A Chat with Tom Wharton (27.10.23)
Fusing elements of indie-rock, pop and folk into a unique brand of music, singer-songwriter Tom Wharton wins our hearts with his moving melodies. We speak with Wharton about his EP Make My Day, what music means to him, treasured memories and much more!
OSR: What made you decide to pursue a career in music? What drew you to music?
Wharton: Growing up, our household was never quiet – music has surrounded me from the moment I was born. Whether it was my dad blasting Elvis and Smooth out the kitchen radio or my mum introducing me to classic rock icons like Led Zeppelin and the Eagles, I’ve always been immersed in the music world. I was driven to singing by watching Elvis as a child and I picked up the guitar at age 10 after watching Hendrix’s set at Woodstock.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Wharton: I can’t go a day without music. No matter what I’m doing, I’ll always have music in my life whether I’m listening, performing or going to a gig. It truly is the soundtrack to life for me.
OSR: You recently released your debut EP Make My Day. What can you tell us about it?
Wharton: Make My Day EP culminates three previous tracks of mine, remixed and remastered to a much higher standard, with the brand-new lead title track ‘Make My Day’. It’s a few months too late with an undeniable summer sound which I really hope makes people happy.
OSR: You already have an extensive back catalogue with experience in several bands; do you think Make My Day represents you as a musician and your sound?
Wharton: It’s definitely a new direction for me, having always been a heavy rock musician as part of my bands so I’m still finding the right sound for me when it comes to my solo work.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Wharton: Nothing too serious – I love songwriting and producing my own music and I really hope this passion is obvious in my sound.
OSR: What do you take from Make My Day?
Wharton: Make My Day was a really introspective project for me – it gave me a perfect opportunity to rebrand my solo work with the knowledge I have now about production, design and promoting myself as an artist.
OSR: If you had to introduce a new listener to your music, which song would you recommend?
Wharton: Probably ‘Make My Day’ – it’s my latest release and encapsulates the ideal sound I want to represent in my music.
OSR: Random questions: What is your most treasured memory?
Wharton: My first ever ‘gig’ where I was pulled on stage at Southport Marine Lake Café to sing ‘Proud Mary’ at age 5 and brought quite the audience. I think that’s the moment that helped me realise music was going to be my thing.
OSR: What quote most resonates with you?
Wharton: “Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – I just love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
OSR: What can we expect from Tom Wharton in the future?
Wharton: Some slightly heavier stuff, tapping into my rock roots.
Many thanks to Tom Wharton for speaking with us! For more from Tom Wharton check out his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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