Art & Design blog

Having previously landed support slots for the likes of Fleet Foxes, Jake Bugg, Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran, Travis and Bastille, Tom Speight has returned to the UK stage performing three intimate shows at the start of April which coincide with the launch of his 4th EP ‘Willow Tree‘. Support for his music has grown steadily over the past year, culminating in his most recent single, ‘Love’, being playlisted by BBC Radio2. XETH spoke with the singer-songwriter after his London gig at Camden Assembly to hear more about his love for music.

XETH: At what age did you start to take an interest in the field you work in?

Tom Speight: I started doing music when I was around 8  years old.I think Oasis was the first band I fell in love with and inspired me to pick up a guitar.I haven’t stopped writing songs since.

X: What’s your proudest achievement so far?

TS: My proudest achievement is doing music full time. It’s so difficult to make music a full time career and earn any money from. I’m just thankful I get to do that.

X: What’s the most challenging aspect of your work?

TS: I think the business side is the most challenging and the easiest part is the music. It’s the other stuff that goes alongside with it that I find difficult to find head space for.

X: What are your top three favourite songs?

TS: ‘New Slang‘ by The Shins

‘Abacus‘ by Fionn Regan.

‘See You Soon‘ by Coldplay

All beautiful pieces of music!

X: What is your favourite London music venue and why?

TS: I think it would have to be Koko. I played there with Joshua Radin a couple of years ago! I loved the size and grand nature of it.

X: Name three creatives who have inspired you over the past 10 years?

TS: Ryan Adams every time, he never fails me! Clean Cut Kid‘s Mike Halls is my songwriting partner on a lot of songs. Multi-instrumentalist Justin Vernon‘s production on the Bon Iver records inspires me all the time.

X: What advice would you give to younger people who want to work in the creative industry?

TS: Don’t give up!! Unless you think there is something else you want to do then give up! I didn’t want to do anything else but music so didn’t really have a choice to not succeed!

To find out more about Tom Speight’s music and where he’ll be touring next, visit his website and facebook page