Editors front-person Tom Smith has today released Leave, the latest single from his forthcoming debut solo album There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light — which is set for release on Play It Again Sam on December 5, 2025.
Leave follows previous singles Lights Of New York City and Life Is For Living.
Talking about the track, Tom said: "We went on a bit of a journey with that one. It’s a bit of a breakup song in some ways. There’s a conflict in this song, but there’s also a resolution. There’s an acceptance that things are going to turn around again. It’s probably the closest this record has to a pop song in some ways – if you can say that."
The track is accompanied by a video shot by James Lockey and filmed in the wooded grounds of south Yorkshire stately home Wentworth Woodhouse. Tom is also currently out on a U.K. and Irish tour, a run which has taken in some smaller, out-of-the-way places across the country.
Listen to Leave here: ffm.to/tom-smith-leave
Pre-order the solo debut album here: ffm.to/tom-smith-album
After two decades fronting Editors and releasing two albums with Smith & Burrows, Tom Smith is finally stepping into solo territory with There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light. Motivated by a desire to reconnect with the raw, acoustic beginnings of his song writing, Smith set out to create something more intimate and personal, away from the collaborative nature of his band projects.
Initially, he attempted to shape these songs with long-time collaborator Andy Burrows but ultimately decided to take a more solitary path, enlisting producer Iain Archer instead. Together, they crafted a record built around emotional honesty, acoustic textures, and themes of connection, memory, and resilience. The opening track Deep Dive became the album’s emotional anchor, setting a tone of gentle hope in the face of loneliness.
Throughout the album, Smith balances stripped-back arrangements with cinematic flourishes, creating a dynamic range—from the minimalist ache of Broken Time to the sweeping drama of Life Is For Living. Despite his initial goal of solo authorship, Smith found deep creative synergy with Archer, shaping songs through mutual experimentation.
Tracks like Lights Of New York City evoke nostalgic longing, while Northern Line and How Many Times reflect on friendships and past experiences. The album closes with Saturday, a bittersweet snapshot of fleeting intimacy. Though marked by melancholy, the record ultimately resonates with hope — highlighting Smith’s evolution as a songwriter and his yearning to create music that reflects the essence of who he is.