Sam Smith and Jacob Lusk's "My Guy" Duet: Who's on the Record
What's out
Sam Smith released a duet version of "My Guy" featuring Jacob Lusk on Friday, October 30. The song first appeared on Smith's album Hazel Eyes, which came out in August. Apple Music lists the new single as Sam Smith & Jacob Lusk.
It comes with an official live video of the pair performing the song at the London Coliseum. Per Interscope Capitol's release, that show was part of Smith's To Be Free global residency, and in the new version Lusk "takes the song’s second verse." The two also trade lines at the bridge.
Sam Smith, Jacob Lusk: "My Guy" (Official Live Performance)
Behind the boards
Apple Music's credits for the duet list three producers: Sam Smith, David Odlum and Simon Aldred. Feist is listed as additional producer. Andrew Sarlo mixed it, Ruairí O'Flaherty mastered it, and Ellis Tucker is credited with the immersive mix. Odlum also has an assistant mixing credit, and Stephen Fitzmaurice, Lauren Marquez and Varun Jhunjhunwalla are listed as additional engineers.
That matches the album team. Per the release, Hazel Eyes was co-produced by Smith, Aldred and Odlum, and partly recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
The release names Smith, Feist, Aldred and Shahzad Ismaily as co-writers. Apple's songwriter list shows Aldred, Feist and Ismaily.
The players, per Apple: Odlum on percussion and drum programming, Aldred on guitar and percussion, Ismaily on bass, guitar, keys and percussion, and Gabe Noel on bass guitar, strings and harmonica. Ruth O'Mahony Brady plays keyboards and strings and sings backup. Reuben James adds keyboards. Moses Sumney and Feist sing background vocals.
The sound, in the label's words
I'll leave it to the release. It says the song has "slow-burning rhythms and softly shimmering guitar tones," and that Lusk lends his voice to the original track’s "heavenly harmonies." Per the release, SPIN called the original "a buoyant celebration of fully requited love."
Who Jacob Lusk is
Per the release, Lusk is the former frontman of Gabriels and grew up in Compton. He is the son of the late music producer Gregory Lusk. With Gabriels, he helped make the album Angels & Queens.
My read
On paper, this is a producer's kind of rework: the same three producers who made the album, and one new voice on the second verse. With Moses Sumney, Feist and Ruth O'Mahony Brady already in the backing vocal credits, adding Lusk fits a team that treats voices as part of the arrangement.
Dani Reyes, Behind the Boards. Credits check: Sam Smith, David Odlum and Simon Aldred on "My Guy."