The British rock band Editors will release their new album, Surface, Echo & Sound, on 30 October, turning away from the electronic sound of their previous three records in favour of guitars and a more traditional songwriting process. Frontman Tom Smith describes the album as an emotional response to an increasingly anxious and turbulent world.
The record reflects the band’s concerns about war, politics and the constant stream of information on smartphones. After years of experimenting with electronic music, culminating in 2022’s EBM, the group returned to writing songs together with guitars, without computers.
“We wanted to do something authentic, real and simple,” Smith said, explaining that the approach may also have been an unconscious reaction to a technology-driven present. He added that while anxiety has been a recurring theme in his songwriting for two decades, the new album is not intended as a political statement.
Keyboardist Elliott Williams said the band’s characteristic darkness is softened by the use of mandolin, which adds a folk-inspired, almost cinematic quality to the songs.
A band outside the trends
Since emerging in the early 2000s, Editors have followed their own path through a changing alternative-rock landscape. Smith acknowledged that the band may not enjoy the same level of attention as newer acts such as Fontaines D.C., but said they value their independence and the audience that has stayed with them.
The musicians also reflected on the growing cost of concert tickets and the dominance of large-scale live events. Williams criticised pricing structures that separate audiences into VIP and premium areas, arguing that the system makes it harder for emerging artists to build a following through smaller shows.
Smith said he was less concerned about whether Editors would headline stadiums than about the struggles facing mid-sized and smaller tours. Rising ticket prices, he argued, may encourage fans to spend their money on one expensive major event rather than several smaller concerts, putting pressure on the wider live-music ecosystem.
‘Reluctant rock stars’
Despite their reservations about the music industry, Editors continue to draw a loyal audience. Their next Italian concert, scheduled for 3 February at Milan’s Alcatraz venue, has already sold out, with further dates expected in the summer, including a stop in Rome.
Smith said the band still sometimes feels out of place when recording in prestigious studios surrounded by gold records belonging to celebrated artists. They have never pursued stadium success or mass commercial dominance, he explained, describing Editors as “reluctant rock stars”.
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