Hailing from Wiltshire, England, Tom Brown is known for projects such as Teenage Tom Petties and Rural France, proving himself to be a highly effective and cherished voice in the world of underground pop. Today, Brown shares “Dunno”, the debut single from his latest creative endeavor, Lone Striker. Five years in the making, Brown has set the jangle-pop aside as Lone Striker embraces the warmth of wobbly homemade loops, found sounds and moody, wistful arrangements, while still having his well-crafted melodies continue to be a testament to his artistry at hand. 

First a drum fill, a sort of laissez faire jumpstart into this dirty, melancholic groove, “Dunno” finds its footing within a clanky backbeat and a curtain of weathered horns, offering an off-kiltered, yet reassuring presence to get lost in. Although Lone Striker finds Brown working mostly alone, “Dunno” also includes the work of Billy Fuller (BEAK>) on bass. Swirling with disillusionment, questions asked and questions left unanswered, Brown sings with a tender clarity, “And I can’t think about tomorrow if the past is gonna be so cruel” – the subtlety in the chromatic digression helping him find his footing as he keeps moving forward. As “Dunno” begins to fade, the layered textures of modulated synths, simple rhythmic movements and those same weathered horns continuing on, Brown has already laid the groundwork for a triumphant rebranding to an already beloved career.

You can listen to “Dunno” here. 

Lone Striker, the self-titled debut LP is set to be released early 2025 via a label collab of Safe Suburban Home Records (UK), Repeating Cloud (US) and Hidden Bay Records (France).

Written by Shea Roney