Fraser T. Smith Produces Cover of Foo Fighters’ ‘Times Like These’

Berklee Online student and Grammy-winning producer Fraser T. Smith is helping to raise money to combat the coronavirus with a new cover of the Foo Fighters’ hit “Times Like These.” The recording, which premiered as part of the Stay at Home Live Lounge series by BBC Radio 1, features an all-star lineup of musicians performing virtually from their homes and home studios, with household items as instruments.

The song features Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins, as well as 5 Seconds of Summer, Bastille, Biffy Clyro, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding, Hailee Steinfeld, Jess Glynne, Rag‘n’Bone Man, Rita Ora, Royal Blood, Yungblud, and more. Proceeds from the track benefit the non-profits BBC Children in Need, Comic Relief, and the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

“Our vision was to create a stay at home version using phones, pots, pans and acoustic guitars that would honour the brilliance and honesty of the artists and song, rather than the tricker of an expensive recording studio,” said Smith in an interview with NME. “We tried to make this single in a totally different way artistically, relevant to today. The lyrics particularly resonate with us all at this challenging time, and I sincerely hope that money raised can help the plight of the unified battle against COVID-19 around the world.”

Smith, who has taken more than 15 courses through Berklee Online, most-notably cowrote, produced, and played piano on Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain,” which won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance. Smith has said that the Berklee Online courses Writing Hit Songs, Berklee Keyboard Method, and Mixing and Mastering with Pro Tools directly aided his work with Adele. He has also worked with Lily Allen, the Kaiser Chiefs, and Sam Smith.