Starsmith | |
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Birth name | Finlay Dow-Smith |
Born | Bromley, England | 8 July 1988
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Years active | 2009–present |
Finlay Dow-Smith (born 8 July 1988), known professionally as Starsmith, is a British songwriter, record producer and DJ.
Smith's best known for co-writing and serving as the primary producer for Ellie Goulding's debut album Lights, which was met with critical and commercial success. Following its release in 2010, it went straight to No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart. The album has gone on to sell over 2,000,000 copies worldwide. He teamed up with Goulding again on her second studio album, Halcyon (2012), producing and co-writing three songs on the album, [1] [2] and eight years later, he collaborated on four tracks from her fourth studio album Brightest Blue (2020).
Smith has co-written and produced several hits during his music career, including: "Good Thing" by Zedd and Kehlani, "Crybaby" by Paloma Faith, and "I'll Be There" by Jess Glynne which went to number one in the UK and was nominated for Best Single at the 2019 Brit Awards. [3] As well as producing "Hold My Hand" by Jess Glynne, and "Real Love" by Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne. Some of his notable work as a DJ includes his remixes for the singles "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga, and "I Am Not A Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds. [4]
For his contributions as record producer, Smith has been nominated for Producer of the Year at the 2018 A&R Awards, [5] He also was recognized by the Music Producers Guild with nominations for Breakthrough Producer of the Year in 2011, and for his work as DJ he earned a nomination for Remixer of the Year in 2012. [6] [7]
He studied a classical music degree at the University of Surrey, [8] majoring in performance on saxophone and graduating in 2009. He met Ellie Goulding during his final year and together they started creating what would become her debut album, which was then signed to Polydor Records a few months after he graduated.
Starsmith toured with Goulding in 2009 and 2010, and also played with her on Later... with Jools Holland in 2009, playing bass guitar. He is a noted instrumentalist, additionally playing piano and guitar, but his main instrument is the saxophone.
In December 2011, he was the subject of an episode of the Red Bull and Vice documentary series, The Producers. [9] In March 2014, the track "Dead In The Water" that he co-wrote and produced with Ellie Goulding was included in the promotion and soundtrack for the film Divergent , [10] which opened at No.1 at the Worldwide Box Office. [11]
In 2015, he co-wrote and produced seven songs with Jess Glynne on her number one debut album I Cry When I Laugh , including the single "Hold My Hand", which spent four weeks at number 1 in the UK and sold over two million copies worldwide. In 2017, he collaborated with Paloma Faith on her number one album The Architect , co-writing and producing five songs. Their first writing session together resulted in the lead single "Crybaby". That year he also wrote songs with Jessie Ware for her album Glasshouse and with Rae Morris for her album, Someone Out There. He worked with Cloves and her longtime writing partner Justin Parker on singles from her debut album. "Bringing the House Down", their first collaboration, was released in early 2018 as the album's lead single. [12] [13] He co-wrote and produced the lead single "I'll Be There" for Jess Glynne's second album. The song went to number one in the UK, achieving their second chart-topper, and third top 3 single together.
In 2020, Smith reunited with Goulding, and worked on four songs for her fourth studio album Brightest Blue . [14]
In August 2024, Smith released his first song as a lead artist since 2011, titled "Leave Me Slowly" which he co-wrote with longtime collaborator, Ellie Goulding and Sarah Troy. The Garage song includes uncredited lead vocals from Goulding. [15] It was released via Headroom and Another Rhythm Records. [16]
Title | Details | Track listing | Ref. |
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Lesson One |
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| [17] |
Title | Year | Album | Ref. |
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"Give Me a Break"/"Knucklebuster" | 2010 | Non-album single | [18] |
"Leave Me Slowly" | 2024 | TBA | [19] |
Title | Year | Album | Ref. |
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"Lesson One" | 2011 | Lesson One | [20] |
"Champion" | [21] |
Year | Artist | Song Title | Time |
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2009 | Private | "My Secret Lover" | 4:01 |
Elviin | "In Colour" | 4:44 | |
Bombay Bicycle Club | "Always Like This" | 4:06 | |
Frankmusik | "3 Little Words" (Starsmith Remix) | 3:29 | |
Marina and the Diamonds | "I Am Not a Robot" (Starsmith 24 Carat Remix) | 5:18 | |
Little Boots | "New in Town" (Starsmith Remix) | 5:30 | |
The Twang | "Barney Rubble" (Starsmith Remix) | 5:24 | |
Girls Can't Catch | "Keep Your Head Up" (Starsmith Club Mix) | 5:18 | |
The Mission District | "So Over You" (Starsmith Remix) | 3:29 | |
Team WaterPolo | "Letting Go" (Starsmith Remix) | 4:29 | |
Frankmusik | "Better Off as Two" (Starsmith Holiday in the Heath Remix) | 4:29 | |
Passion Pit | "Sleepyhead" (Starsmith Remix feat. Ellie Goulding) | 3:19 | |
Animal Kingdom | "Signs and Wonders" (Starsmith Remix) | 4:17 | |
Paloma Faith | "New York" (Starsmith Remix) | 3:36 | |
Lisa Mitchell | "Coin Laundry" (Starsmith Remix) | 4:49 | |
Lady Gaga | "Bad Romance" (Starsmith Remix) | 4:56 | |
2010 | Mika | "Blame It on the Girls" (Not on the Starsmith Remix) | 6:17 |
Timbaland featuring Katy Perry | "If We Ever Meet Again" (Starsmith Remix) | 5:21 | |
N.E.R.D. | "Hot-n-Fun" (Starsmith Club Remix) | 5:35 | |
Beyoncé | "Why Don't You Love Me" (Starsmith Remix – Radio Edit) | 3:34 | |
Robyn | "Hang with Me" (Starsmith Remix) | 6:04 | |
2011 | Gypsy & the Cat | "Jona Vark" (Starsmith Remix) | 4:58 |
Lady Gaga | "Born This Way" (Starsmith Remix) | 6:45 | |
Marina and the Diamonds | "Radioactive" (Starsmith Rework) | 4:37 | |
2012 | St. Lucia | "We Got It Wrong" (Starsmith Remix) | 6:03 |
2013 | Ed Drewett | "Drunk Dial" (Starsmith Remix) | 5:37 |
Matthew Koma | "Parachute" (Starsmith Remix) | 5:18 | |
Hall & Oates | "I Can't Go For That" (Starsmith Rework) | 4:48 | |
Betty Who | "Somebody Loves You" (Starsmith Remix) | 6:24 | |
2014 | Joywave | "Tongues" (Starsmith Remix) | 4:39 |
Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album | Credits | Written with | Produced with |
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"Under the Sheets" | 2009 | Ellie Goulding | Under the Sheets EP / Lights | Co-writer/Producer | Elena Goulding | - |
"Fighter Plane" | Under the Sheets EP | Elena Goulding | - | |||
"Hollywood" | 2010 | Marina and the Diamonds | The Family Jewels | Producer | - | Richard Stannard, Ash Howes |
"Hurtful" | Erik Hassle | Pieces | - | Grizzly, Tommy Tysper | ||
"Starry Eyed" | Ellie Goulding | Lights | - | - | ||
"Guns and Horses" | - | - | ||||
"The Writer" | - | - | ||||
"Every Time You Go" | Co-writer/Producer | Elena Goulding, Jonathan Fortis | - | |||
"I'll Hold My Breath" | Elena Goulding | - | ||||
"This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)" | Elena Goulding | - | ||||
"Salt Skin" | Elena Goulding | - | ||||
"You'll Never Get to Heaven" | Diana Vickers | Song from the Tainted Cherry Tree | Diana Vickers, Cass Lowe | - | ||
"Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)" | Kylie Minogue | Aphrodite | Olivia Nervo, Miriam Nervo | Stuart Price | ||
"Yeah Yeah" (featuring Travie McCoy) | Cheryl Cole | Messy Little Raindrops | Wayne Hector, Travis McCoy | - | ||
"Human" | Ellie Goulding | Bright Lights | Elena Goulding | - | ||
"Animal" | Elena Goulding | - | ||||
"Burn" | 2011 | Clare Maguire | Light After Dark | Clare Maguire | - | |
"High" | Big Sean | Finally Famous | Co-writer | - | - | |
"Lesson One" | Starsmith | Lesson One | Writer/Producer | - | ||
"Champion" | - | - | ||||
"Dead in the Water" | 2012 | Ellie Goulding | Halcyon | Co-writer/Producer | Elena Goulding | - |
"The Ending" | Elena Goulding | - | ||||
"Without Your Love" | Elena Goulding | - | ||||
"Us and Ours" | 2013 | Mark Owen | The Art of Doing Nothing | Mark Owen, Benjamin Mark, Jamie Norton | Charlie Russell, Bradley Spence | |
"S.A.D." (featuring Ren Harvieu) | Mark Owen, Benjamin Mark, Jamie Norton | Charlie Russell, Bradley Spence | ||||
"End of Everything" | Co-writer | Mark Owen, Benjamin Mark, Jamie Norton | - | |||
"Ghost" | Mark Owen, Benjamin Mark, Jamie Norton | - | ||||
"Morning Belle" | Mark Owen, Benjamin Mark, Jamie Norton | - | ||||
"The Lamb" | Mark Owen, Benjamin Mark, Jamie Norton | - | ||||
"Somebody" | Fenech-Soler | Rituals | Co-writer/Producer | Daniel Fenech-Soler, Andrew Lindsay, Ross Duffy, Benjamn Duffy | Fenech-Soler, Ross Duffy, Ben Duffy | |
"Glow" | - | Fenech-Soler, Ross Duffy, Ben Duffy | ||||
"Better" | 2014 | Betty Who | Take Me When You Go | Co-writer/Producer | Jessica Newham, Scott Hoffman | - |
"Real Love" (with Jess Glynne) | Clean Bandit | New Eyes / I Cry When I Laugh | Producer | - | Clean Bandit, The Six | |
"Hold My Hand" | 2015 | Jess Glynne | I Cry When I Laugh | - | Jack Patterson | |
"Fight for Love" | Kwabs | Love + War | - | Al Shux | ||
"Staring at the Sun" | Mika | No Place in Heaven | Additional producer | - | Martin Terefe | |
"Preach" | M.O | Non-album single | Co-writer/Producer | Fransesca Connolly, Edward Thomas, Joel Compass, Fredrick Gibson, Annie Ashcroft | - | |
"Gave Me Something" | Jess Glynne | I Cry When I Laugh | Jessica Glynne, Andrew "Knox" Brown, Janee Bennett | Knox Brown | ||
"Ain't Got Far to Go" | Jessica Glynne, Janee Bennett | Knox Brown | ||||
"You Can Find Me" | Jessica Glynne, Talay Riley | - | ||||
"It Ain't Right" | Jessica Glynne, James Newman | - | ||||
"No Rights No Wrongs" | Jessica Glynne, Andrew "Knox" Brown, Janee Bennett, Jonathan Coffer, James Newman | Knox Brown | ||||
"Don't Follow Me" | Ella Eyre | Feline | Ella McMahon, Natalia Hajjara | Jay Reynolds | ||
"Is it Love" (featuring Yeah Boy) | 2016 | 3lau | Non-album single | Justin Blau, Jonathan Curtis | 3lau | |
"Power" | Petite Meller | Lil Empire | Syvan Miller | - | ||
"Better By Your Side feat. Tom Aspaul" | Aeble | Better By Your Side | Tom Aspaul | - | ||
"California Numb" | 2017 | Cloves | One Big Nothing | Kaity Dunstan, Justin Parker | Ian Barter | |
"I Don't Know" | Molly Kate Kestner | TBA | Molly Kate Kestner, Amy Wadge | - | ||
"Crybaby" | Paloma Faith | The Architect | Paloma Faith, Lindy Robbins, Cleo Tighe | - | ||
"Good Times" | Elderbrook | Talking | Alexander Kotz | - | ||
"First Time" | Jessie Ware | Glasshouse | Jessica Ware, James Newman | - | ||
"Evolution" (featuring Samuel L. Jackson) | Paloma Faith | The Architect | Producer | - | Paloma Faith | |
"I'll Be Gentle" (with John Legend) | - | Jesse Shatkin | ||||
"Politics of Hope" (featuring Owen Jones) | - | Paloma Faith | ||||
"Still Around" | - | Klas Ahlund | ||||
"Pawns" (featuring Baby N'Sola, Janelle Martin and Naomi Miller) | Co-writer/Producer | - | Paloma Faith | |||
"My Body" | Paloma Faith, Andrew "Knox" Brown, Janee Bennett | Knox Brown | ||||
"Bloodstains" | 2018 | Rhys Lewis | Bad Timing EP | Co-writer | Rhys Lewis, Ian Barter, O. Martin | - |
"Family Man" | Lily Allen | No Shame | Additional producer | - | Mark Ronson | |
"Dancing with Character" | Rae Morris | Someone Out There | Co-writer/Producer | Rachel Morris, Benjamin Garrett | - | |
"Bringing the House Down" | Cloves | One Big Nothing | Kaity Dunstan, Ariel Rechtshaid, Justin Parker | - | ||
"Kiss Me In The Dark" | Kaity Dunstan, Justin Parker | - | ||||
"Hit Me Hard" | Kaity Dunstan, Justin Parker | - | ||||
"I'll Be There" | Jess Glynne | Always in Between | Jessica Glynne, Camille Purcell, Henrik Michelsen, Edvard Erfjord, Jerker Hanssen | Electric | ||
"Won't Say No" | Jessica Glynne, Janee Bennett, Clarence Coffee Jr. | - | ||||
"Rollin" | Producer | - | Fred Gibson | |||
"Million Reasons" | Co-writer/Producer | Jessica Glynne, Sara Hjellstrom, Nirob Islam | - | |||
"Final Breath" | Paloma Faith | The Architect: Zeitgeist Edition | Paloma Faith, Stephan Moccio, Clarence Coffee Jr. | - | ||
"Older" | Paloma Faith, Cleo Tighe | - | ||||
"High Hopes" | Rationale | High Hopes EP | Rationale | Rationale | ||
"73" | Co-writer | Rationale | - | |||
"Hallelujah" | 2019 | Oh Wonder | Hallelujah | Additional producer | - | Oh Wonder |
"Like I Love You" | Shells | Like I Love You | Co-writer/Producer | Shells | - | |
"The Corner" | Dermot Kennedy | Without Fear | Dermot Kennedy, Scott Harris | - | ||
"Good Thing" | Zedd and Kehlani | TBA | Cleo Tighe, Lostboy | Zedd | ||
"How It Goes" | 2020 | Oh Wonder | No One Else Can Wear Your Crown | Oh Wonder | Oh Wonder | |
"Drunk On You" | Oh Wonder, Larzz Principato | Oh Wonder | ||||
"Pieces" | Navvy | The Final Pieces EP | Navvy, Rory Adams | - | ||
"Get Away" | Hayley Gene Penner | People You Follow | Hayley Gene Penner | - | ||
"Lonely People" | Hyyts | Hyyts, Rationale | ||||
"How Deep Is Too Deep" | Ellie Goulding | Brightest Blue | Ellie Goulding, Joe Kearns | - | ||
"Cyan" | Ellie Goulding, Joe Kearns, Jim Eliot | Joe Kearns, Jim Eliot | ||||
"Tides" | Ellie Goulding, Joe Kearns | - | ||||
"Woman" | Producer | Joe Kearns, Eli Teplin | - | |||
"SOS" | Hyyts | SOS | - | Rationale | ||
"Lose" | Niki | Moonchild | Co-writer/Producer | Nicole Zefanya, Teddy Sinclair | Bēkon | |
"Grow" | Josie Man | Grow | Josie Man, Hannah Yadi, Josh Scarbrow | - | ||
"99%" | Gracey | The Art of Closure | Gracey, Al Shux | Al Shux | ||
"Monster" | Paloma Faith | Infinite Things | Paloma Faith, MNEK | - | ||
"Hypnosis" | 2023 | Ive | I've Ive | Co-writer | Seo Jeong-a, Gaeul, Rei | Risc, Elof Loelv |
"Baddie" | I've Mine | Big Naughty, Perrie, Ryan S. Jhun | Ryan S. Jhun, Risc, Alawn | |||
"Leave Me Slowly" | 2024 | Starsmith | TBA | Co-writer/Producer | Ellie Goulding, Sarah Troy | - |
Award | Year | Category | Nominee/Work | Result | Ref. |
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A&R Awards | 2018 | Producer of the Year | Himself | Nominated | [5] |
Music Producers Guild Awards | 2012 | Remixer of the Year | Nominated | [7] | |
2011 | Breakthrough Producer of the Year | Nominated | [22] |
Elena Jane Goulding is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Hereford and raised in Lyonshall, Goulding began writing songs at the age of 15. She released her debut single "Under the Sheets" through Neon Gold Records in 2009, and signed with Polydor Records that same year, releasing her debut extended play (EP) An Introduction to Ellie Goulding. Her debut studio album, Lights (2010), debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, and was reissued as Bright Lights, spawning three successful singles: a cover of Elton John's "Your Song", "Starry Eyed" and "Lights". Her second studio album Halcyon (2012) was preceded by its lead single "Anything Could Happen", and a repackaged edition titled Halcyon Days (2013) produced the single "Burn", which became her first No. 1 single in the UK. She then collaborated with DJ Calvin Harris on two singles: "I Need Your Love" and "Outside".
"Under the Sheets" is the debut single by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding from her debut album, Lights (2010). Produced by Starsmith, it was released as the album's lead single. The song premiered on Huw Stephens's BBC Radio 1 show on 30 September 2009 and was released on the UK iTunes Store on 15 November 2009, peaking at number fifty-three on the UK Singles Chart. It was also used to promote the second season of 90210 on E4 in the UK. According to Goulding, the single was released on independent label Neon Gold Records rather than Polydor so that she would not be put under too much pressure.
"Starry Eyed" is a song by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, released as the second single from her debut studio album, Lights (2010). It was written by Goulding and Jonny Lattimer, and produced by Starsmith. Goulding made her debut US television performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 7 April 2011 performing "Starry Eyed".
Lights is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 26 February 2010 by Polydor Records. Goulding collaborated with several producers on the album, including Starsmith, Fraser T. Smith, Frankmusik, Richard "Biff" Stannard, Ash Howes, Liam Howe, Fred Falke and Mumford & Sons' Ben Lovett.
"Guns and Horses" is a song by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding from her debut studio album, Lights (2010). The song was released digitally on 16 May 2010 and physically the day after as the album's third single.
English singer Ellie Goulding has released five studio albums, two remix albums, eight extended plays, 47 singles, 13 promotional singles and 49 music videos. As of February 2023, Goulding had sold 27 million albums and 216 million singles, and amassed 43 billion streams worldwide. Additionally, she had sold over 1.5 million albums and over 4.3 million singles in the United Kingdom alone as of February 2014.
"The Writer" is a song by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding from her debut album, Lights (2010). It was released as the album's fourth and final single on 8 August 2010.
Halcyon is the second studio album by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 5 October 2012 by Polydor Records. The album was recorded between 2011 and 2012, during promotion for her debut album, Lights (2010). Goulding worked with several producers on the album, including Jim Eliot, Starsmith, Billboard, Justin Parker, Monsta, Madeon and Mike Spencer, in addition to collaborating with artists such as Tinie Tempah and Calvin Harris.
Jonny Lattimer is a songwriter, musician, and producer, who first came to prominence through his work with Ellie Goulding. Jonny co-wrote with Goulding two singles which appear on her double platinum selling debut album, Lights. Those singles are the Starsmith-produced UK top five "Starry Eyed", which went on to become a global hit, and "The Writer". In addition, Lattimer co-wrote "Figure 8", which was second single taken from her second studio album Halcyon.
Jessica Hannah Glynne is an English singer and songwriter. After signing with Atlantic Records, Glynne rose to prominence in 2013 as a featured artist on the singles "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit and "My Love" by Route 94, both of which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
New Eyes is the debut studio album by English electronic music group Clean Bandit, released on 30 May 2014 by Atlantic Records in Germany and Ireland, and 2 June 2014 in the United Kingdom, after suffering from several setbacks. The album includes the singles "A+E", "Mozart's House", "Dust Clears", "Rather Be", "Extraordinary" and "Come Over". New Eyes was produced entirely by group members Jack Patterson and Grace Chatto. The album peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments in excess of 100,000 copies. It is the band's only album to feature violinist and pianist Neil Amin-Smith, who left the band in 2016.
"Beating Heart" is a song recorded by English singer Ellie Goulding for the soundtrack to the film Divergent (2014). The song was written by Goulding and Joe Janiak, and produced by Greg Kurstin. It was released on 22 April 2014 as the second single from the soundtrack.
James Napier, known professionally as Jimmy Napes, is an English songwriter and record producer. He has won a number of awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, 3 Grammy Awards, and 2 Ivor Novello Awards. Napier is best known for his work with Sam Smith, Disclosure, Clean Bandit ‚ Stormzy ("Crown") and Taylor Swift. Napier also has songwriting and producer credits with artists including Alicia Keys, Jess Glynne, Khalid, Normani, Kano, Dave, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Mary J. Blige, Madonna, James Bay and more.
I Cry When I Laugh is the debut studio album by English singer Jess Glynne. It was released on 21 August 2015 in the United Kingdom and 11 September 2015 in the United States by Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group. I Cry When I Laugh was recorded over three years, with Glynne working with several record producers on it.
"Ain't Got Far to Go" is a song by English singer and songwriter Jess Glynne. It was written by Glynne along with Janée "Jin Jin" Bennett, Knox Brown, and Finlay "Starsmith" Dow-Smith for her debut studio album, I Cry When I Laugh (2015), while production was helmed by Brown and Dow-Smith. The song was released as the album's sixth single on 26 February 2016. Prior to the single's release, the song charted at number 46 on the Scottish Singles Chart and number 67 on the UK Singles Chart. After the single's release, it peaked at number 45 on the UK Singles Chart.
English singer Jess Glynne has released three studio albums, 20 singles and 17 music videos.
Jonathan Coffer is a British songwriter and record producer from London. He has written and produced for artists including Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lykke Li, FKA twigs, Naughty Boy, Emeli Sandé, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, Rita Ora, Alicia Keys, Martin Garrix, Ellie Goulding, Bastille, Jess Glynne, Rag'n'Bone Man, Tom Odell, Gorgon City, Wretch 32, Kamal., and Miley Cyrus.
Sara Hjellström, known professionally as Shy Martin is a Swedish singer and songwriter. As a songwriter her compositions have been streamed over 3 billion times on Spotify alone, while her songs as lead vocalist have been streamed 1.5 billion times on the same platform.
Brightest Blue is the fourth studio album by English singer Ellie Goulding, released on 17 July 2020 by Polydor Records. Originally scheduled for 5 June 2020, the album's release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The album was preceded by three singles: "Worry About Me", "Power" and "Slow Grenade", and features guest vocals from Blackbear, Diplo, Juice WRLD, Lauv, serpentwithfeet and Swae Lee. It is Goulding's first album since Delirium (2015). Brightest Blue received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album was also a commercial success. It became Goulding's third album to peak at number one on the UK Albums Chart and fourth album to debut inside the top three on the chart. The album also peaked inside the top ten in several other countries. To promote the album, Goulding was set to embark on the Brightest Blue Tour on 28 April 2021, but it was pushed back to 5 October 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom.