By Alexandra Pullen
Yesterday, ADRENALINE Issue 002 cover star Tom A. Smith revealed details of his upcoming debut album, The Golden Gates, which is due to be released on 2nd April 2027.
The singer-songwriter from Sunderland has built an image for himself surrounding pink and black polka dot suits, which he rocks whilst dancing on stage with a level of energy which is simply hypnotic. However, for the upcoming release, Smith seems to be stripping back the layers and revealing a side of him which has been mostly unseen until now.
In a poignant and emotionally transparent statement, he took to Instagram to share the cover, first single and story behind the album. “I was born with a rare life limiting heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means I was born and continue to live with only one side of my heart. By the age of four, I had undergone five life-saving open heart surgeries, and from the occasional memories that come to me from that time and the rest of my childhood, I know how difficult it was not only for me, but my family as well.”
“My current state isn’t a long-term option, as a result of that my future is quite uncertain and I will require more extreme medical care as I move deeper into my adult years.”
The cover of the album features the scars which Smith has across his chest from aforementioned surgeries. He spoke out about the powerful importance of this imagery and artwork for him, as well as the symbolic meanings behind these scars. “Upon my chest, etched on to my skin, is a scar. A scar that, and with everything that comes with it, haunted me for 20 years. I was scared of it. I couldn’t look at it in the mirror. I’d pretend to be ill as a kid so I could miss things like swimming lessons or PE lessons, because I was so scared of what the other children’s reactions may be. In case they didn’t see me in the same way they see everyone else.”
“It served as a constant reminder to me of who I really am, where I’ve been and what’s to come. I was ashamed of it. People would say, it’s just a scar. It’s not just a scar. It’s a map of everything that has gotten me to where I am right now. It’s a symbol for everything myself, my family and hopefully all of you will continue to go through with me and there is absolutely nothing to be scared or ashamed of or to want to hide.”
“Over the last two years I’ve done a lot of thinking about it, how it has impacted me as I’ve become an adult and most importantly, I’ve written an album about it.”
The Golden Gates is co-produced by Barry Hyde, frontman of The Futureheads, in Sunderland. Hyde has acted as a mentor and inspiration for Smith throughout his musical career so far. Speaking to ADRENALINE, he shared how proud he is to come from Sunderland and be surrounded by the incredible talent of the city as he created a space for himself, “For me growing up, I was just always around these people: Frankie & the Heartstrings, The Futureheads. I think my generation now we’re seeing such a major increase in the amount of bands and the amount of artists coming out of the North East. I feel like it’s one of the most exciting places in the country at the moment for music…”
Watch the full interview here.
Tom A. Smith’s debut album The Golden Gates will be released on 2nd April 2027. The first single Carry That Weight is out now, accompanied by When The Angels Sing My Song. Today, Smith begins his headline tour, closing the chapter of his deluxe EP Put On A Record Tommy, as well as headlining ADRENALINE Magazine’s latest print issue – grab a copy here before it’s too late!
Live Dates:
2026
11th Nov – Brighton, Patterns,
12th Nov – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
13th Nov – Stoke, The Sugarmill
14th Nov – Bedford, Esquire’s
19th Nov – London, Electric Brixton (supporting MEEK)
21st Nov – Plymouth, The Junction
22nd Nov – Portsmouth, The Wedgewood Rooms
25th Nov – Hull, Polar Bear
26th Nov – Whitehaven, Yellow Earl
27th Nov – Huddersfield, The Parish
2nd Dec – Edinburgh, Cabaret Voltaire
3rd Dec – Liverpool, Arts Club Theatre
5th Dec – Bristol, Thekla, Paint By Numbers (afternoon headliner)
5th Dec – Wrexham, The Rockin Chair
6th Dec – Nottingham, Bodega, Paint By Numbers
22nd Dec – London, Barfly: Radio X ‘X-Posure Live’ (headliner)
2027
10th Apr – Bridlington Spa, This Feeling By The Sea
5th June – Cornwall, The Great Estate
Text Copyright 2026 © Alexandra Pullen/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Photography Copyright 2026 © Kyle Horne/ADRENALINE Magazine, except The Golden Gates album artwork by Katie Anderson.
Kelsey McAndrew