Watch Tom Walker’s LIVE session - featuring a stunning Paolo Nutini cover 

Virgin Radio

5 Apr 2024, 14:32

Tom Walker delivered a brilliant live session for Virgin Radio, playing some of his own crackers and a cover of a Paolo Nutini tune.

The singer-songwriter joined the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar ahead of his 15-date UK tour, which kicks off later this month, and the release of his upcoming sophomore album, I Am, which lands in May.

While at the top of the tower, he played his own version of Paolo Nutini’s 2009 track, Candy, which was a top 20 hit.

Have a listen here:

The new album follows Tom’s 2019 debut, What a Time to Be Alive, a number one album in the UK. “People always find their own stories in the lyrics, which is such a beautiful thing as a songwriter,” he said.

“You never sing it the same way twice. And you can try and recreate those moments in the studio, and sometimes they don't come, and then some days you write a song and it pours out of you in three hours and you've finished and recorded it all. It's an interesting job. There doesn't seem to be a special formula to me, every day is quite different as a musician and a writer, which is great.”

Tom recently did a run of small-town, pop-up gigs. He told Chris: “We've been going around smaller towns and cities that maybe artists don't stop at on tour. And we've been busking and doing free gigs for the community, and also stopping in and meeting the businesses and people that make those places amazing. It's been so much fun. 

“We're going to try and continue that long into the summer between festivals.”

He added: “Rather than sitting at home, doing content in the studio, I'd much rather just be out and about doing gigs, meeting people. That's what I love doing. It's why I started doing this. So I've had the best time ever.

Released on 31st May, the new album features new single Head Underwater, which Tom performed live in the studio today. “It's kind of like when you’re stuck down, deep in the depths of the darkness, kind of mentally and sometimes it's hard to get through that,” he explained. “And I feel like, when you’re stuck in those periods of darkness, you can't see the light at the end of it at all and that can be really disheartening and can stop you from getting up and trying to change how you’re feeling. 

“That song is all about that for me, because I've had periods like that in my life where I've found it hard to get back to who I want to be.”

Speaking about how he “got into Wim Hof for a bit,” Tom said: “Also, just getting out into nature makes such a difference. It's hard. Everyone says ‘Go for a walk, go and be in nature,’ and sometimes when you feel a bit down, it's hard to get out of the house, isn't it? But those things do make such a massive difference.”

When Chris asked Tom about always wearing a hat, the singer said: “It was kind of an accident, to be honest. I just started rocking it one day, and then that kind of became like my whole thing that people knew me by. It's hilarious, at festivals if I wear a bucket hat, no-one knows who I am. It’s like I go invisible. It’s great.”

Tom’s 15-date tour begins on Thursday 18th April. For tickets visit iamtomwalker.com. His album, I Am, is out on Friday 31st May.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.