Singer/songwriter Tom Speight is back with his third album, Love & Light, so we got him on the phone to ask him a bunch of questions about it. (And a few other things).
Hi Tom. Do you like interviews?
Yeah, I do actually. I don’t mind them. I suppose I grew up in a generation of people whereby as a kid, a music fan, interviews were kind of how you would find out where an artist was at that current time when they were about to release a record. As a fan of Oasis, Blur, all that kind of Britpop stuff, interviews gave a bit more of an insight as to what was going on behind the scenes and what was to come for the record. So, yeah, I quite like them.
What about social media?
That’s a different story. It’s weird. I was saying to a friend the other day, when you think of being a musician, artist, whatever, you think a lot of your time will be spent doing music. But over the years, as social media becomes a more important thing, it takes up more time. But it’s good that we can reach our audience. We do well in places like Brazil and we’d never have that without social media and streaming. But then obviously the setback is that it is a bit of a drain on your wellbeing as well; because you know, it’s not nice that things are measured by likes and stats and all those things. But I do try to use it to my best capabilities, but I think I’ve got quite a lot to learn. I think especially because I didn’t grow up with it, it doesn’t come naturally.
Do you use social media much outside of work?
No, not really. If I wasn’t doing it as a job, I don’t think I would use social media. Like, on a personal level, I just don’t really know what I’d share. I don’t really care what people are eating, do you know what I mean?
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Your third album, Love & Light, is on its way. What can people expect?
I think it’s the most varied album out of the three so far, and also the most personal in some ways. The first album was about a breakup and falling in love at the same time. The second album was about everything that I wanted post-Covid to be. It was uplifting and hopeful, and there was no layered message in the songs – I just wanted to make a great summer album. This third album is a bit more personal, and it’s probably the most confident. I think as you make more records, you learn more about what you’re actually doing. I think the listeners will get it and see a progression in the music.
Do you listen to music in a certain way? How does this reflect in your creative process?
I think fundamentally, I’m just a music fan. I try to make music that I like and that I would listen to. I always think if I’m getting a feeling from it, someone else will get some kind of feeling too. I always try to make something I’m proud of. It’s a strange one having it as your job; when you initially start writing songs, you don’t think about where it’s gonna end up. So, I try to use songwriting as a cathartic process, and one that’s almost like a therapy session. I don’t vent, but I spill out whatever I need to get out of my system and put it into a song. If else someone connects to it, that’s a bonus.
Do you ever find yourself in a creative dry patch? And when you’re in those spells, how do you spark ideas?
You definitely go through stages where you write more songs. But don’t force it when they’re not coming, because people can tell. For example, this song on my second record, I wrote in like 20 minutes. It was a pure, innocent thing where my girlfriend was feeling stressed with work, so I wrote her a little voice note before she had a big meeting. Then, re-listening a couple of weeks later, I thought that there might’ve been something in it: so I turned it into a song. Anything can inspire a track. It’s kind of magical that you can write a song in 30 minutes that will change your life.
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Do you worry about the future?
All the time, man. It’s a very fickle industry – and you know, in some ways, you’re only as good as your last song. But I’m friends with people who have had long careers and the common thread between them is that they’re all super hard-working, really nice people and they all love music. I think if you have those things going for you, and a bit of talent as well, then ultimately, you’re gonna have some form of career in the long run.
How do you want people to interpret your art?
I think as long as they get something from it, I’m happy. Whether they like it or not. You know, not everyone’s gonna like your music. If you can reach out to a couple people who love your music and it changes their day or they get married to it, have their first kiss, or listen to it on their commute to work – or they’re using it to get through a painful time – then I think that’s pretty incredible. It’s not gonna happen for everyone and not everyone’s gonna feel that way about my music, but if it happens to some people, then that’s how I’d like people to interpret it. As long as they get some sort of feeling from it, then it’s worth it for me.
Most remote place you’ve been to?
We shot the album cover for the first album in Iceland, and it felt like it was just me and the photographer on the island. I feel like we only saw about 5 people the entire trip. We also shot the second album cover in Joshua Tree, near Death Valley. Again, we barely saw anyone… There’s obviously a common thread there.
Favourite season?
Spring is my favourite. I don’t really like the hot or really like the cold, so anywhere in between is great. When we were making this third album, it was during the heatwave, and it was impossible. Literally, I was making the album in my pants. It was awful.
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So how do you look after yourself? You must be a busy man.
I don’t drink. I haven’t had alcohol since 2016. I’m very unrock and roll, really. My main thing is just keeping my health in check and just playing shows, and not taking my body for granted. I go to the gym, try to practise mindfulness. I’m quite an easygoing guy. I like going to the cinema, listening to records, and seeing my friends, and that’s my sort of way of unwinding. I’m not for hedonism or anything like that. I don’t think you can do 100 gigs and year and then be strung out afterwards in this day and age.
Do you get nervous before live shows?
Yeah, but good nerves. If a pilot was trying to fly a plane and they were super nervous, would the passengers be comfortable with that? That’s how I like to view playing a gig. If I’m feeling confident and excited to be playing a gig, then for the people watching, it will transfer to them the feeling of being relaxed and in safe hands. If I was completely nervous, I think it would ruin my gig, so there’s no point being nervous for a show as it would be detrimental to the performance.
Do you have any rituals before a gig?
I love pacing. I pace up and down, everywhere. Basically, just getting myself pumped before a gig. I don’t like seeing too many people before a gig. I don’t really wanna socialise. I know that people go out for drinks before, but I’m just pacing, going over what I’m gonna do that night, thinking of anecdotes to share on stage of what I’ve been up to recently and getting myself in the mindset of performing.
Favourite festival memories?
Glastonbury 2019, during the heatwave, playing to 5000 people in the acoustic stage… That was pretty cool. Some of the smaller festivals are pretty great as well – I’m obviously looking forward to playing Henley. Just as long as there are people having a good time, it doesn’t matter about the number of people. You can’t really beat that, especially after the last couple of years where everyone’s been locked in their houses.
Personal goals outside of music?
Just to be healthy, really. I’ve suffered from Crohn’s disease for the last 15 years, so staying healthy and being a good person is important to me. I think people are too hard on themselves and they set too many goals, and you can’t do everything. I think if you’re a good person and you’re healthy, with good people around you, then that’s enough. It’s easy to get wrapped up in life, especially with social media.
Do you ever think we’re too connected?
Yeah, I do. I think it would be good if everyone was limited to an hour a day on phones and stuff. It would be interesting to see what the world would look like. I think it does project fear into society.
And finally: in a castaway situation, would you survive?
I’m a survivor in some senses, but then I’d be absolutely screwed in another sense. Castaway, I’d probably die quite quickly, though. I was a Cub and a Scout, but I don’t even know if I can start a fire. I think I would rather be in Big Brother than the jungle. I’m not for the jungle, man…