# Ambrose Kenny-Smith
**Ambrose Kenny-Smith** (full name Ambrose Thomas Kenny-Smith, born 1992) is an Australian rock musician best known as a vocalist, harmonica player, and keyboardist for [King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard](https://www.edgepedia.org/king-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard) and as the lead vocalist of the Melbourne garage rock band The Murlocs[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Ambrose_Kenny-Smith/807825) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-murlocs-mn0003086020). He is the son of the Australian blues-rock singer and harmonica player Broderick Smith[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Ambrose_Kenny-Smith/807825) • [3](https://www.moosevinyl.com/blog/who-is-ambrose-kenny-smith).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992, Australia[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Ambrose_Kenny-Smith/807825) |
| King Gizzard role | Vocals, harmonica, keyboards since 2011; he was the last of the band's seven core members to join, while still in high school[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Ambrose_Kenny-Smith/807825) • [3](https://www.moosevinyl.com/blog/who-is-ambrose-kenny-smith) |
| The Murlocs | Founded in Melbourne in 2010; Kenny-Smith is lead vocalist and harmonica player[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-murlocs-mn0003086020) |
| GUM collaboration | *Ill Times* (2024) with Jay Watson's project GUM, followed by a deluxe edition and the live album *Live at The Corner* (2025)[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ambrose-kenny-smith/1027505887) |
| Early life | Skateboarded from age six, sponsored from age 10 into his early twenties before turning to music full time[5](https://glidemagazine.com/280190/no-slowing-down-ambrose-kenny-smith-amby-talks-new-murlocs-album-balancing-king-gizzard-his-other-band-interview/) |
| Family | Son of Broderick Smith, former vocalist of the Australian country band The Dingoes[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Ambrose_Kenny-Smith/807825) • [6](https://n2.kemono.cr/data/ea/cf/eacf07553057b219d10c5295898af6d79ed4108fd0420789c2de68af595953ec.pdf?f=Mates+Jammin%27_+A+Painstaking+Analysis+of+King+Gizzard%27s+Live+History.pdf) |
## King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard came together in Melbourne in 2010, and Kenny-Smith joined in 2011 as the last of the band's seven core members, still a high schooler at the time[3](https://www.moosevinyl.com/blog/who-is-ambrose-kenny-smith). He plays harmonica, keyboards, saxophone, percussion, and sings, and his high, distinctive voice carries many of the band's songs[3](https://www.moosevinyl.com/blog/who-is-ambrose-kenny-smith). The group is known for an unusually fast release schedule: by early 2023 it had issued 23 albums since its formation, with three of those arriving in October 2022 alone[7](https://www.talkhouse.com/ambrose-kenny-smith-king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-talks-with-jack-crowther-and-elliot-oreilly-babe-rainbow-on-the-talkhouse-podcast/). His father appears in the band's catalog as well, narrating the 2013 album *Eyes Like the Sky*, a frontier story told in an audiobook style[3](https://www.moosevinyl.com/blog/who-is-ambrose-kenny-smith).
## The Murlocs
Kenny-Smith founded The Murlocs in Melbourne in 2010, the same year King Gizzard formed[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-murlocs-mn0003086020). The name came from a moment of desperation: while googling words like "oracle," he learned that a murloc is a creature in the game [World of Warcraft](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-of-warcraft), and the band kept it after early audiences of game fans began turning up[8](https://www.b-sides.tv/interview-ambrose-kenny-smith-of-the-murlocs-king-gizzard-and-the-wizard-lizard-talks-world-of-warcraft-fans-new-murlocs-album-and-more/).
The band's sound differs deliberately from King Gizzard's constant experimentation. Kenny-Smith describes The Murlocs as rooted in blues, soul, and classic rock and roll, anchored by his wailing harmonica and raspy vocals[8](https://www.b-sides.tv/interview-ambrose-kenny-smith-of-the-murlocs-king-gizzard-and-the-wizard-lizard-talks-world-of-warcraft-fans-new-murlocs-album-and-more/) • [9](https://glidemagazine.com/291092/ambrose-kenny-smith-on-the-murlocs-cosmic-groover-calm-ya-farm-touring-with-king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-rock-and-roll-harmonica-interview/). Their records have shifted across styles: the piano-led *Bittersweet Demons* (2021), the concept album *Rapscallion* (2022), and the cosmic country-flavored *Calm Ya Farm* (2023)[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-murlocs-mn0003086020) • [9](https://glidemagazine.com/291092/ambrose-kenny-smith-on-the-murlocs-cosmic-groover-calm-ya-farm-touring-with-king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-rock-and-roll-harmonica-interview/).
**Rapscallion** marked a first for the band: a linear conceptual story across an album, described as "a coming-of-age novel in an album form." It follows a nameless runaway youth from a coastal town who falls in with a crew of misfits in the city, with each song a chapter ending in love and tragedy[10](https://www.nme.com/news/music/murlocs-rapscallion-album-interview-ambrose-kenny-smith-king-gizzard-lizard-wizard-3311393) • [11](https://www.frankie.com.au/article/tunesday-ambrose-kenny-smith-chats-about-the-murlocs-new-album-585175). Kenny-Smith drew the story from his own adolescence as a traveling sponsored skateboarder and from [Cormac McCarthy](https://www.edgepedia.org/cormac-mccarthy)'s novel *Blood Meridian*, about a young boy among older, ragged figures[10](https://www.nme.com/news/music/murlocs-rapscallion-album-interview-ambrose-kenny-smith-king-gizzard-lizard-wizard-3311393) • [11](https://www.frankie.com.au/article/tunesday-ambrose-kenny-smith-chats-about-the-murlocs-new-album-585175).
## Early life and skateboarding
Kenny-Smith grew up in [Victoria](https://www.edgepedia.org/victoria-state), Australia[3](https://www.moosevinyl.com/blog/who-is-ambrose-kenny-smith). Skateboarding began at age six and became a professional pursuit; he was sponsored from age 10 into his early twenties, when music took over[5](https://glidemagazine.com/280190/no-slowing-down-ambrose-kenny-smith-amby-talks-new-murlocs-album-balancing-king-gizzard-his-other-band-interview/). He credits the skate community and daily skate videos with introducing him to a wide range of music, and he recalls listening to blues and soul, including [Muddy Waters](https://www.edgepedia.org/muddy-waters) and [Howlin' Wolf](https://www.edgepedia.org/howlin-wolf), obsessively as a child[5](https://glidemagazine.com/280190/no-slowing-down-ambrose-kenny-smith-amby-talks-new-murlocs-album-balancing-king-gizzard-his-other-band-interview/) • [12](https://troublejuice.co/2021/07/30/skating-growing-up-and-bittersweet-demons-a-chat-with-ambrose-kenny-smith-of-the-murlocs/). Music was also a family inheritance: his father Broderick played harmonica and sang, and Kenny-Smith took up the harmonica as a boy[12](https://troublejuice.co/2021/07/30/skating-growing-up-and-bittersweet-demons-a-chat-with-ambrose-kenny-smith-of-the-murlocs/). He did not begin singing regularly until 17 or 18, which he says is when The Murlocs really started[8](https://www.b-sides.tv/interview-ambrose-kenny-smith-of-the-murlocs-king-gizzard-and-the-wizard-lizard-talks-world-of-warcraft-fans-new-murlocs-album-and-more/).
## GUM collaboration and recent work
In 2023 Kenny-Smith released the single "Minor Setback" with GUM, the solo project of Jay Watson of [Pond](https://www.edgepedia.org/pond-australian-band) and [Tame Impala](https://www.edgepedia.org/tame-impala), and the pair's album *Ill Times* followed in 2024[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ambrose-kenny-smith/1027505887) • [13](https://www.abc.net.au/rage/guest/gum-ambrose-kenny-smith-guest-program-rage/105451012). The album pairs Watson's electro-soul leanings with Kenny-Smith's garage and soul background, and a deluxe edition added tracks including "Telescope" and "Snow Angels"[14](https://www.occult-magazine.com/reviews/illtimesdeluxe) • [4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ambrose-kenny-smith/1027505887). The duo toured Australia in 2025, with shows at Melbourne's Corner Hotel, and released the live album *Live at The Corner* that year[15](https://scenestr.com.au/music/review-gum-ambrose-kenny-smith-the-corner-hotel-melbourne-20250411) • [4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ambrose-kenny-smith/1027505887).
In August 2026 he appeared as a guest vocalist on "Holding Cell," the lead single from the London band Los Bitchos's collaborative album *Los Bitchos & Friends Vol 1*, contributing vocals, synthesizers, and piano[16](https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/ambrose-kenny-smith-kit-sebastian-and-more-feature-on-new-los-bitchos-album-los-bitchos-friends-vol-1) • [17](https://losbitchos.bandcamp.com/album/los-bitchos-friends-vol-1).
## References
1. [Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Ambrose_Kenny-Smith/807825)
2. [The Murlocs, AllMusic biography](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-murlocs-mn0003086020)
3. [Who Is Ambrose Kenny-Smith?, Moose Vinyl](https://www.moosevinyl.com/blog/who-is-ambrose-kenny-smith)
4. [Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ambrose-kenny-smith/1027505887)
5. [No Slowing Down Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Glide Magazine](https://glidemagazine.com/280190/no-slowing-down-ambrose-kenny-smith-amby-talks-new-murlocs-album-balancing-king-gizzard-his-other-band-interview/)
6. [Mates Jammin': A Painstaking Analysis of King Gizzard's Live History](https://n2.kemono.cr/data/ea/cf/eacf07553057b219d10c5295898af6d79ed4108fd0420789c2de68af595953ec.pdf?f=Mates+Jammin%27_+A+Painstaking+Analysis+of+King+Gizzard%27s+Live+History.pdf)
7. [Ambrose Kenny-Smith Talkhouse Podcast](https://www.talkhouse.com/ambrose-kenny-smith-king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-talks-with-jack-crowther-and-elliot-oreilly-babe-rainbow-on-the-talkhouse-podcast/)
8. [Interview: Ambrose Kenny-Smith, B-Sides](https://www.b-sides.tv/interview-ambrose-kenny-smith-of-the-murlocs-king-gizzard-and-the-wizard-lizard-talks-world-of-warcraft-fans-new-murlocs-album-and-more/)
9. [Ambrose Kenny-Smith on Calm Ya Farm, Glide Magazine](https://glidemagazine.com/291092/ambrose-kenny-smith-on-the-murlocs-cosmic-groover-calm-ya-farm-touring-with-king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-rock-and-roll-harmonica-interview/)
10. [Ambrose Kenny-Smith on the Murlocs' Rapscallion, NME](https://www.nme.com/news/music/murlocs-rapscallion-album-interview-ambrose-kenny-smith-king-gizzard-lizard-wizard-3311393)
11. [Tunesday: Ambrose Kenny-Smith chats about the Murlocs' new album, Frankie Magazine](https://www.frankie.com.au/article/tunesday-ambrose-kenny-smith-chats-about-the-murlocs-new-album-585175)
12. [Skating, Growing Up and Bittersweet Demons, Trouble Juice](https://troublejuice.co/2021/07/30/skating-growing-up-and-bittersweet-demons-a-chat-with-ambrose-kenny-smith-of-the-murlocs/)
13. [GUM & Ambrose Kenny-Smith guest program Rage, ABC](https://www.abc.net.au/rage/guest/gum-ambrose-kenny-smith-guest-program-rage/105451012)
14. [GUM & Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Ill Times (Deluxe) review, Occult Magazine](https://www.occult-magazine.com/reviews/illtimesdeluxe)
15. [Review: GUM & Ambrose Kenny-Smith @ The Corner Hotel, Scenestr](https://scenestr.com.au/music/review-gum-ambrose-kenny-smith-the-corner-hotel-melbourne-20250411)
16. [Ambrose Kenny-Smith features on new Los Bitchos album, The Line of Best Fit](https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/ambrose-kenny-smith-kit-sebastian-and-more-feature-on-new-los-bitchos-album-los-bitchos-friends-vol-1)
17. [Los Bitchos & Friends Vol 1, Bandcamp](https://losbitchos.bandcamp.com/album/los-bitchos-friends-vol-1)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Psychedelic and acid rock*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license