If you listened to Anchor Down’s latest single 25, followed immediately by Tom Hewitt’s Afterglow, you wouldn’t necessarily have categorised them together. But at the centre of this musical venn diagram remains Tom and his bandmate Jonny Price who work as a dream team to bring to life Hewitt’s solo artistic vision away from his pop-punk trio.
While Anchor Down have been performing together for over a decade, Tom’s solo career only emerged last year after a push from bandmate and producer Jonny, followed by his first live performance in March 2023.
His latest offering explores bittersweet memories and the longing for closure in the aftermath of a broken relationship. In his own words, Tom explained: “It’s my favourite song to date that I have written and it’s about having good memories of someone who isn’t in your life anymore and you just want those memories to go away because they did you wrong.”
The track opens with a delicate guitar riff against a backdrop of uptempo and dry drum samples, custom made in the studio on the day by Jonny and Tom. From the first notes, it’s evident that Hewitt is a meticulous artist, unafraid to push the boundaries of perfectionism to ensure every emotion and attention to detail is captured. “Jonny knows exactly what I want out of my songs and knows how much of an annoying perfectionist I can be,” Tom joked. “I will literally get him to change something on a song that not even a dog could hear, but it makes sense to me.”
But his nitpicking pays off, with Afterglow becoming a gorgeously warm and nostalgic piece both sonically and lyrically, with Hewitt’s words steeped with authenticity, his vocals carry a haunting vulnerability that draws the listener in. The run on ‘breaking’ in that first verse? Stunning.
Away from the pop punk sounds of Anchor Down, Afterglow draws inspiration from laidback indie artists with a roots-orientated approach, comparisons like Sam Fender or DMAs springing to mind. But somewhat uncommonly for a male solo artist, Tom cites Phoebe Bridgers and Holly Humberstone as major influences in his music, adding: “I literally obsess about her but Holly Humberstone is one of my favourite artists at the moment and her EP “Falling Asleep at the Wheel” is a huge inspiration for me when I write my songs.
The track embraces a bedroom pop feel with its intimate production and emotionally charged lyrics. It’s a sound that resonates with a generation seeking authenticity and connection in their music. Tom’s choice to use a single microphone for recording, including the drums, adds an organic quality, while the subtle use of fuzz guitar to mimic synths creates a layer of depth to the track, enhancing its dreamy and reflective feel.
Afterglow is a radiant and cosy track you can really bask in. As we enter the cooler autumn months, it feels like a shedding of a skin, leaving behind unwanted energies as we start a new chapter. Released Friday, August 25, you can listen to Afterglow by Tom Hewitt here:
