Chris “Frenchie” Smith

Producer | Mixer | Engineer

Chris “Frenchie” Smith began his career at age 8. With guitar in hand, he hit the streets of Durant Oklahoma to begin what would be a whirlwind journey. By 1994 he had formed Sixteen Deluxe in Austin, Texas. The group signed to Warner Bros Records and quickly went into the studio to record the major label debut. It was in these sessions that he learned how to voice his musical thoughts and inspiration into studio jargons and became schooled on real production from head to toe.

He then created the means to open his own studio – The Bubble. Scouting for great Austin talent he came across- And you will know us by the Trail of Dead to produce their debut album. From 1998 to 2001 he worked with over 80 Texas bands. In 2001, he put together his new band- Young Heart Attack and got a deal with XL Recordings off the strength of his produced demos.

In 2004, he moved The Bubble to its new location in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Austin. In this beautiful new facility, he has had the honor to work with international and local acts such as The Dandy Warhols, Los Lonely Boys, The Datsuns, Electric Touch, and The Steps. In 2008, he was nominated for a Grammy for his work on the Lost Bayou Ramblers.