Give us a potted history of yourself
I’ve been writing songs for the past 5 years or so and had been playing them live with my band in Bristol before lockdown happened. We then lost a bit of momentum as a band when things reopened and so I decided to go it alone around 18 months ago. I’ve released 8 tracks to date (4 singles and one 4 track EP) and I’m playing my first live show in March at the Golden Lion, Bristol!
Who inspired You to start making music
It’s gotta be Blink 182. I think I saw the video for I Miss You when I was around 7 and was immediately intrigued by the sound and aesthetic. I thought Tom Delonge was the coolest guy ever. Not long after that I managed to get my hands on Blink’s Greatest Hits and really fell in love with them, hoping one day they’d ask me to join the band….still waiting!
And the one or two records that inspired you artistically
I probably didn’t realise it at the time but I think The Wonder Years’ 2013 album The Greatest Generation had a huge impact on me. I guess I loved how raw and honest it was lyrically, it didn’t seem like anything was being held back in terms of the songwriting, and that’s something I try to emulate that in my music.
If you’re trying to explain who you sound like to someone who’s never heard you, what do you say
Hmm tough one. I guess it leans towards soft emo rock for the majority of my tracks, with tracks like ‘Pistol’ being a bit on the heavier side. Musically maybe Deaf Havana and Trophy Eyes. Lyrically more towards, The Wonder Years, Phoebe Bridgers, Lil Peep and Juice Wrld.
Tell us about your new single
‘Pistol’ is the first single from my self-titled debut EP which will consist of 4 tracks in total. I wrote this one after a particularly heavy night a year or so back and it is really about how I know I should change my ways and pursue more meaningful endeavours instead of hedonistic, short-term pleasures.
It’s about how that’s easier said than done, and how the more lazy and debaucherous parts of me don’t want to make that change and are fine continuing to live how I have been. The ‘pistol’ refers to the feeling of anxiety I get in my chest the day after a heavy night. It was recorded, mixed and produced by Gethin Pearson, who also wrote and performed the bass. Mastered by Steven Kerry. Drums were written and performed by Phillip Jenkins.
Where can we get hold of it
All major streaming platforms!
Tell us how you write
It varies. Sometimes I’ll have an idea of what I want to write about, then sit down and put some chords together and come up with a melody over that. The lyrics usually come last in that sort of scenario. Other times I’ll wake up in the middle of the night, have a melody in my head and record me humming it onto my phone and then work off that.
A lot of the chorus melodies for the new songs I’ve written recently came to me when I was in the studio recording the EP, I think when the producer was doing some mixing I just hummed some melodies and accompanying chords into my voice note recorder on my phone whilst I had a bit of time between guitar, and then created fully fledged tracks based off them over the weeks and months that followed.
Sometimes I’ll just have a phrase in my head, perhaps with an accompanying melody, and use that as a starting point. I don’t really have a rigid system at all!
Tell us about your live show What would be your dream gig
Well my first live show will be at the Golden Lion, Bristol on 16th March. Dream gig has gotta be the main stage at Reading and Leeds. Had some great times there.
What can we expect from you in the near future
A few gigs lined up this year and hopefully more to come! You can keep an eye on my Instagram for announcements @tomwarrenmusic. I’ve written a load of new music since the EP, will hopefully be able to get some of that out soon!
Tell us your favourite records that are rocking your headphones/tour bus/stereo
I’m really loving Bleachers’ new stuff at the moment. Modern Girl, Tiny Moves and Alma Matter are amazing tracks that I keep playing over and over. The new Libertines releases also go hard, big fan of all Peter’s work.
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