Tom Grennan

Name, where are you from?
Tom Grennan and I’m from a sunny town called Bedford.

Describe your style in three words?
Sorry, not sorry.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I went to see Eminem at Wembley. For me, this was the best gig I’ve seen because I’ve always wanted to see him and watch him deliver the lyrics. He brought Dr Dre out with him as well and to see 90 thousand people singing Forgot About Dre was madness.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
I would love to be on the line up with Amy Winehouse as she’s just a queen and I love her. And right now I’m gonna say Oasis. I was born in 95 so didn’t have the chance to see them. To watch them at Knebworth and the crowd reaction. To be on the bill would have been pretty amazing.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Channel U, UK hip hop and grime. And it’s there in my performance you can see it and feel it, but the truth is I felt silly rapping! I felt comfy singing... but I felt silly as a band indie boy! So that’s how you got Tom Grennan. Grime and UK hip-hop influenced me as much as indie/Arctics/Kooks and Libs but not one more than the other... I come across grime, but I’m actually a bit of a romantic hippy deep down.

Grime rap and hip-hop also influenced my dress sense, but then again so do The Beatles and The Kinks and Otis Redding... I love A$AP in Prada, but I love those photos of Lennon in full denim in the late '70s walking through Central Park.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d probably spend it with Gram Parson and ask him what it was like to have changed the minds of so many. For example, the Stones on country music and also making country music f*cking cool!! And also I’d ask him how does he write such beautiful songs without even realising how good they are!

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I’d say right now my favourite venue to play is still my hometown venue Esquires!! It’s a small 200 cap venue, but when it’s packed out it’s a proper sweaty gig and the sound is amazing in there and it’s always a great gig!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
My hero in music is Amy Winehouse. She was a tortured soul with a voice that no other person will ever have or replicate. Her words and poetry and ability to find ways of working the melody and lyrics will always amaze me. She is a massive influence!

Tom Grennan will release his debut album 'Lighting Matches' on 6th July 2018 which you can pre-order here. You can also catch him playing the Quarry Stage on Saturday night at Y Not Festival later in July.