Thomston – Anaesthetic

Thomston – Anaesthetic. The London-born singer’s follow up to his attention-grabbing debut School Night provided the perfect showcase for Thomston’s acutely nuanced, falsetto-flecked vocals and astute, self-realised lyrics, all pinned against a backdrop of atmospheric, downbeat electronica. I was lucky enough to attend Thomston’s first live showcase back in August where his seamlessly vulnerable and intense material was brought to life by an engaging and carefully considered, artistic stage presence so it’s no surprise then that, a few months down the line, the nineteen year old has been snapped up by a record label and now finds himself in the position of putting out his first official music video.

Thomston - Anaesthetic

Give it another twelve months, and you’re likely to be a lot more familiar with this up-and-coming New Zealander. Arriving via the same management as fellow Kiwi success story Lorde, Thomas Stoneman -or Thomston as he prefers to go by on stage – put out one of the year’s best mini-sets back in July with the arrival of his sophomore EP Argonaut.

Late night type music has that sound that mixes in nostalgia, regret and introspection all into one sound somehow. You’ll find it in James Blake, The Neighbourhood, The Weeknd, Vancouver Sleep Clinic and now you’ll find it in New Zealander Thomston and “Anaesthetic”. Over low synths and distorted echoes, Thomston’s vocals ring out clear before exploding into a bigtime chorus.
That voice though… if you like Joel Compass, The Weeknd, James Blake, ALECS, Lorde.

Thomston – Anaesthetic (Official Video)

Thomston – Anaesthetic Lyrics:
Living on anaesthetic
No one seems to get it
You’re numb to the sensation
Living on anaesthetic
Not the way you’ve chose to have it
It’s to cold to care
It’s only fair

Waiting for a rendezvous
It’s getting heavier the longer you are waiting for her
Pulling through
There’s a smell, like it died in the gutter
And it’s getting you
You’re tied to your stay away mother coz there’s no one else
You’re at your wits end

Losing feeling in your finger-tips
And now you’re wondering if anyone is showing
And you’re losing it
All you ask is for anyone to care
The sun it sets
And now you’re walking and the cars flirt with you
Direct your stare
You’re at your wit’s end

Living on anaesthetic
No one seems to get it
It’s too much to take and now
You’re numb to the sensation
Living on anaesthetic
Not the way you’ve chose to have it
It’s to cold to care
It’s only fair

Swum right out your depths
Now you drown and you go down feeling
Second hand regret
Consequence and self defence
Retrace your steps
You’ll find where it all went wrong
Have someone to blame
You hope it’s a name
You already know
You’re at your wits end

Living on anaesthetic
No one seems to get it
It’s too much to take and now
You’re numb to the sensation
Living on anaesthetic
Not the way you’ve chose to have it
It’s to cold to care
It’s only fair

It’s only fair
Sick of all the stares
Wait until your dead
Til they pretend to care
It’s only fair
Wait until you own the air

When you’re alone
The ceiling is gone
Chilled right to the bone
Lost without a home
When you’re alone
You feel you are known
Maybe you will mend
You’re at your wits end

Living on anaesthetic
No one seems to get it
It’s too much to take and now
You’re numb to the sensation
Living on anaesthetic
Not the way you’ve chose to have it
It’s to cold to care
It’s only fair..

Thomston Anaesthetic