THIS WEEK: THOMAS McCONNELL
Thomas is a singer/songwriter from Liverpool.
Thomas was chosen by you dear FOTN regulars for Fresh Faves week 16 with his song ‘So long, Souvenirs‘(see below) a blissed out Liverpool infused beaut of a song full of mouth clicks, reverbed-up organs and 60?s psychedelic overtures.
Thomas wears his 60’s influences on his sleeve,his Liverpool roots in his voice and his ties in a wonderfully bright hue.
Not sure why but I do always seem to have a fondness for music with a 60’s vibe to it,ok so I’ll have the odd 80’s afternoon and dance like Billy Mackenzie or a late evening stroll around 70’s funky soul with my bad self but the 60’s vibe always tickles my fancy somewhat.
Best of all though is the sound of 2012,nothing like the new to put the sparkle in your eyes & the spring in your step methinks and Thomas brings the new,influenced by the past-a powerful package indeed.
Thomas’s online info is limited (his must be a man of mystery alongside a fine budding songwriter) so I am not sure if he has had formal releases in the past but I know he is due to release a single called ‘Blame It On Rebecca’ some time soon,look forward to checking that one out.UPDATE-Sorry Thomas,it seems I was looking in the wrong place for biographical info-You can find it here
When you are schooled in the ways of The Beatles you can’t help but understand the need to deliver melody,lyric & hook and this Thomas does very well but there are dangers in the possibility of forever being compared with the masters of the game (though it didn’t do Oasis any harm).I think Thomas manages to walk this tightrope very well and is finding his own path,his own direction.He has very good pop sensibilities and my guess is as he grows you’ll see even more of Mr Thomas McConnell shining through,he respects the past but relishes tomorrow.
Thomas certainly gets a lot of feedback love on his Soundcloud page and I join the masses in applauding Thomas and his music.
Keep on keeping on mate
You can also check him out on Facebook
1. What are you up to at the moment?
Gigging a lot in Liverpool but now branching out into odd shows around the country, recording and re-recording. Autumn may see my first single out. I’m trying to figure out how to put all my music equipment into my room without losing everywhere I could possibly stand; I might throw my bed away.
2. Favourite childhood memory?
Something involving Thomas The Tank Engine – Watching it, drawing the trains (which I can still do off by heart), playing with the toys and it being my link to finding The Beatles – that programme still moves me for some reason.
3. Hero?
Paul McCartney
4. Villain?
Heaton Manor School
5. What/who makes you laugh?
I get quite obsessed with comedies and comics that make me laugh. Eric Morecambe is a bit of a god to me, Vic Reeves Big Night Out may be my favourite programme ever and Stewart Lee has got to be the best stand-up – not the 41st. Fawlty Towers and The Office really are two of the greatest sitcoms but I can’t pick which one I like best. And as for Laurel & Hardy, I don’t think any comedy however obscure would exist without them – I’ve been watching them since before I can remember.
6. Describe what you do?
I like to write songs that I would listen to and experiment with weird techniques on my own. To me, there’s nothing better than a clever song structure with a great chord flow and melody so I try to replicate that in my tunes. When I record I love hopping from instrument to instrument in a bit of a manic, John Cleese wide-eyed way.
7. Who’s hair would you like to have for just one day?
Well, it’s going to be a Beatles cut isn’t it? I’d choose between Paul circa Rubber Soul, George around the Paperback Writer/Rain video shoot at Chiswick House Gardens and John & Ringo in Magical Mystery Tour/Late 67′; also Liam Gallagher’s hair when he’s got it short-medium length would be a grand barnet to shield your mind…
8. Best musical experience to date
I have a song called “Play In The Dark” and when I recorded a version with harmonies I’d never been so happy with something I’d made myself – the buzz was amazing. Also, when I play my song “Blame It On Rebecca” at Ian Prowse’s open-mic night every Monday at the Cavern Pub the crowd reaction to it is pretty un-beatable.
9. What artist inspires you?
Predictably Paul McCartney again as he is the greatest songwriter ever and there’s nothing the man is afraid of musically – from being in the biggest musical whirlwind possible to a criminally underrated solo career (which I listen to just as much as his old band). McCartney has covered everything from Folk/Country to Electronica/Dance, Jazz standards to Classical music and Ballet. He has been, is still and always will be my biggest inspiration.
10. What does Fresh On The Net mean to you?
As a platform for young musicians like me it’s a great help and I wouldn’t have got on the radio without it so I owe it a lot. When my song “So Long, Souvenirs” got through to Fresh Faves a couple of weeks back and then played on BBC Radio 6, it was very exciting so a big thank you to FOTN.
