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Tom A. Smith On Working With Miles Kane, Touring and Sunderland AFC
Meet the latest child on the block from the North East of England
Aug 24, 2023
Sunderland primarily based singer/songwriter Tom A. Smith Sunderland primarily based singer/songwriter Tom A. Smith would possibly nonetheless solely be in his teenagers, but he’s already achieved greater than a lot of his older and extra skilled friends. Having began enjoying the guitar on the age of 4, Smith was acting from the age of eight and appeared at Glastonbury Competition for the primary time three years later.
Since then, he’s emerged as one of the crucial prodigious abilities unearthed by the UK in lots of a yr, having written over 500 songs throughout lockdown. Earlier this summer season, Smith returned to Worthy Farm as soon as extra, enjoying to a packed-out Leftfield tent as a part of Billy Bragg’s Radical Spherical-Up on the Sunday afternoon.
He additionally launched his third EP (EP3) on the finish of June, which has already been playlisted on quite a few nationwide radio stations with Smith additionally showing on the likes of Soccer AM, MTV Gonzo and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. Written and co-produced with Miles Kane alongside Hundred Causes’ Larry Hibbitt. Lead observe and former single “Like You Do” highlights Smith’s outstanding panache for setting up easy however efficient melodies towards a crushing association to create three of the toughest hitting minutes of music this yr.
So, Below the Radar sat down with Sunderland’s most interesting to debate his music, future plans, and naturally his different love, soccer.
Dom Gourlay (Below the Radar): It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind couple of years for you?
Tom A. Smith: Oh yeah. The final yr and a half has simply been mad. Each week, one thing new is occurring which was simply extra psychological than the final so, it’s ticking alongside properly.
When did you begin writing and performing stay?
I began getting guitar classes once I simply turned 4 off a band that had been associates with my dad known as Detroit Social Membership. They had been a improbable Newcastle band that did a little bit of touring with Oasis and bands like that. They used to come back round our home and provides us a ten-minute guitar lesson, then play an hour of soccer, an hour of FIFA, and drink all my dad’s drink. That may simply occur each week; they’d come spherical and it might be such amusing. It might be nice enjoyable. We’d be having fun with it each week as a result of you realize, you can provide a five-year-old a guitar, but when he’s not having fun with it, then it’s gonna be a battle to get him to maintain on enjoying it. It wasn’t even concerning the music, it was nearly having fun with it and having a very good time. Ultimately once I turned eight, I did my first present supporting them. It was a reunion present that they did at an iconic venue in Newcastle known as the Cluny. I should have solely finished a fifteen-minutes set. I used to be so nervous and hated each second of it once I was on! However then the second it was completed, I simply knew it was what I needed to maintain on doing and that I liked it actually. It took a couple of years earlier than I began actually writing. I used to be writing the odd daft tune right here and there, however by no means actually tried to have a again catalogue or something like that. However then lockdown began, and for me I simply realised I needed to do that as a profession. I needed to do that as a job, however I didn’t actually have the songs or something like that to have the ability to do that. And I couldn’t maintain enjoying covers without end. That wasn’t going to work. So, all through lockdown, I handled it as a nine-to-five job each single day and simply wrote and wrote. It didn’t matter how inventive I felt or how motivated I felt to do it. I simply did it with the hope that one thing would possibly come out of it every day, and by the top of lockdown, I most likely had round 250 songs simply demoed and recorded able to go, which is now as much as about 500.
What conjures up and informs your writing? What do you’re feeling most snug writing about? What sort of topics?
It varies actually. It might be one thing that I’ve simply seen on the information which may aggravated me or no matter. More often than not, love songs are the best songs to write down, so, if I’ve acquired nothing that’s significantly inspiring me on the time I have a tendency to write down a love tune. It actually relies upon. What I used to do was ask my household to call an artist or give me a subject and I’d write a tune about it or round it. It helped me work out concepts and check out new issues. But it surely does differ. One thing might need occurred in my life on the time that felt good to write down about. I really feel like each time something occurs it’s simpler for me to write down a tune about it over anything. In the case of sounds, types and stuff like that, you’d suppose in case you’re writing and writing and writing again and again day in day trip, every part would begin to sound the identical. However since you’re doing it on daily basis, you keep in mind what you probably did just lately, so that you don’t actually do it once more. I’ve acquired a great deal of songs which can be simply utterly completely different to at least one one other, possibly not even the identical genres or something. It was all the time about ensuring I saved it new and contemporary.
So, who would you say your primary influences and inspirations are from a musical standpoint?
I suppose it needs to be Detroit Social Membership, particularly early on as everybody kind got here round my home and gave me guitar classes. I used to be additionally lucky sufficient that Johnny Bond additionally used to come back round and provides us guitar classes, then he went on and joined Catfish & The Bottlemen. He was an enormous inspiration for me as effectively. I set to work very carefully with James Bay, who’s additionally considered one of my guitar academics. I went to the Guitar Tech with him six or seven years in the past. He was huge for me and he gave me so many sensible alternatives to play some wonderful reveals with him once I was youthful. However when it comes to what I hearken to and the way I sound now, plenty of that comes from my dad. He would all the time be enjoying information in the home, like continuous. So, I knew each phrase to a number of Treatment songs and Smiths songs and Oasis songs by the point I used to be six or seven. Primarily as a result of it was all the time on in the home. So, I feel I’ve all the time simply liked music. I’ve by no means actually had a favorite type or sound or something like that. I simply suppose a very good tune’s a very good tune and when it comes to influences, it all the time varies.
I assume one of the crucial apparent comparisons for you might be Sam Fender, as a lot for each of you coming from the North East as any musical type or sound. Do you suppose that’s a good – if considerably daunting – comparability?
I’d be more than pleased with the success Sam Fender’s had. He’s completely smashing it, so there’s positively worse individuals to be in contrast with. However you realize what, it doesn’t actually hassle me as a result of once I hearken to my sound and Sam’s sound there’s fairly a noticeable distinction. I don’t suppose we sound related in any respect. It’s simply that we’re each younger North East lads that play the guitar actually. As I say, there’s worse individuals I might be in comparison with so I don’t thoughts it actually. He has had such an exceptional profession and everybody up within the North East and guitar music basically has quite a bit to thank him for over the previous few years. What he’s finished for the scene. Im not phased by it. I’ve heard a couple of feedback like “He’s the Sam Fender from Want” and stuff like that, however I don’t thoughts it actually. I’m hoping I’ll create my very own path over the following few years. As for Sam, he’s a smashing, prime man and he’s clearly an absolute genius too.
One other factor for me is that you’re a shining instance that individuals from the North, from the North East, from the Midlands the place I’m primarily based could make it with out essentially having to maneuver to London. Is that one thing that’s all the time been in the back of your thoughts as effectively? Notably as there’s all the time been this preconception that you simply’ve acquired to maneuver to London earlier than anybody pays consideration to an artist.
I’ve finished plenty of reveals in London, particularly within the early days and the one individuals who had been remotely vital got here to these reveals. However the factor is with social media and every part now, you don’t actually must. It’s not such a necessity to go in every single place actually. You will be seen and folks will be engaged and become involved together with your music with out even seeing you play stay now, which is wonderful. It most likely is simpler to get observed down there. I typically really feel prefer it’s such an obstacle to be up within the North East with music as a result of there’s so little popping out of it on the minute. However although it’s fairly troublesome to get to that first stage of being within the public eye, I really feel like when you’ve managed that it’s really a lot simpler than anyplace else as a result of there’s not a lot competitors when you’re there. So, it turns into simpler when you’re there and I’ve been actually having fun with the final yr and a half. Clearly you go to London and locations like that, however even then it’s probably not London, it’s simply Shoreditch. All of them solely go on one road. There’s so many occasions the place I’ve possibly considered shifting. I report down there and my songs are produced in London, so it’s such an amazing inventive metropolis and house. So, possibly additional down the road I’d, however I’m fairly pleased with the place I’m proper now and I’ve acquired loads of individuals round me at house which can be vital and actually supportive who’ve helped my profession. So, I’m in no rush.
Two of the individuals you’ve just lately collaborated with are Miles Kane and Larry Hibbitt from Hundred Causes who labored in your newest EP. How did these collaborations come about? Are they individuals you’d wish to work with once more sooner or later?
Oh yeah, completely. Larry’s finished a improbable job with all three EPs actually. What I like about him is as a result of I’m making all these demos at house on a regular basis, and typically you possibly can go to a studio and also you’ll have a producer who most likely is aware of much more than you do in the case of recording and manufacturing. So, they’ll take the reins a bit. Whereas with Larry, he has a respect and understanding that these are my tunes I’ve already written and recorded. Each single guitar half, each drum half, every part. And we’ll go down and report a observe in 4 or 5 hours and if he has a suggestion which may enhance a tune, we’ll positively strive it. However then if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. He has been improbable to work with and I hope to work with him for EPs and information additional down the road. In the case of Miles Kane, he was simply improbable to work with. He stated I used to be the one different person who he’d written a tune with and launched a report with aside from Alex Turner, which is phenomenal. Loopy even. Miles is a genius, a superb performer and songwriter. I’m loving his new stuff as effectively. I used to be on the tour with him final Could. It was the second day of the tour that we joined him and he watched our set then he met with us after the present and immediately stated we have to get within the studio and write a report. Which was such a tremendous factor to listen to. The precise day within the studio was wonderful and once more, much like Larry, he knew it was my tune although it’s our tune actually. He was all the time ensuring I had the ultimate say on every part which was wonderful, and I’ve really labored with Miles once more since. There’s one other tune, and in addition one with Hugo White from The Maccabees as effectively. The three of us labored collectively for a couple of days, simply writing and there’s a few songs that I like from these classes, so they may see the day gentle of day quickly. So, I’d positively work with them once more and have them produce extra of my music as a result of it was such a good time and an amazing expertise all spherical.
You’ve launched three EPs thus far. What’s the following launch going to be? Will or not it’s one other EP or is it going to be an album?
I don’t suppose I’m gonna do an album but as a result of I feel with an album, you’ve solely acquired one debut album. I’m not shy of getting any songs. I’ve acquired tons of that I’m actually pleased with which can be able to go. So, I’m simply ready for a time the place if I launched an album, sufficient individuals would really hearken to it to make it worthwhile. Which I feel if I did now there wouldn’t be as a lot pleasure and hype round it whereas possibly there could be in a yr or yr and a half’s time. I’m simply seeing the way it goes and seeing how this progressively builds. We’ll know when it’s the fitting time to launch an album as a result of there shall be sufficient pleasure and power round it. However clearly I can’t maintain releasing EPs without end. I can’t be on EP 76 and simply maintain cranking them out each few months. I’m unsure what the crack is with releasing any extra eps. I’m positively going to be recording very quickly and I type of know what the following singles are going to be. So, I’m going to get them recorded quickly and hopefully they’ll be out inside a couple of months. However, I’m actually pleased with the way in which issues are going on the minute and each single appears to be doing higher than the final one which is what you need to see. There’s been no drop off and although it’s gradual, I’m simply loving the way it’s going on the minute. We’re noticing now at just about each gig the place individuals know the phrases to many of the songs which is a superb factor.
It’s been very natural, hasn’t it? You’ve performed round 150 reveals within the final eighteen months or so and also you’ve acquired one other huge UK tour arising all through November and December. Do you suppose it’s actually vital for artists to exit, play stay and construct up their viewers through phrase of mouth?
Oh yeah, completely. I keep in mind Catfish and the Bottlemen used to do this very early on earlier than they launched their first report. They simply gigged continuous on a regular basis, placed on their very own little tour in all these completely different cities and small cities. They actually performed in every single place, so it’s important as a result of there’s a lot stuff getting pumped out each single day. A lot new music. There’s one thing like 20,000 new songs placed on Spotify each single day. It’s mad, and so the possibilities are no one’s gonna hearken to it. So, you’ve acquired to play as many reveals as you possibly can domestically and elsewhere. I do know it’s fairly costly these days to journey round, nevertheless it’s so vital for individuals to get used to seeing your title on a line-up and used to seeing your title on payments. As a result of ultimately that’s when it begins to get greater and better up the invoice and it’s all notion if persons are seeing you in every single place on a regular basis. It simply appears to be like nice and it appears to be like like you realize what you’re doing. The easiest way to showcase your music is thru a stay efficiency. That’s why we’ve been attempting to do it as a lot as we will. Just lately we’ve been enjoying three or 4 gigs per week, so, it’s effectively price it and we love enjoying stay. It’s the perfect a part of our work actually.
You first performed Glastonbury Competition if you find yourself eleven then performed a few units there in June. Did you discover an enormous distinction in how individuals responded to you from if you performed the primary time?
I performed the Leftfield this yr on the Sunday after which additionally did an acoustic set at Strummerville on the Thursday, which was completely unbelievable. There have been most likely about 4-5,000 individuals attempting to get into this little space at Strummerville. So, the stage supervisor got here on stage after my first tune and made me ask individuals to face up so we might get extra individuals in. The queue ran proper across the nook. A great deal of individuals knew the phrases and a great deal of individuals had come down to observe me on the Thursday which was unbelievable. Once I first performed Glastonbury once I was ten or eleven, I simply did covers actually. Primarily Seashore Boys covers and stuff like that. It went down very well and was nonetheless wonderful. There have been most likely about 200 individuals once I began, however then round 4-500 individuals by the top singing alongside to “Kokomo”. Even in comparison with final yr, once I additionally did the Leftfield as effectively. It was this factor known as a Radical Spherical-Up, the place you had three songwriters on stage and also you all took turns. That was sensible. No person knew the songs or something so I assume this yr confirmed me how a lot it’s grown and developed since, when there have been individuals at each units that knew each single phrase. Which is all the time good, particularly if you’re on concurrently Blondie. It was sensible this yr and I’m loving seeing how, particularly over the previous few months since I’ve launched songs like “Weirdo”. How a lot it’s resonated with individuals and the way it’s getting acquired stay as effectively.
What would you say has been the spotlight of your profession thus far? When you had to decide on one second that stands out, what would it not be?
There’s been fairly a couple of. A giant one for me was enjoying on Soccer AM with Miles Kane. I’ve been watching Soccer AM my complete childhood.
You’re a Sunderland fan then I take it?
Sure. I’m an enormous Sunderland fan! I’ve had a season ticket for about ten or eleven years. We’re hopefully on the way in which again up now. We had a couple of years down in League One however final season we simply missed out on promotion to the Premier League. I feel it was simply a mixture of accidents and unhealthy luck that price us ultimately so we simply didn’t fairly make it. However I’m constructive once more for this season and I feel we’ll do all proper. However Soccer AM was one thing else. I had a superb day and it simply reveals how wonderful Miles is. I messaged him a few days earlier than as Soccer AM acquired in contact with me asking whether or not we’d a part of it and if we’d do “Like You Do”. Miles wasn’t meant to be doing it on the time and I simply dropped him a textual content saying we’re on Soccer AM this weekend so if you wish to play our tune collectively that’d be wonderful. I’d like it in case you got here down. He stated, oh yeah, completely. That’d be sensible. In order that was wonderful. Assembly Elton John and enjoying with him at Hyde Park in London was one other spotlight. That was unbelievable. I used to be the one unsigned artist on the line-up as effectively. The truth that he curated the lineup himself actually meant one thing as effectively. Glastonbury was fairly humorous really, as a result of Elton introduced he’d be bringing a couple of particular company onstage throughout his set, so individuals assumed I used to be considered one of them as a result of I used to be already enjoying and I simply noticed Twitter going completely loopy. There have been a great deal of individuals speaking about me saying, “He’s bringing Tom A. Smith, he’s bringing Tom A. Smith, as a result of this man’s a 19 yr previous songwriter that Elton found final yr.” I used to be simply stood within the crowd refreshing Twitter again and again seeing who was being tagged and stuff. I used to be fairly tickled just a little bit to be talked about amongst some unbelievable names, even when it was by no means going to occur. However that was an unbelievable day. Clearly doing Glastonbury with the band for the primary time was sensible as effectively. However there’s been so many. Opening Leeds Competition final yr and 6-7,000 individuals within the tent moshing to each tune. It was wonderful. There’s so many to select from. Promoting out your first reveals, it’s been an exceptional final yr and a half. We acquired to go to Europe for the primary time which was nice. I really feel so privileged and virtually a little bit of imposter syndrome early on, nevertheless it’s gone now and we’re simply loving it and excited for the remainder of this yr.
What recommendation would you give to a brand new artist simply beginning out? What would you inform them to do? What would you inform them to keep away from?
The primary factor is keep away from caring what individuals suppose. As a result of as quickly as you begin being bothered about that, that’s if you lose any type of confidence or perception in what you do. Simply take pleasure in it as effectively, and work tougher than anybody else as a result of it’s such a aggressive world. Everybody you ever meet both desires to be a footballer or a rockstar. So, everybody desires to do it however solely a choose few actually get the chance to do it as a profession. So, you’ve simply set to work at it each single day. I work twelve hours a day writing, recording and doing stuff that’s associated to music. So simply work tougher than anybody else. Get pleasure from it, get the perfect half out of it and don’t let anyone inform you what you’re doing is flawed.
What does the long run maintain for Tom A. Smith? The place do you see your self in eighteen months time?
I’m simply taking on daily basis because it comes on the minute and attempting to get as a lot enjoyment out of it as I can. However you realize, I’ve clearly acquired a objective and I’ve clearly acquired a dream for this to be actually huge and be as huge as it may be. Folks ask me quite a bit, “what’s left to do now that you simply’ve finished a lot over the past yr and a half?” However realistically I’ve not finished something but. I’m doing a tour on the finish of the yr of 100-150 capability venues, which I’m actually excited for and actually grateful to have the ability to do. However there’s larger rooms than that so we’re simply gonna maintain working and maintain chipping away at it. Regionally, it’s doing so effectively now. We’re about to promote two nights out on the greatest venue in Sunderland (The Hearth Station), which is wonderful contemplating it took us 4 weeks to promote 60 tickets 5 months in the past. We bought 800 in 4 or 5 days, which is wonderful. We’re so appreciative on the minute, however there’s a lot extra to have the ability to do and there’s so many extra individuals that may know who we’re and so many extra individuals who I do know will benefit from the music, so I’m simply gonna maintain working at it and see the way it goes.
Tom A Smith embarks on his greatest UK headline tour so far later this yr, calling in on the following…
NOVEMBER
5 TH – GLASGOW – SWG3 POETRY CLUB
6 TH – EDINBURGH – SNEAKY PETE’S
8 TH – YORK – THE FULFORD ARMS
9 TH – HULL – ADELPHI
11 TH – SHEFFIELD – SIDNEY & MATILDA – SOLD OUT
12 TH – LEEDS – HYDE PARK BOOK CLUB
14 TH – LIVERPOOL – KAZIMIER STOCKROOM
15 TH – NOTTINGHAM – THE CHAMELEON
16 TH – LEICESTER – DUFFY’S
17 TH – BEDFORD – ESQUIRES
18 TH – PLYMOUTH – THE JUNCTION
19 TH – EXETER – THE CAVERN
21 ST – BRIGHTON – KOMEDIA STUDIO
22 ND – SOUTHAMPTON – HEARTBREAKERS
23 RD – OXFORD – THE BULLINGDON
24 TH – CARDIFF – CLWB IFOR BACH
26 TH – BRISTOL – THE LOUISIANA
27 TH – BIRMINGHAM – SUNFLOWER LOUNGE
28 TH – ST. ALBANS – THE HORN
29 TH – LONDON – CAMDEN ASSEMBLY
DECEMBER
1 ST – MARGATE – OLBY’S SOUL CAFÉ & MUSIC ROOMS
2 ND – GUILDFORD – BOILEROOM
3 RD – TUNBRIDGE WELLS – TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM
4 TH – CAMBRIDGE – THE BLUE MOON
5 TH – NORWICH – NORWICH ARTS CENTRE
6 TH – MANCHESTER – THE LODGE @ THE DEAF INSTITUTE
7 TH – MIDDLESBROUGH – EMPIRE
8 TH – SUNDERLAND – THE FIRE STATION – SOLD OUT
9 TH – SUNDERLAND – THE FIRE STATION
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