Xander Smith is a US singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from Santa Monica, California. He is born Alexander (Sasha) Wolton and later takes the name Xander Smith, using a shortened form of his first name and his mother’s maiden name.

Early life and education

He is named after his grandfather, Sasha Wolkenstein, an Austrian composer and violinist. His father dies when he is 10, after which he focuses on music, spends much of his time playing guitar and writing songs, and begins trying to form rock bands by the age of 12. After high school, he studies philosophy at UCLA.

Bands and collaborations

Smith fronts the alternative psychedelic goth band Chalk Circle with college friends, including violinist Jessy Greene, who later plays with the Foo Fighters and Peter Himmelman. He then tours Europe as guitarist for Danielle Brisebois on Epic. He also forms OtherStarPeople with Jennifer Finch of L7 and The Shocker; the group signs to A&M Records and records with producer Roy Thomas Baker, known for work with Queen and The Cars. When A&M is absorbed by Interscope, the project ends, although songs by Smith and Finch appear in the film Office Space and in television programmes including The Real World, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, CBS Sports and a VH1 Classic video showcase theme.

From 2000 to 2003, Smith serves as musical director for Club Makeup in Los Angeles. The E! Entertainment special connected with the event features his original songs and includes appearances by Hedwig, Orgy, The Cult, Alexis, David Arquette, Andy Dick and Ice-T.

Run Run Run

Since 2003, Smith has led Run Run Run as frontman and band leader. The indie shoegaze rock group releases two CDs and four EPs in the US, Canada, Australia and Russia, tours internationally, performs with acts including the Strokes, X, The Walkmen, the Psychedelic Furs, Zombies and Mumiy Troll, and headlines Red Square in Moscow in 2010. The verified record also identifies him as guitarist for the new Nymphs.

Solo work

In 2012, Smith begins recording solo material as a singer-songwriter. His songs draw on influences he names as the Big Sur sound of the early 1970s, Neil Finn, Astrud Gilberto, George Harrison and Russian chansons from Siberia. His first solo album, Hey San Pedro, appears in 2012.

Other performances

As a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, Smith also shares the stage with Linda Perry, Rickie Lee Jones, The Runaways, Adam Lambert, Dee Dee Ramone, the Violent Femmes and the Nymphs.