At 21, most of us were still trying to figure out the direction of our lives. Tom A. Smith<\/a>, on the other hand, is releasing his new EP\u00a0Say What You Want\u00a0via Fiction Records, a self-written, self-produced, self-mixed statement that proves he\u2019s not just one of the UK\u2019s brightest new indie names, but a DIY powerhouse steering his own ship.<\/p>\n The EP is his most confident move yet, capturing that moment where an artist levels up, blending textured synths, cinematic production, and groove-led indie hooks into something that feels both expansive and intimate. Lead single\u00a0I Don\u2019t Blame You\u00a0is already shaping up as a live favourite. It\u2019s playful, a little cheeky, and built on a new electronic pulse without losing Tom\u2019s knack for infectious choruses. As he puts it:\u00a0\u201cI wanted to make something that didn\u2019t take itself too seriously\u2026 we\u2019ve been playing it live over the summer and it\u2019s been a lot of people\u2019s favourite.\u201d<\/p>\n Its video, shot by Tom\u2019s bandmate Katie Anderson, doubles down on that ethos, DIY, fun, and proof of the creative community he\u2019s built around him. It\u2019s the kind of project that feels like mates making art together, but with the polish to sit comfortably on big playlists and festival stages.<\/p>\n The rest of\u00a0Say What You Want\u00a0keeps that energy rolling.\u00a0Fashion\u00a0has already been playlisted by Absolute Radio and spun by BBC 6 Music and Radio X, while\u00a0What\u00a0reads like an outsider anthem reimagined for 2025. Things close with a reimagined cover of\u00a0It\u2019s All Over\u00a0by cult \u201890s band The God Machine, a curveball that underlines Tom\u2019s love for the art of the album, and hints at even bigger, more ambitious directions to come.<\/p>\n Tom\u2019s story makes this leap feel even more exciting. Raised in Houghton-le-Spring near Sunderland, he\u2019s as grassroots as they come, building his own home studio during lockdown, playing Glastonbury, Radio 1\u2019s Big Weekend, and opening for everyone from Sam Fender to Elton John (who personally picked him for Hyde Park in 2022). Now signed to Fiction Records, the home of The Cure, Tame Impala<\/a>, and St. Vincent, he\u2019s stepping into a new era with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what he wants.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/musicandgigs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/unnamed-25-1024x1024.jpg\")
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