Tom Grennan

Three years after his debut record Tom Grennan returns with 'Evering Route', an anthology that weaves in & out of Grennan'due south romantic relationship, break-upwardly, and his struggles with mental health.

When artists have a huge debut record there is ever the fright they could autumn into what the industry calls the 'sophomore slump', a jinx when the second album fails to live up to the offset. For Tom Grennan, he doesn't need to worry about that with 'Evering Road'. Equal parts confessional and affecting, 'Evering Road' is an insight into the mind of a man who has seen and been through some pretty intense stuff. Where a lot of male vocalizer/songwriters opt to spin narratives throughout their music nigh heartbreak and pain, Tom Grennan takes it one footstep farther and acknowledges his faults and contributions to the demise of his relationship.

The 14-runway album is a masterclass in vulnerable, honest songwriting; pulling at Grennan's struggles with mental health and toxic masculinity, stories of friends spreading rumours about him, and, of grade, the guilt he feels stemming from mistakes made in a past relationship. For Tom, it feels like a debut record — the outset body of piece of work that he feels has a thread tying every song together rather than merely several songs with no connection.

1883 spoke with Tom virtually his new record, mental health and toxic masculinity, and why 'Evering Road' feels similar a debut record.

Marker Mattock

It's been three years since your debut record, 'Lighting Matches '. How would you depict how you lot've grown every bit a songwriter and as a person between then and now with 'Evering Road'?

With my first record, I was thrown in the deep end. I'll exist honest with you, my record did so, so good and I will always be grateful for it just I was writing those songs and I didn't know what I was even writing about. I was young and I was learning. Evering Road, for me, is all virtually a interruption-upwards and me holding my hands upwardly and saying I messed upwards, I was the toxic 1. I let a lot of things go far the mode of me being a skillful partner, like my ego and past issues. It'southward me saying sorry and me maxim thank you to her. Information technology's an album about dear, heartbreak, and redemption. I've grown up massively since writing Evering Road and since my debut record besides. I'thousand a young man now and my songwriting is so much more honest and and then 'me'. My showtime tape was a collection of songs, just this is a existent journey; this is what happened on Evering Road.

I read that y'all said this felt like something of a debut tape for yous — is that something that you wholeheartedly stand up backside?

Yeah, I do. It feels like my debut tape. Information technology feels like I've finally stepped into the shoes of the creative person that I desire to be. When I was writing this album I just kept thinking virtually how this is what information technology feels like to make a record. My claret, sweat, and tears accept gone into this. Don't get me wrong, they went into my offset 1 too, but I hunkered down and went in on this record and put it all out on the table. I'm proud of information technology.

I know the title comes from a road in London, simply can you lot tell me a bit about the album championship?

It'southward a road in East London in Clapton where I lived while in this relationship. It'southward the story of beloved and heartbreak, and it but felt right and plumbing fixtures to proper name the album after it. It's where everything happened. I promise it'll exist the new Abbey Road! [Laughs]

'Make My Mind Upwards' is a really powerful rail. It sounds like you're taking listeners on a journey through something personal. Was writing that song in detail therapeutic?

Definitely. I had loads of different people telling me what I should and shouldn't exercise and it was messing with my caput. I had too many voices going on, trying to tell me different things. It got to the betoken where I realized the just person that could solve the problem was me. Writing that song was a eureka moment for me; I realized how desperately I only demand to listen to myself. At that time, I didn't love myself and I felt I needed to learn how to dearest myself a bit more before I was able to show and give love to anyone else. I listen to this song now and information technology makes me tearful, it makes me sit back and think about how much of myself and my experiences and my honesty went into it. It'due south a pretty classic song, I think it will hitting a lot of people considering information technology'southward a pretty universal feel. I wanted to be every bit honest and sincere as possible.

Was there always a time when writing this record that you lot were hesitant to discuss a lot of the things you talk almost? Admitting you were toxic is a really large bargain.

Yeah, of course. I felt this was the simply style to own up to my faults and flaws and observe the ability to move on. You know when you go to the therapist and they say the only way y'all're going to get over something is by ringing the person and apologizing? That's what this is, in a mode. For me, it was putting information technology on an album, releasing it into the earth, starting to mend some wounds that I've had and get over a lot of guilt.

Ashley Poesy

When listening to the record the vocal 'It Hurts' really stood out to me. I dearest the lyrics 'Jealousy ain't going to make a man out of you/teach yourself some lessons and go back to school'. Can you lot tell me a fleck about that track and the inspiration behind it?

I had a call with my friend and, at that point, I was trying to work on myself. I hadn't spoken to this person in a while because I distanced myself from anybody to endeavor to work on myself as much as possible. My friend started maxim there are rumours around that I've gone to rehab to get help for something. It was just crazy to me that even when I was stepping back to work on myself, all of that was going on in my friendship group. The song is about people only chatting loads of shit really and not knowing I'm going through loads of stuff in my caput. It was hurtful to me. Information technology hurt me to hear people were talking desperately, my mum heard that shit! She doesn't need to exist hearing that.

Yous would await your friends would reach out and cheque in on you rather than proverb stuff behind your dorsum.

Exactly. I felt similar I didn't have people around me who loved me and I was incorrect because I did, but I was wrong and merely angry and hurt. I didn't dearest myself and I didn't call up I had supportive people in my life but I do. That's the offset time I've ever told anybody that.

Well thank you for sharing information technology with me, I know it must've been difficult to work through and figure out.

It was, merely I'm in a much better place now with the people I accept effectually me.

I love how y'all've incorporated some popular-gospel moments on this tape, like songs similar 'Amen' and 'Sweeter Then'. I feel similar I hear a bit of influence from Amy Whinehouse and how expressive she is on this record. Who are some of the artists you listened to that influenced and inspired you and 'Evering Road'?

Amy Winehouse is a massive inspiration for me and the record. I listened to loads of gospel music and a bit of the Blues equally well. I love how the stories yous hear in the Blues genre are always so honest and raw. I was listening to lots of Robert Johnson also.

You've been outspoken about mental health and I know you spent some time in lockdown helping people and walking their dogs effectually Hackney and Shoreditch. Why is information technology so of import for you to be open up almost a topic like mental health?

For me, especially in these times right now, mental health is the about important thing. I struggled with my mental health before the pandemic and I saw it was impacting my life. I stopped drinking and smoking and did what I could to clear my listen. Talking, talking, talking is what helped me. Every bit soon equally yous can start talking nearly information technology, you outset to feel lighter.

Mark Mattock

You lot also haven't shied away from trying to tackle toxic masculinity, which you focus on in your video for 'Little Bit Of Love', and that'due south not a topic many male artists are talking about right now. Why did you desire to focus on that in the video?

When I was going through this break-up and other stuff that I've been through and when I started talking about my struggles, I didn't desire people to think I'grand weak or scared… which is a load of rubbish. Talking about it is the best thing. For men, we always struggle to talk most things and seeming 'soft'. It'southward of import to talk well-nigh our feelings and what nosotros are going through considering information technology encourages other people to practice the same. When I opened up to my friends and family about the manner I was feeling, it took a weight off my chest. It brought me a sense of peace. Those topics—mental wellness and toxic masculinity—get manus in paw for men. If you're struggling with toxic masculinity, your mental health is impacted.

I know you accept a lilliputian blood brother and there was a blood brother figure in that music video which must've been nice for yous to do.

Yeah, the little blood brother in the video represented me going habitation after feeling the style I felt. When I went back to my mum & dad'due south firm and I had my brother effectually me and I had the support of my family unit, it striking habitation for me. That is what matters, having that support is what matters, and non hiding away and being open is how I found myself again and helped me restart.

Y'all've touched on how writing this album was something of a therapeutic feel for you. If you lot tin describe it, what does this body of work mean or represent to you?

It represents the journey of me condign a beau. It's me owning up to my guilt and confession that I've made a lot of mistakes. Information technology's a representation of cocky-love and unconditional love and knowing that it's okay to make mistakes. It'due south all right to have moments where you messed up because every human messes up. Information technology'southward knowing the right thing to exercise is to own upward to the things yous've washed that might've hurt someone and asking for forgiveness. After people listen to the record I hope if they are struggling with their mental health or their past decisions, they can feel comforted and know that it's okay—y'all can notice forgiveness and heal from your mistakes.

Interview past Kelsey Barnes

Photography by Ashley Verse & Marking Mattock

Check out Tom Grennan's new anthology 'Evering Route' now!

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Source: https://1883magazine.com/tom-grennan/

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