Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with unsigned UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with unsigned London based singer Tom Bright to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I’m from a wonderful village in Derbyshire called Little Eaton. An oasis surrounded by sheep, rolling green, dripping with cracking boozers.
I actually used to run one of those cracking boozers – The Bell & Harp – from the ‘tender’ age of 18 til I was almost 23 (which is when I first picked up a guitar).
From there, I went to Australia for a year which is where I truly started my musical journey. I wrote my first songs, played my first shows, got my first airplay (Triple J), the lot.
At the start of 2013, I travelled back to the UK and with my backpack still packed, moved to London (which is where I now operate my multiple projects from).
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Growing up, I was all about Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Sam Cooke, Elvis. The classics. The real showmen.
As my musical horizons broadened, I started seeking influence from the wordsmiths: Jarvis Cocker, Simon Aldred, Jason Isbell. Got to chuck the poetic Alex Turner in there too…
How would you describe your sound?
Very unique. Very me. A rough-around-the-edges lad from the East Midlands countryside who sounds like he’s smoked far too many ciggies, seen a little too much, can look into your eyes, pull out your soul and serve it up on a plate with an accompanying poem. Gritty as grit gets, raw as a cracked egg with tunes as catchy as a cold.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
How Young We Were, which premiered on Radio X on the 3rd April and then hatched fully on Friday the 9th!
It was written for a friend who was going through a life-changing break-up. As opposed to the usual “pass me the glass and let me drink myself into abyss” song, it was meant as a track giving hope that one day all this would make sense and he’d be able to look back on the days with a big smile on his face.
What’s your local music scene like?
Local as in my hometown Derbyshire? Could be a million times better, I’ll be honest.
Local as in London? It’s thriving. I feel a lot of upcoming acts might’ve thrown the towel in over the last few months, but it’ll come back bigger/better than ever.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
On a Tom Bright front, lots of singles leading into the release of this second album (towards the end of the year). I’ve got great feelings about this record. It’s pulled in some mega radio support already and we’re just going to keep building and building on that. I must give Ed Harcourt major credit, who has had an immense influence on this album as its producer. He’s a class act.
I also set up Islington Radio at the end of 2020 and it’s blowing up rather quickly. We’ll be moving into a cafe during the spring, launching a range of merch, and our own beer. We’ll be curating Islington Radio Festival in September too, so that’ll be epic.
I plan to write/release another book this year aswell, and will keep helping the Joe Strummer Foundation (and the artists I manage (Shea Rafferty and Shaun O’Reilly)) thrive!
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
Ricky Gervais.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
So so many. I’ve forgotten most of them…
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I’m an absolute f*cking grafter.
You can find out more about Tom on his website or via Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, Twitter or YouTube.
HOME 