TOM SMITH: THERE IS NOTHING IN THE DARK THAT ISN'T THERE IN THE LIGHT

Editors frontman Tom Smith has today released his debut solo single, “Lights Of New York City,” via Play It Again Sam.

Commenting on the release, Tom said:

“‘Lights of New York City’ is a song about longing for lost youth — a reflection on the wonder and naivety that accompanied an earlier stage of my life. It’s a taste of what’s to come musically from me.”

The track sees Tom collaborating with acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter Iain Archer, who helped him shape and bring to life his ideas for this first solo project — following two decades with Editors and two albums with Andy Burrows under the Smith & Burrows moniker.

The single is accompanied by a music video directed and produced by Niall Trask.

Explaining why he decided to temporarily step away from his role in Editors, Tom added:

“Artistically, I realized I wanted to do something that felt like a purer reflection of the songs I write — in the way I’ve always written them, on an acoustic guitar or piano, in their simplest form. I don’t really know if it’s folk, country, crooner, or something else — I’ve just always had the urge to write and sing sad songs. Often, when those songs make their way to the band (Editors), they evolve into something bigger and more confrontational. But with this solo project, I wanted the recordings to stay simpler and closer to how they first came to li