An intimate show from Editors frontman Tom Smith – playing songs from his debut solo record and his Editors catalogue

Tom Smith, frontman of British band Editors, has shared his debut solo track, “Lights of New York City,” via Play It Again Sam. Check out the video for the new single below.

“‘Lights of New York City’ pines for lost youth, a song looking back at the wide eyed wonder held in a previous chapter of my life,” says Smith about the new track in a press release. Smith worked on the song with Irish singer/songwriter Iain Archer. The single is also accompanied by a video directed by Niall Trask.

“Artistically I realized I wanted to do something which was a purer representation of the songs I write, in the style I always have, on an acoustic guitar or a piano, presented simply,” says Smith on temporarily stepping away from Editors. “I’ve got no idea if it’s folky, country’y, crooner’y or what really, I’ve just always had the calling to write and sing sad songs. More often than not those songs grow with the band (Editors) into something else, something bigger, and often something more confrontational, but with this solo project I wanted the recordings to stay simpler and closer to the ideas they were when I conceived them.”

Smith has worked with Editors since 2005, releasing eight albums with the band. He has also released two albums with Andy Burrows as Smith & Burrows.