Tommy Evans

Musician — London

01Profile

A Tommy Evans Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Tommy Evans; Londinium!

Describe your style in three words?
Hoodies all summer.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Massive Attack at the long-departed Phoenix Festival in Stratford-Upon-Avon; their 'Unfinished Sympathy' live was an even more uplifting, euphoric experience than on record! Honourable mention also goes to The Prodigy (on the same line-up) who unleashed a 'Firestarter' of supernova proportions!

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Portishead, as I've always felt they are one of the greatest hip (not trip) hop acts from the UK; I'd love to rap over their beats, especially 'Machine Gun'!

Led Zeppelin for similar reasons - I'd want to shell down on the thunderous drums of 'Kashmir'! Jimmy Page lives nearby so I might just have to knock on his door to borrow some sugar and drop hints about collaborating!

Which subcultures have influenced you?
1970s NYC Graf and Bauhaus typography: my first degree (I have a few!) was in Visual Communication and I still design all the art to my music releases. Basquiat's work on 'Beat Bop' by Rammellzee + K-Rob is my favourite record cover.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Quincy Jones to dissect his mastery of multiple genres.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
Elysee Montmarte, Paris where I played alongside the legendary Neneh Cherry, who is a beloved aunty to me and mentored me as a younger artist! We then had a jam session with Les Nubians ('Love Language' - their collab with Talib Kweli is sublime) in a suburban tower block guarded by Direwolves!
Honorary mention goes to Black Lillies in Philadelphia, USA, where the novelty of my rapping in an English accent stunned the Jazzyfatnastees and Digable Planets!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Ahmad Lewis - a prodigious teen who released only one album 'Ahmad', a mid-'90s conscious G-Funk classic.


 

Tommy Evans recently released 'Memory Lane', the third single from his eagerly-awaited comeback album. Listen below and find out more at www.tommyevansofficial.com.

 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Walk This Way' by Run DMC.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Inner City Life' by Goldie.

One record you would keep forever?
'Memory Lane' by Minnie Ripperton.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
Mos Def's verse from 'Thieves In The Night' by Black Star.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'1999' by Prince.

A song you wished you had written?
'Walk On By' by Isaac Hayes. I appreciate it's a cover but I love how epic his version is!

Best song to turn up loud?
'This Is How We Do It' by Montell Jordan.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'The Shadow Of Your Smile' by The Singers Unlimited.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Sing It Back' by Moloko.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
'Pourquoi' by Musumba.
'Here For It' by Woodzy.
'Smoke' by BrokenPen.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Tommy Evans; Londinium!

Describe your style in three words?
Hoodies all summer.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Massive Attack at the long-departed Phoenix Festival in Stratford-Upon-Avon; their 'Unfinished Sympathy' live was an even more uplifting, euphoric experience than on record! Honourable mention also goes to The Prodigy (on the same line-up) who unleashed a 'Firestarter' of supernova proportions!

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Portishead, as I've always felt they are one of the greatest hip (not trip) hop acts from the UK; I'd love to rap over their beats, especially 'Machine Gun'!

Led Zeppelin for similar reasons - I'd want to shell down on the thunderous drums of 'Kashmir'! Jimmy Page lives nearby so I might just have to knock on his door to borrow some sugar and drop hints about collaborating!

Which subcultures have influenced you?
1970s NYC Graf and Bauhaus typography: my first degree (I have a few!) was in Visual Communication and I still design all the art to my music releases. Basquiat's work on 'Beat Bop' by Rammellzee + K-Rob is my favourite record cover.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Quincy Jones to dissect his mastery of multiple genres.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
Elysee Montmarte, Paris where I played alongside the legendary Neneh Cherry, who is a beloved aunty to me and mentored me as a younger artist! We then had a jam session with Les Nubians ('Love Language' - their collab with Talib Kweli is sublime) in a suburban tower block guarded by Direwolves!
Honorary mention goes to Black Lillies in Philadelphia, USA, where the novelty of my rapping in an English accent stunned the Jazzyfatnastees and Digable Planets!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Ahmad Lewis - a prodigious teen who released only one album 'Ahmad', a mid-'90s conscious G-Funk classic.


 

Tommy Evans recently released 'Memory Lane', the third single from his eagerly-awaited comeback album. Listen below and find out more at www.tommyevansofficial.com.

 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Walk This Way' by Run DMC.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Inner City Life' by Goldie.

One record you would keep forever?
'Memory Lane' by Minnie Ripperton.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
Mos Def's verse from 'Thieves In The Night' by Black Star.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'1999' by Prince.

A song you wished you had written?
'Walk On By' by Isaac Hayes. I appreciate it's a cover but I love how epic his version is!

Best song to turn up loud?
'This Is How We Do It' by Montell Jordan.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'The Shadow Of Your Smile' by The Singers Unlimited.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Sing It Back' by Moloko.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
'Pourquoi' by Musumba.
'Here For It' by Woodzy.
'Smoke' by BrokenPen.

 

05Videos

Tommy Evans | Memory Lane (2019)

Tommy Evans | Shine A Light (2019)

Tommy Evans | Flow (H2O) (2019)