In Conversation

05 December 2008 04:06 BST

Tom Baxter: Heading for the top

With a successful UK and Ireland tour under his belt, his new album Skybound enjoying critical acclaim and having one of his songs featured in Simon Pegg's Run, Fatboy, Run movie, Tom Baxter's star appears to be ascending.

inthenews.co.uk's Lee Davis recently met the talented singer/songwriter to talk music, film and art.

Tom Baxter is warm and welcoming; the perfect antidote to the cold winter's morning I had to brave on my way to EMI's offices on the Hammersmith Road in west London.

Tom looked comfortable, sitting at the end of a long boardroom table in a light and spacious office, crackling with enthusiasm.

He was born in Suffolk in 1973, the son of Jeff and Julie, two travelling musicians/performers, the second of four children.

By 1986 he was working in his parents' arts club-cum-hotel as a bottle boy although he liked to sneak off to watch bands, comedians and poets. At the age of 15 Tom started a rockabilly band after hearing The Elvis Sun Sessions, and not long after he was performing in local pubs.

At the start of the 90s Tom enrolled in art school to study fine art painting. However, two years later, disillusioned with art school and its methods, Tom's passions transferred to his guitar and he moved to London.

Commenting on his art school experiences, Tom said: "At art school, the emphasis is on being abstract but for me I can look at classic renaissance art and think 'that's incredible' or something by Damien Hirst and think 'that's incredible', too."

Tom's move to the capital saw him spend five years in and out of building sites and music college.

Toward the end of the decade his interest had shifted onto songwriting. "Painting pictures with words and music seemed the ultimate direction," states Tom in the book of artwork, writings, recollections and photos that forms a superb companion piece to his new album Skybound.

Stints working in animation and film were counterbalanced by Tom playing all over London, continuously writing and re-writing.

However, by 2001, he was deflated by a lack of recognition. Despite this he made one last push and put together a home-recorded album called All About A Boy, which finally brought interest from the music industry.

In 2003 Tom and his band discovered Bush Hall, an old music hall in west London. Shortly after a six-month residency at the venue they signed a record deal with Sony Music. The following year Tom released the album Feather And Stone through Sony.

Although the album was a critical and commercial success Tom parted company with Sony at the end of 2006. He is now in a partnership with EMI.

Tom said: "At a major label, the first time [Sony/BMG], it was all about hits. When there's too much focus on one thing it's too much. Keeping the balance keeps me interested.

"The partnership with EMI works very well. It's the most forward thinking in terms of how the music industry's heading. EMI knows the record industry is changing very quickly."

Tom's new album Skybound (To read the inthenews.co.uk review, click here) was originally released last autumn with a subsequent re-release in early January. The album is 'accompanied' by a book of Tom's artwork, writings and candid photos.

The idea of the album and the book has its inspirations in 70s concept albums. Tom takes up the story: "I get upset when I buy CDs. I get disappointed that the bands don't make more effort – I grew up in the vinyl era and I loved reading the sleevenotes, now you get a s****y plastic case."

This led him to devise the idea of an actual book and he said: "My book has got EMI very excited."

Meanwhile, the single Better – featured in Run, Fatboy, Run – has had lots of airplay and has been well-received.

The Simon Pegg-starring romantic comedy was directed by David Schwimmer of Friends fame.

Tom's track is used in a romantic moment in the film and the singer-songwriter said it works really well, he also praised Schwimmer, saying: "He's a very good bloke. He should be very proud of himself."

Tom Baxter toured the UK and Ireland last year with his sojourn wrapping up in London's Soho. Looking back over the tour, and starting with the final gig in the capital, he said: "We really enjoyed that one. We did a good one in Leeds and a great gig in Dublin!

"The rest of the gigs were still fun apart from one in Sheffield due to the bouncers virtually shoving us out after the gig."

Looking forward, Tom has plans to do a university tour which will combine a gig and guitar and music workshops. He also has two shows lined up for this month and next. He'll perform at the Shepherds Bush Empire on January 31st and Olympia in Dublin at the end of February.

Another idea that Tom is keen to try is collaboration. He said: "I'd love to do something with minimalist composer Arvo Part or someone like Keith Jarrett."

Lee Davis