Tom A. Smith tells us about his rare heart condition as he announces debut album ‘The Golden Gates’

Tom A. Smith has announced his debut album ‘The Golden Gates’, detailing his lifelong battle with a rare and constantly life-limiting heart condition. Check out our interview with the singer-songwriter below, along with lead single ‘Carry That Weight’ co-written by The Maccabees’ Hugo White. The Sunderland singer-songwriter has never spoken publicly about being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome – a rare and severe congenital heart defect that leaves the left side of the heart critically underdeveloped and unable to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. “I was born and continue to live with only one side of my heart,” he shared. Having undergone five life-saving surgeries by the age of four, Smith recalled how difficult his childhood was for his family as well as himself. “My current state isn’t a long-term option,” he continued. “As a result of that my future is quite uncertain and I will require more extreme medical care as I move deeper into my adult years.” Now, the 22-year-old is looking to take ownership of his story and live in the moment, capturing his grappling with the condition on debut album ‘The Golden Gates’, a journey through three emotional chapters: fru...