Editors’ Tom Smith on Going Solo, His First Album & What Comes Next

Tom Smith, frontman of Editors, joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss his debut solo album, "There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light," stepping out on his own, songwriting, friendship, R.E.M., Smith & Burrows, and the next chapter for Editors. Originally released as an audio episode on September 9, 2025, this archive interview is now being presented on YouTube as part of the XS Noize archive. In this in-depth conversation, Tom opens up about why now felt like the right moment to make his first solo album after more than two decades fronting Editors and releasing music with Smith & Burrows. He discusses the feeling of needing to follow the instinct before the moment passed, the creative shift that came after EBM, and why he wanted this record to feel more personal, more direct, and closer to the songs he writes alone at the piano or guitar. Tom talks about working with Iain Archer, finding the sound of the record through “Deep Dive,” and how the album balances emotional turmoil with warmth, hope and connection. He reflects on songs including “Deep Dive,” “Lights Of New York City,” “Northern Line,” “Leave,” “Souls” and “Saturday,” touching on memory, friendship, ageing, love, vulnerability and the quiet strength of getting through difficult times with other people. The conversation also moves through key moments from Tom’s career with Editors and Smith & Burrows, including An End Has A Start, “Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors,” Funny Looking Angels, The Weight of Your Love and EBM. Tom speaks candidly about the pressure around Editors’ second album, the band’s mainstream breakthrough, the difficult transition that led to The Weight of Your Love, and the creative energy of working with Benjamin John Power on EBM. He also reflects on the records that shaped him, including R.E.M.’s Automatic for the People, touring with R.E.M., working with Peter Buck through Tired Pony, and recently receiving a message from Michael Stipe. The interview closes with Tom giving an update on Editors’ next album, revealing that the band have been back in the studio, moving away from the electronic world of EBM and towards something more guitar-driven, more band-focused and closer to a rock record. Chapters 00:00 Tom Smith joins XS Noize 00:11 Why now was the right time to go solo 02:13 The meaning behind the solo album title 03:15 Why this became a solo album, not Smith & Burrows 04:22 Working with Iain Archer 08:30 Finding his own voice outside Editors 09:23 “Deep Dive” and the emotional heart of the record 10:08 Balancing fragile songs with bigger arrangements 12:21 “Lights Of New York City” and looking back 14:00 “Northern Line” and friendship with Andy Burrows 14:57 Why “Saturday” closes the album 15:35 The hardest songs to finish 17:06 What going solo has taught him 18:01 Taking the songs into intimate live rooms 19:15 Tom’s solo live setup 19:59 Looking back on Editors albums 20:11 An End Has A Start memories 21:29 “Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors” and breakthrough success 22:26 Smith & Burrows and Funny Looking Angels 24:35 The Weight Of Your Love and rebuilding Editors 28:39 EBM and working with Benjamin John Power 31:46 Five songs that explain Tom Smith’s songwriting 33:26 R.E.M.’s Automatic For The People changing his life 35:09 Touring with R.E.M. and Peter Buck 36:48 Tom gives an update on the next Editors album 37:45 What the next Editors album sounds like 38:35 Closing thoughts Follow XS Noize Instagram → /xsnoizemusic Facebook → /xsnoizemusic X / Twitter → https://x.com/xsnoizemusic Listen & watch more episodes YouTube → @thexsnoizepodcast Website → https://www.xsnoize.com About XS Noize XS Noize is a music platform featuring interviews, reviews and news with some of the most influential artists in the world. Hosted & produced by Mark Millar. Related topics Tom Smith interview Editors interview Editors Tom Smith solo album There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light Going solo Editors new album Editors album eight Deep Dive Lights Of New York City Northern Line Saturday Iain Archer Smith & Burrows Andy Burrows Funny Looking Angels An End Has A Start Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors The Weight of Your Love EBM Benjamin John Power Blanck Mass Munich No Sound But The Wind No Harm The Phone Book R.E.M. Automatic for the People Michael Stipe Peter Buck Tired Pony Gary Lightbody Snow Patrol Play It Again Sam Indie rock British rock Post-punk revival XS Noize Podcast #TomSmith #Editors #XSNoizePodcast