Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures weave a melodic caution on ‘Temporary Circus: Act 1’
Boston singer-songwriter offers an enchanting reflection on societal illusions, manipulations, and spectacles on Friday, May 16
Five-track EP follows last fall’s majestic ‘Opus’ album
Listen to Derek Smith on Spotify
BOSTON, Mass. [May 16, 2025] – A prominent 20th-century politician once famously said something to the effect of “when you’re going through hell, just keep going.” Several decades later, it holds up as a stark reminder that the way out of a bad situation is not only to simply power through it, but remain mindful that most of the hardships and difficulties we face at any given moment are nonpermanent.
That’s at the root of Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures’ new EP, Temporary Circus: Act 1, a five-track collection from the prolific Boston singer-songwriter that hits the streams on Friday, May 16. This new record arrives about a half-year from the band’s recent album Opus, and marks the start of a new creative chapter with additional acts to quickly follow.
“Sonically, this is an acoustic album to me,” Smith says. “I didn’t use a full drum kit here. It feels different than Opus and that was my intention. I have people asking me why I didn’t make a direct sequel to Opus and it’s because I already did it. It’s time for a new sound.”
Where Opus was a majestic declaration of excess and grandeur, coming off more like a greatest hits compilation in its sweeping production and ambitious drive, Temporary Circus: Act 1 is something far more personal, more raw, and more organic. Intact is Smith’s penchant for melody, and the alarming ease with which he steers his sound through familiar corridors of alternative, pop-rock, indie-folk, psych, Yacht Rock, AM ‘70s gold, funk, and whatever else escapes from his creative mental asylum. Smith’s sound has always been jovial on the surface, with something a little darker glowing underneath.
Throughout Temporary Circus: Act 1, there is a growing unease and overwhelming sense of malaise that permeates through the five songs, and drawn together serve as a bit of a warning about what the future may hold, with carnival-like interludes and faux news reports acting as segues, similar to how we doom scroll from one app to the next to feed our serotonin needs: “Question everything. Do your research. Whatever hardship you’re going through… it’ll pass. And to hell with toxic people.”
Life for most of us changed in dramatic ways just five days after Opus was released back on November 1 of last year, and the six months that have passed have brought about a tonal shift in how we live our lives, treat our neighbors, and view our own futures. And Temporary Circus: Act 1 is reflective of the change; it’s a record of caution, of distrust, and the importance of staying true to one’s own sense of self despite the static and the noise.
“We are about to explore the surreal, often unsettling spectacle of mass manipulation,” Smith warns. “How people are drawn into illusions, distractions and false narratives that disguise deeper truths. Everything feels like a circus these days: Chaotic, colorful performances and societal stages to keep us entertained and misinformed. Temporary Circus: Act 1 will challenge its listeners to read between the lines, question the spectacle, and recognize the fleeting nature of these illusions. It’s a journey through distorted realities, hidden meanings, and the fragile facades that mask manipulation in everyday life.”
Of course, it’s also a proper Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures album, so beneath the layers of social awareness, messages both subliminal and obvious, and lyrical wordplay wisdom, is another sparkling and celestial record that glows with Smith’s vivid storytelling acumen. He’s now officially released 73 songs since 2017, both with the Cosmic Vultures and as a solo artist, and the creative tank shows no signs of emptying.
“I think this became a journey of discovery,” he says of the new record. “And these songs sort of string together my thoughts. I think the flow of the EP is fun because it seems like every song has a different feel as far as genre, but they ultimately, to me, all work together nicely.”
The EP opener and title track immediately set the lyrical theme, a daydream-like composition with a propulsive thump and twinkling demeanor where a certain type of circus comes to town to whisk us away in our own cerebral slumbers. The yearning, campfire glide “Strange Life” explores feelings of self-discovery and our shared end-goal of being comfortable with who we are, despite greater forces influencing us otherwise.
Smith leans into political lanes on the poignant and straight-forward “The Puppets of Hypocrisy,” fueled by a sonic buoyancy and pub sing-along mood while hidden meanings lurk behind the lyrical phrases. The atmospheric and star-gazing “Some Girls” finds a central comfort in the strength and poise of women, with Smith casting admiration for what they provide the world and how much they deal with and are forced to endure.
And EP closer “Indie Darling” was inspired by a dream Smith had walking through Salem, Massachusetts, waking up feeling so connected to the city and feeling free from the circus that had previously dogged his mental state.
“Songwriting comes very naturally to me,” Smith says. “It’s like walking. It just makes sense to me. I want to be great. I am climbing this mountain and trying to get to the peak… It’s all about the art and saying something that I truly feel. Not even with just the lyrics, but with my chord changes. The music has to speak on its own.”
And Smith wants those to not just listen, but listen with intent and purpose. Part of the reason for breaking up this new Temporary Circus era into “acts,” where each chapter is shaped through a series of EPs, allowing the music to marinate. It’s clear Smith is not adverse to releasing albums in the singles-driven age of the playlist, especially so soon after Opus, but sometimes, less can be more.
“I was strongly influenced by the Lord of the Rings trilogy,” he adds. “I love that each movie has its own feel, but they all also feel like a complete story. I thought about doing a full length album, but I also don’t like albums that have a lot of songs on it. Sometimes you feel a bit of malaise when listening to five songs and then seeing you have 12 more to listen to. Music should be digestible in that fashion. That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate a longer album at times. I just saw the amount of songs I had and thought it would be fun to split it up into volumes or acts.”
While the messages here are pointed, Smith simply hopes to spark a conversation about what’s going on in the world, and pull back the veil enough where we begin to question the lies and misdirects we’re force-fed with each passing news cycle. The circus is here, and we don’t have to be the clowns. Despite what certain forces want us to believe.
“My music is a universe that I created,” Smith concludes. “If someone connects to my music, that is wonderful. But they need to use the info wisely. Use the info to help you put together whatever your opinion is. Bottom line: A famous musical artist (or hell, a local one) spreading their message is fine. But it’s NOT the end all be all. Form your own opinions. I think it’s important that everyone has a platform to express their opinion on the world… but people get obsessed with artists and then they become idols. Just be careful with that stuff. It could be your next Temporary Circus.”
‘Temporary Circus: Act 1’ EP artwork:
‘Temporary Circus: Act 1’ credits:
Music, lyrics, artwork and creative vision by Derek Smith
Derek Smith: Lead vocals, backing vocals and rhythm guitar
Michael Strakus: Lead and rhythm guitar
Steve Constantino: Bass
Justin Lopes: Piano and organ
Jonathan Chesbro: Engineering, orchestral and drum production, and pre-mixing
Erik von Geldern: Engineering and mixing
Don Schweihofer: Engineering and mixing
Todd Harris: Engineering and mixing
Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures short bio:
Based out of Boston and born out of the North Shore of Massachusetts, Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures epitomize a nuanced blend of alternative, psychedelic, funk and indie rock vibes, encapsulated within an introspective musical narrative.
The band is composed of frontman and rhythm guitarist Derek Smith, bassist Steve Constantino, rhythm and lead guitarist Michael Strakus, and drummer Dalton DeLima.
Smith’s songwriting process stems from an immersion into particular moods, channeling these emotions into evocative musical pieces. He eschews conventional song structures, opting instead to tell intricate stories through song fragments, ultimately creating a cohesive tapestry that fills the gaps of his intricate mental landscape.
With two back to back nominations at the New England Music Awards for “Artist of the Year” and “Rock Act of the Year” in 2022 and 2023 respectfully, Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures remain a mainstay in the New England music scene with their dynamic and eclectic music and energetic live shows.
In late 2023, Derek Smith merged his acclaimed solo efforts (two self-released albums and recent single “Black Angel”) with the band’s extensive catalog, marking a new era for both entities. A new single, titled “Waiting” and produced by Dave Minehan at Waltham’s Wooly Mammoth Sound, arrived in January, with singles like “White Spade Symphony” and “Tomorrow Morning” highlighting 2024. A new Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures album, Opus, led by September single “Songbird”, arrived in November, followed by new EP Temporary Circus: Act 1, in Spring 2025. Come along for the ride.
Media praise for Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures:
“The prolific Boston songwriter Derek Smith has made a string of impressive indie-folk and psych recordings both under his name and with his band the Cosmic Vultures. Now the two entities have combined into one. ‘Tomorrow Morning,’ the lead-off track from their upcoming album Opus is an undeniably catchy glam-pop combustion that would have ruled the radio if it had been released 50 years ago. Listen at your own risk, because this song will stay stuck in your head all week.” – WBUR, Boston’s NPR
“Opus is the kind of album that anyone with a love for ‘70s pop-rock music should get acquainted with. Opus deserves it.” – WoNoBlog
“Stirringly soulful. Sparklingly pop melodic. Americana-like emotive. If you mix those three elements, and you add heart-whole vocals, you get this titillating tune that’ll play around in your head all day long.” – Turn Up The Volume
“‘White Spade Symphony’ from Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures is the best brand-new ’70s-style psychedelic classic rock song you’ll have heard in quite some time. …[It’s] memorable and so well-done that it will soon become a favorite if you’re a fan of guitar-based classic rock in general, not just the ’70s psychedelic subcategory.” – Geoff Wilbur’s Music Blog
“Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures are an absolute mainstay of the fantastic New England music scene.” – Podduck
“Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures awaken rock with ‘White Spade Symphony’.” – Pure M Zine
“Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures clearly operate on a different wavelength than the rest of us… and for that we are eternally grateful.” – The Whole Kameese
“‘White Spade Symphony’ is an absolute epic. It combines alt-rock with psychedelia and Americana in a huge sounding song just waiting to be played at the biggest stages around. …around the halfway mark the song just takes off with a blistering guitar solo that elevates the song to epic territory. This is the level of artists like Band of Horses or Kings of Leon’s first two albums.” – If It’s Too Loud
“Step back in time with Derek Smith… If someone had told me [‘Tomorrow Morning’] was a long lost single from the 1970s I would have believed it. There’s some ‘Goat Head Soup’ style, so Mick Taylor influenced, song, some Fleetwood Mac, some Jefferson Starship, as in Craig Chaquico styled, smooth guitar playing and the vocal style of a host of singers from the era who were not afraid of showing off their vocal range. Derek Smith and band all recreate this with a very nice song of their own. Tomorrow Morning is a rich song, with a lush arrangement. It shows the aspirations of the band. With a sound like this you do not want to play in the local pub or community centre. Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures seem ready to go way beyond.” – WoNoBlog
“Derek Smith has a style that is a chilled out mix of soul and R&B but still feels like it falls under the indie umbrella. It feels simple and classic as everything for the most part happens over just two chords with slick 70's jazzy guitar licks. It's really refreshing to hear artists that understand what ‘Less is More’ means and how to implement that into their overall sound. There is no bridge, not really a chorus, the only key change is at the end under the guitar solo but this song works as something I could definitely listen to over and over again.” – Blood Makes Noise
“Alternative and Grunge come to mind immediately when listening through ‘Waiting’ with airs of Jerry Cantrell’s solo work rather than Alice in Chains as a lush and still catchy ass chorus at its’ gooey, creamy center is surrounded by some truly meaty melodies for an entree that embodies sonic succulence. Wailing guitars from Jonathan Chesbro, Michael Strakus, and Smith come out of the ‘Waiting’ gate swinging offering complex textures amongst its’ sanguine sounds with Smith’s powerful vocal performance seemingly effortlessly poking through the punchy layers as Steve Constantino’s bass and Dalton DeLima’s drumming rhythmically rumble in contrast.” – Rock And Roll Fables
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