In September, we covered Thomas Prothero’s debut single, “Disposable People”, a new entry in the world of electronic indie folk along the lines of Dawes and The National. Since then, the London-based singer-songwriter has put out two singles: “Gaslight & Trinkets” in October and “Whole Damn Time” just this past month.
Prothero keeps a Substack in which he offers deeper reflections on his songs. “Gaslight & Trinkets”, according to him, is a heartfelt examination of love, self-deception, and “poor emotional hygiene” inspired by “true events and bad decisions.” “It’s a horrible experience to feel like you’ve been gaslit,” Prothero writes in the article. “It’s even worse to discover you were the culprit.” He channels this frustration through a solid indie track, complete with glitchy synths and a drum machine providing a steady beat to his echoing layers of vocal harmony.
“Whole Damn Time”, the newer track, currently has no Substack article, but to us, Prothero explains the song is “about realizing the one you’ve been looking for was there all along, but fate had other plans.” The artwork for the single shows Prothero with his head in his hands at a pub, reaching the last stage of grief over unspoken love. In the second verse, a female voice joins Prothero, making it feel like both parties in the heartbreak are singing with each other, but without each other. It’s a stunning effect.
Both of these singles, like “Disposable People”, are a preview of what’s to come on Prothero’s debut album Unhappy To Be Here, slated for release later this year. Keep up with Prothero on his Substack and on Instagram for news and reflections about his projects.
Written by Will Sisskind
