Khushboo Malhotra
The UK based singer-songwriter, Tom Hannay has released his ten-tracks-long debut album today, on June 7, titled ‘The Fire Waits’.
Tom Hannay’s debut album brings together his silky, rough-edged guitar sound and raw vocal talent. His music is a smooth mix of alternative country and smokey blues. It is a style reminiscent of artists from Kurt Vile to The Band, the riffs of Gary Clarke Jr, and the dramatic, powerful vocals of “Black Hole Sun”-era Chris Cornell all rolled into one laid-backed, riff-fuelled LP. The gravitas of Tom’s voice finds a worthy home alongside the album’s soaring guitar and lazy, rolling drums. Moments of coolness and restraint are constantly challenged and contrasted with waves of lush chorus harmonies.
While this sounds like it shouldn’t work, somehow Tom Hannay not only excels but seems to do it naturally. He is able to weave these sounds with earnest lyrics, creating a genre-bending style that is a masterclass in moderation: It’s bluesy, but not an Englishman ripping off Howlin’ Wolf. It’s alt-country but without ever pretending to have wandered the streets of Nashville. It’s grungey but without the vicious angst.
Tom recently saw support for his debut single ‘The Feeding Hand’. It gained the appreciation and likes of big media names such as BBC and Atwood Magazine. He is working with Republic of Music, whose roster includes Big Thief and Deaf Havana.
Tom Hannay is a unique artist who lives and breathes music, quite literally as he was inspired to go on the road and reach audiences in the most organic way possible. Armed only with his motorhome and guitar, the singer-songwriter has been road-tripping across the UK and the video for his latest single ‘The Feeding Hand’ gives a glimpse into Tom’s nomadic life. This offering was the first taste of Tom’s debut album and is a remarkable demonstration of Tom’s talent as a songwriter, producer, and musician.
His previous single “The Feeding Hand” dealt with his real-life circumstances of living in a motorhome and touring around his homeland, playing music; and now he returns with his unique version of Ace of Base’s ‘All That She Wants’ à la Chris Isaak. The result is oddly raw and emotive, deep and forceful, the rootsy-surf sound only working because it’s might is matched by the dramatic vocals of Hannay. This offering is another taste of Hannay’s debut album ‘The Fire Waits’ and is yet another demonstration of his remarkable talent.
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