / artist is your guilty pleasure? 

No such thing as guilty pleasures in music. A good song is a good song. I’ll listen to Steve Reich, Phillip Glass and Miles Davis all the way through to Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Justin Beiber if it’s good!

14. What can’t you live without? 

Friends, Family, Music and Water.

15. Anything you want to tell us about?

www.mind.org.uk

Thanks Tim!