TOM THUM
returns with brand new EP
‘Ratchet Face’
debuts fan-driven new video for
‘Crowd Sauce’
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Praise for TOM THUM
“Thum’s throat is an absolute weapon – producing a myriad of tones from sax to dubstep – and after an hour it feels like we’re only scratching the surface of what this Queenslander is capable of.” – Adelaide Now
“In an era of vocoder-heavy, synthesised pop, he is a compelling reminder of the extreme limits to which the human body can be pushed.” – The Guardian
“Thum is someone you have to see and hear to believe. A truly talented and classy human that takes beat-boxing to the next level.” – The Music
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Beatboxing champion and musical maverick Tom Thum has made another powerful splash with the announcement of his brand new EP, Ratchet Face, out today. The EP is a fine collection of music that has been pulled together in representing the finessed elements of Thum’s artistry and an exciting insight into where the Queenslander is headed as he looks down the barrel of a new decade of innovative live music and performance.
Recorded in both his own Brisbane studio and in Melbourne with Cam Bluff (Hilltop Hoods, Illy, Amy Shark), Thum’s latest is a late-night club burner of an EP. Smoky and driven by superb beats and production, Ratchet Face sits comfortably in the same lane as Jordan Rakei, Nick Murphy, Flume and Ta-ku, while retaining that inescapable Tom Thum essence that has made him such an intriguing artist to thousands around the globe.
As a sonic journey, Ratchet Face deftly moves from the sensual to the primal. The EP’s title track is a snapshot of the EP at its beastly peak, while tracks including ‘Revelations’ and ‘Conceited’ demonstrate Tom Thum’s bluesy, chill-wave edge. ‘Revelations’, a starring track of Ratchet Face, highlights the nuances within Thum’s songwriting, proving that he has only just begun to scratch the surface of how deep his emotional side goes on record. A track that mixes in darker sonic textures and offers a clean balance of production and writing arrangement, Thum shines on ‘Revelations’, as he pulls from the soul in producing this evocative result. Made up entirely of the human voice (with some finger snaps thrown in for good measure), Ratchet Face proves to be a defining marker on an already dynamic and intrigue-strong body of work.
“This EP was my first foray into fleshing out the sound of my all vocal production. Going from mostly raw, all natural vocals and then experimenting with re-pitching and distorting certain frequencies opened my mind to just how much of a full sound I could achieve. I then gave everything to Cam Bluff, who did wonders in transforming my face noises into bass noises.” Tom Thum
Partnering with Bluff brought added flair to the project, while Thum’s delve into a more personal side of his songwriting really shines. Giving fans an extra insight into the process, Thum brought some cameras along to invite viewers into the studio to see what went down.
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A musician known for his extreme use of the body in making his music, Tom Thum’s continuous foray into how sounds can be created and manipulated has made him a household name in Australia, and in-demand performer abroad. His Tedx Talk, which navigated the physiology behind beatboxing, currently holds the record for the most viewed Tedx Talk, an indicator of how his presence and his craft have captivated a global audience. His fanbase, fierce and equally as curious in what makes music tick, became part of a new work in ‘Crowd Sauce’. The social experiment, one that saw over 400 people submit videos to Thum, had the artist play mad scientist with the sounds sent in, in producing a whole banger of a track.
“‘Crowd Sauce’ was a six week, twelve hour days type of experience and by far one of the most rewarding and challenging things I’ve ever worked on. The song was crowd sourced from my Instagram followers and was open to absolutely anyone and everyone. Stepping back from the creation, it was so nice to see my audience so engaged with something we are all part of and to have something we’ve all created together.” Tom Thum
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TOM THUM LIVE
Friday August 30th – Sunday September 1st
Sprout Festival Far North Queensland
Tickets
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Follow TOM THUM
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AMNPLIFY – DB
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.
