Tom Odell Interview

The self-confessed ‘Piano Man’ Tom Odell has enchanted nations with his stunning, heartfelt lyricism and skilled piano playing ever since his debut single ‘Another Love’ hit airwaves earlier in 2013. With the release of his debut album, ‘Long Way Down’, a BRITs Critic’s Choice Award and shows aplenty under his belt, Tom Odell caught up with BBM ahead of his Australian tour to discuss his new-found fame, Lily Allen and his first ever song.

Hi Tom, how are you today?

Very well, thank you.

You sound quite sleepy!

No, no, I’m fine. We had a show last night so that’s probably it.

Where in the world are you talking to us from?

I’m in London.

It’s freezing there at the moment! Anyway, you started playing piano at a young age, can you remember what it was that first inspired you to start?

I remember seeing this huge piano in my grandmother’s house and being obsessed with it and wanting to play it. I had this crazy uncle who used to play too. He used to play crazy Jazz. So, it became like one of those childhood obsessions and I’m lucky that I managed to sit down and learn to play it.

Did you know from a young age that you wanted to be a musician as a profession?

Yes and no. I think I did but I was never really sure. It never felt as though it could be a reality until it really happened.

Do you remember writing your first song?

I do. One of my first songs was about a spider. It was about a spider that lived on my windowsill.

Right…and what was it about the spider that inspired you?

It lived on my windowsill for about a year so it became almost like a pet. It got a bit dark when I wrote about when it died. I liked it as well.

You were signed to Lily Allen’s record label, ‘In The Name Of’, how did that come about?

It was just through friends. I do lots of shows in London and she happened to be at one. She came down with a friend and we went for a dinner afterwards where she told me that she had a label. It’s funny because I saw her at the show last night actually. Whenever I see her we just talk about music which is cool. She’s a cool girl.

You’ve got a few Australian tour dates lined up for December 2013 and January 2014, have you been to Australia before?

Yeah, we went over there about two months ago. It’s a lovely place.

Was there anything you didn’t get to do before in Australia that you will when you return?

We’re going to lots more places, we’re going to Tasmania and stuff. So we’re going to be able to see much more and it’s going to be much hotter!

Does it feel strange to know that there are people all over the world that are listening to your music? Is that something you can ever get used to?

Yeah, I think it’s crazy that because of the Internet literally anyone can listen to you. Even the deepest darkest parts of South America can listen to your music. And I think it’s crazy the way it travels but it’s great that there’s that reach now and it’s amazing to be able to see that. I always wanted to travel when I was young but I got caught up in music and wasn’t able to do it [travel] but now I’m able to do it with the music.

How about seeing your face plastered across posters in the street?

Yeah, that’s a bit weird. Because I’m rarely ever in London or at home I don’t really see them that much but I think it’s more weird for my friends.

Do you have any rituals or lucky mascots while you’re on tour?

Well, everyone has a lucky pair of underwear, don’t they? Wait, does everyone have a lucky pair of underwear?

Yeah, we do! So, you’re album ‘Long Way Down’ has been out for a while now. How did you find the writing and recording process, considering it was your debut?

It took, like, two years to write it. I spent a long time writing it but it didn’t take me very long to record it.

Are you at all concerned about your follow-up album, simply because you had so much time to write your debut but now people might demand a quicker turnaround? Are you worried about that pressure?

No, I’m not worried. You just do it. The one thing I can do is write songs. That’s the part that’s easy.

Are your songs solely from your own experiences then?

Solely from me. I think this album is very personal. I think it sounds quite raw sometimes.

Is there anything at all that you think you might possibly regret saying on this album in the future?

I think it’s very open and it’s very emotional. It’s very unguarded and I think sometimes people are a bit scared of that, you know. But I want it to be like that.

It definitely comes across that way. I also think that when you play live, you give so much, due to the themes of your lyrics. Are they quite demanding to play live in order to get the message you want to portray across or do you find that comes quite naturally as you play?

I think they’re fine to perform but I think you have to be in the state of mind of when they were written in order to perform them. I don’t think you could go out in a nonchalant way and perform. I have to be in that same headspace. It’s quite emotionally exhausting too.

Thanks for your time Tom and we’ll see you in Oz.

For your chance to win tickets to see Tom Odell Live and FREE at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne be sure to check out our competitions page. 

By Bryony Curtis