Biography
Hailing from Llanelwy in north Wales, 1987tilpresent (real name Neal Smith) is a self-taught singer-songwriter born in 1987, hence the name, who has spent years shaping a distinctive voice from behind a guitar and a home studio desk. With a deep love for storytelling, 1987tilpresent crafts honest, melodic songs inspired by real-life moments—family, work, and the colourful characters encountered along the way.
Originally starting out as a drummer in a 5 piece band, he soon realised that the guitar was a more portable instrument in which to entertain people wherever he was, although he has since come back to pursue other adventures with percussion in his current sets.
Traveling with an acoustic guitar, 1987tilpresent takes influence from artists like Paul McCartney, Sivu, and Myles Kennedy, blending classic songwriting with modern sensibility. Whether on a festival stage or in an intimate setting, each performance is a window into a life lived with sincerity, curiosity, and music at its core.
Currently working on a fourth album, 1987tilpresent continues to explore the depths of personal and universal experience, always staying true to the heart of the music. You can find previous releases such as “Letter from the past”, “Around the Mind EP” and most recently “Smile and Handshakes” on all platforms (apart from platform 14 at Piccadilly, no one wants to go there).
Website: https://linktr.ee/1987tilpresent
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1987tilpresent
Facebook: 1987tilpresent
Instagram: 1987tilpresent
About
Where and how often do you rehearse?
I currently have a few dates coming soon so I practice in my home studio and as much as I can.
Fun group stories:
The name came about when I was scrolling through wikipedia and there is always a bio line which states how often the ‘subject’ has been working.
For example, an actors would say ‘1967 – present’.
I thought this would be an interesting name for myself as it would relevant for a long time. Hence ‘1987tilpresent’.
How would you best describe your group?
I play music about the events of my life and events around me. Nothing heavy. My music was once labelled ‘folk rock’ in which it sits on the shelves in music shops. I bring along my acoustic and foot pedal to tell stories through familiar chords.
