Ahead of a UK tour in November where he is supporting The Script, his own intimate run of UK in-stores dates and coming off the back of a stellar UK and European festival run, it seems that Tom Walker is having the time of his life. Five years after his 2019 debut ‘What A Time To Be Alive’, his highly-anticipated sophomore album ‘I Am’ is set to be his most honest work to date.
As the man himself says “all my music is slightly depressing, with an undertone of hope”. Even Tom Walker’s songs are about contrasts, his gritty vocals flow purposefully and are the perfect juxtaposition to the tender and heartfelt lyrics he emotes.
He is no stranger to emotion, with large parts of his chart-topping debut album ‘What A Time To Be Alive’ being the perfect vehicle for his musings. Whilst his debut was centered around the vignettes of relationship struggles, ‘I Am’ thematically is a little bit broader with the singer-songwriter focusing more on his own anxieties, creative challenges and personal struggles.
The big-hearted singer is candid in his approach, sharing uncertainty, despair and sadness. ‘I Am’ lives up to its namesake, it’s a captured moment of time as to who Tom is right here, right now.
The titular track ‘I Am’ Comes in two incarnations – one with a spoken word segment and one without. Both serve up a similar feeling, but the song comes into its own thanks to its evocative keys and understated beats. It gallops in like a charging horse and sets the tone for the emotional journey that ensues and is the perfect foil for Tom’s delicate, honest vocals and has all the hallmarks of a Tom Walker classic
Opening song ‘Holy Ghost’ hooks you straight in thanks to its rousing lyrics and electronic soul beats. It’s reminiscent of Hozier’s ‘Take Me to Church’ but infinitely darker and grittier. It’s a love song, but reimagined.
There’s emotion there, but it’s not saccharine with lyrics like ‘I’m on my knees at your altar / When I bleed, give me shelter’. The track was written ahead of Walker’s wedding and talks of how his love for his now wife Annie is ‘spiritual’.
Walker when talking about the track said: “I wanted to write a love song that didn’t really feel like a love song”. You have to admit that if that was the brief, he has absolutely smashed it.
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The album’s singles include the aforementioned ‘Holy Ghost’, the highly relatable ‘Freaking Out’ which talks of feeling at odds with oneself, the propulsive ‘Burn’ where you can feel every iota of anger and intensity with lines like “I gave you my blood, my sweat, my tears / And all you ever did was leave me here / Set me on fire cause you love the hurt’.
The powerful and soulful ‘Head Underwater’ talks of keeping your head above water when you feel like you are drowning whilst battling your inner demons.
Tom collaborates with the talented German singer Zoe Wees on the gorgeous newly remixed rendition of ‘Wait For You’ which was originally released as a one off download in 2020.
The sentiment of the song is as strong as ever with Zoe’s complimentary vocals elevating the track which tells the story of one of Tom’s childhood friends who endured a life-changing event during his teenage years. With lines like ‘I’m just prayin’ you can figure this out / And when there’s nothing left, you know I’ll still be around’
The album is a collaborative effort with Tom working with an esteemed role call of acts like McDonough brothers, Toby Gadd, Ryan Daly & Castle who have written for the likes of Beyonce, Joji, Khalid, Mimi Webb and John Legend. His soaring vocals are authentic and assured, whilst his music has always been synonymous with emotion, ‘I Am’ feels like it has reached new levels of emotion and it’s more personal than ever.
Confessional, visceral and emotional, ‘I Am’ is a fine follow up to ‘What a Time to Be Alive’ and in many respects transcends it, thanks to the sophisticated and impassioned songwriting and delivery.
8/10
Words: Emma Harrison // @emmahwriter
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