Tom Corscadden

Who is Tom Corscadden? Where are you from, how long have you been playing music etc?

I’m an alternative/art rock artist from the South West of England, now based in London. I’ve been playing music for around 15 years, writing songs for most of that time. I started out in bands before eventually deciding to do my own project. These days I write, produce and mix everything myself, and I also write and direct the visual side of the project. I’m interested in making work that explores what’s happening underneath the surface of things; the emotions, systems and contradictions we usually ignore.

If you had to describe your sound using just five words, what would they be?

Raw. Cinematic. Angry. Vulnerable. Visceral.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Radiohead are probably the biggest one. Beyond that, Nine Inch Nails, Muse, Queens of the Stone Age, Massive Attack, Fontaines DC and many more, I love listening to a lot of different genres.

What’s your songwriting process?

I think I usually just start by sitting down, finding a riff, then it kinda builds from there, making the song first, then adding lyrics after. The lyrics usually tell me what I was thinking when I was writing the music, and then it’s bizarre how it all comes together from your subconscious. I also have this weird writing thing where I try to be really quick with getting the whole song structured. I think a good song comes together quickly, and then you can spend time perfecting it afterwards.

When you were younger, what was the first album that blew you away and you remember putting on repeat non-stop?

Probably Absolution by Muse would’ve been the first; I also loved the early Feeder stuff, too.

As a performer, what’s your biggest claim to fame so far?

Before my solo project, I was in Opal Skies, which picked up plays on BBC Radio 1, and we did some great sold-out gigs too. A lot of my claim to fame comes from the people who I’ve worked with in the studio!

If you could go on tour with any current band or artist, who would it be and why?

I do like the idea of Fontaines DC or Kneecap for the energy they give at their gigs.

If you could put your dream team band together, consisting of any musicians from the past or present, who would the band members be?

Vocals – Kurt Cobain

Guitar – Kim Thayil

Bass – Colin Greenwood

Drums – Dave Grohl

Probably left a few out there

How would you describe your live show to someone who has never seen you perform before?

It’s loud, emotional and intense. I just try to throw myself completely into the songs and bring people into that world for half an hour or so.

Do you have any pre-gig or post-gig rituals? If so, what and why?

Before a show, I mostly try to hype myself up and lock in. Afterwards, I usually do the opposite and retract from the adrenaline, then slowly return to socialising.

What would your ultimate rider be if you could have anything without being accused of being a diva?

A genuinely good coffee setup, ideally with my mate Ollie as the barista.

If we were to browse your music library, what is the most embarrassing song we might find? Or who is your guilty pleasure artist?

I don’t really believe in guilty pleasures, because you shouldn’t be guilty about pleasure!

Tell us one thing your fans would be shocked to hear or learn about you.

Most people assume there’s a team or money behind a project; there absolutely isn’t, unfortunately. The songs, production, films, visuals and artwork concepts all come from me. I also self-fund everything from working three jobs, I don’t have inherited wealth, haha

If people want to check you out online, where is the best place to go?

Instagram is probably the best place to start. I try to use only one social media to limit the hassle

Finally, what does the future hold for you as an artist?

I’m currently working on my second album, and it’s shaping up to be unreal. The first record was about looking behind the mirror. This one feels like smashing straight through it. It’s rooted in the experience of living inside a city that constantly asks more from people while giving less back. Alongside that, I’ll be releasing more films, more collaborations and playing as many shows as possible. I’m mainly interested in making work that says something real, even if it’s uncomfortable.