Project Description
Interview with
TOMMY DOWN
Interviewer – Dave Bruce
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“Strong musicianship and a timeless style” Earmilk
“Like what they heard” John Kennedy : Radio X’s Music Guru
“Tommy clearly has a good talent and the track is pretty cool (great video too)” Nathan Thompson: Head of Music for Kiss Network
“Tom certainly has a unique vocal sound. The song is good and production comes across as fairly contemporary” Jeff Smith: Head of Music : BBC Radio 2 : 6 Music
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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you start writing music?
I started writing around the age of 13 but more for fun rather than a viable career choice but I remember going on tour in Sweden, with the Bristol Uni Jazz band. That made me think I wanted to at least try do this professionally.
Which music did you grow up listening to? How has it influenced your current style?
I listened to Magic 105.4 on the way to school a lot, so I guess a lot of soul. Bill withers, Stevie wonder, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Al Green. Also got into bands like the Arctic Monkeys a bit later. Listening to all that soul has probably affected how I sing.
How would you describe your sound?
Some of the unreleased stuff has a strong soul influence with some bluesy/rocky riffs thrown in.
Why do you think people resonate with your music?
Well thats nice to hear and If they do, maybe its because I’m a product of all the old records I grew up listening to. Records that they probably grew up listening to too. I’m also singing about my experiences in my 20s; experiences they undoubtedly share. Pretty generic response lol.
Your new single “Don’t Think I’m Leaving Without You” has just been released! Describe its origin and evolution.
I made a demo of the song at home and took it to my friend and producer; Ross O’Reilly. He made this old school sounding beat and we slowly started adding various instruments. We wrote most of the lyrics the first session and finished it off during the next 3 sessions.
Do you have any more new music in the works?
Yeah, Ross and I are actually finishing off a track I recorded with with my band Pink Yesterday called “You Better Love”, which I’m planning on releasing in a few weeks. We started another song yesterday and I’m writing pretty much every week.
Do you have any shows/tours coming up? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
Yeah I may try and do some Sofar sounds in the coming months and will be sure to mention any gigs I do with the band on my instagram.
If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
It would be pretty cool to perform with Otis Redding because “Love and tenderness” is an absolute banger and I’d just love to watch him play it.
What’s next for you in the near future?
Releasing a lot of music this year and planning on doing some bigger gigs.
What are your longer-term aspirations?
Creating a self sufficient charity like Paul “Newman’s own” Dressing would be pretty cool. But I think that’s a long way off. lol
What is the best thing about performing to a live audience?
The audience’s energy, the adrenaline and the feeling of being totally present. That feeling of knowing you could screw up at any point, is quite a primal yearning I think. Almost like a fight or flight response scenario. It’s pretty addictive.
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Check out TOMMY DOWN below
Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud
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PINK YESTERDAY
Check out PINK YESTERDAY below
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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Tommy Down takes soul on a crawl through the bars of London in his new single ‘Don’t Think I’m Leaving WIthout You’ – released Jan 24th
“The track is about going out too much and falling down a rabbit hole, Groundhog Day style. This misguided behaviour could be a product of how disposable relationships feel in this day and age, especially with the unfortunate nature of dating apps, but it’s ultimately about finding salvation in one person.”
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About ‘Don’t think I’m Leaving Without You’
Produced by Ross O’ Reilly, the hand behind ‘Judgement Day’ by Stealth (featured on Suits), ‘Don’t Think I’m Leaving Without You’ channels its laidback funk and soul stylings from artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Al Green, as well as more contemporary artists like Steve Lacy. Blending motown groove with hip hop inspired beats that wouldn’t sound out of place on an A Tribe Called Quest track (see ‘Electric Relaxation’), the song chronicles the aftermath of a breakup. Getting lost on nights out and meeting strangers momentarily fills the void inside: “I’ve been searching for another meaning / Even if it’s only for the day” goes its memorable refrain. Tommy’s vocal delivery is like the character portrayed in the song: jaded but libidinous, and riding a groove that could last all weekend. If soul music is a slick and artful expression of human vulnerability, then Tommy has it down pat.
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About Tommy Down
An incisive lyricist and a highly skilled multi-instrumentalist, Tommy Down has been writing music and recording since he was fourteen. He went on to tour and performed jazz standards across Europe from the age of 20 in a Bristol based Jazz Orchestra. During his time at Bristol he netted a few accolades, including ’Best Original Composition’ at the UK Open Mic Competition. After leaving Bristol Tommy moved back to London, where he began and finished a soul album with jazz and blues-rock influences, which he has been performing across the city with his band Pink Yesterday. While flying from London to New York he has also forged some eminent collaborations this year in order to complete this body of work. Collaborators include Jeffrey Silverman (Aloe Blacc), Charlie Perry (who helped produce Jorja Smith’s Lost and Found), and John Shave & Jason Pebworth from the grammy-nominated “Invisible Men” – the hitmakers behind songs by Britney Spears and Rita Ora. Both as a bandleader and as a solo artist Tommy unequivocally shines, but it’s in the latter category especially that we’re seeing him give voice to his unique art.
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