Manchester-born poet and producer Antony Szmierek returns with his second album, Decoding Birdsong. Building on his debut, the record broadens both sound and scope, combining detailed electronic production with his sharp, conversational lyricism. Where earlier work leaned solo, Decoding Birdsong opens out through collaboration, featuring Pretty Girl, Los Bitchos, 1-800 GIRLS, Imogen and the Knife and Ellur. The result is a richer, more varied backdrop for Szmierek’s storytelling. The album centres on ideas of belief, chance and self-determination, weighing optimism against uncertainty. Szmierek explores how meaning is made from everyday moments, and what it means to trust instinct in a chaotic world. Following the breakthrough of Service Station at the End of the Universe, Szmierek’s mix of spoken word and dance music has taken him from small venues to major stages, marking him out as a distinctive voice in contemporary UK music.