Track of the Day: Thom Southern — ‘The Guy In The Suit And Tie’

Following a year of immersing himself in craft and studio production, Irish singer-songwriter Thom Southern is back with his second single ‘The Guy In The Suit And Tie,’ via his independent label Mighty Good Leader.

Following the vein of his previous single 'Hey What’s Happenin?,' this new offering provides an immediate sense of urgent emotion drawing us straight into Thom Southern’s observations of everyday life and specifically the experience of a stranger he passes by on a street.

‘The Guy In The Suit And Tie’ balances upbeat instrumentation with propulsive looped drum grooves, channelling refracted bass lines. In contrast to Southern’s previous single — which was suffused with electric guitar fuzz and distortion — ‘The Guy In The Suit And Tie’ comprises a driving acoustic guitar section at its core.

The lyrics zero in on a man, in a suit and tie, shedding tears which Southern views as a metaphor for societal expectations and the pressure to maintain a polished exterior, despite inner turmoil and struggles.

"As someone who has dedicated their life so far to music and never followed what people would probably consider to be the ‘norm’ (what’s expected of us after finishing school - go to university, get a job, get married, have kids etc) I usually feel pretty disconnected from society which has its pros and cons but I think my generation and people from younger generations today are feeling like this more than ever in today’s current climate,” Southern says. “The theme of societal pressure and expectation has been written about lots before of course but I wanted to explore that in my own way with a simple short song in a light hearted fun way that leaves you feeling positive and hopeful.”