TOM Odell tells me that his brand new album Wrong Crowd is the result of two years of intense labour.
“It took me a long time writing the album and I really did work hard on every single bit of every single song," reflects the Ivor Novello and Brit Award winner.
“It was a very committed and focussed process and I'm pleased that it seems to have been worth the effort and care.”
Odell's attention to detail has certainly paid off as the album is an absolute treasure trove of powerful choruses, sublime melodies, considered lyrics and top notch musicianship. The depth of songwriting and level of confidence displayed on Wrong Crowd far outreaches his career stage and relatively tender age.
It's hard to believe that this album is only his second, sounding more like a long established artist's seventh or eighth, such is the maturity and quality of the record as a whole. The new single Magnetised, for example, sounds like nothing else around at the moment so it's not as if Odell is trying to slot into the chart line up with his young contemporaries.
“I suppose I've always just been totally immersed in music all my life and maybe that kind of makes me feel that I've been making records for a lot longer than I have. I listen to all sorts of artists but many of them are classic artists who have been around for decades and maybe that helps me not feel like I should be trying to tap in any current sound or fashion.
"Magnetised started out as a piano ballad and in fact most of the album is piano driven but once I got it into the studio it just started to build and build into a much bigger, more dramatic song. So it's a great compliment to hear that it is so different to so much of what's out there now."
On the subject of artists who may well influence Odell's own songwriting and song structuring, I can't help but detect a Bowie flavour to the record in places.
“I'm glad to hear it. I mean David Bowie has always been such an inspirational artist for me and a huge influence. I suppose even subconsciously, music and musicians that you really admire will naturally get in to your own creative process and I'm sure that happens with Bowie in my music," he tells me.
"I do notice little nuances that I can pinpoint, I mean there is a definitely an amount of English quirkiness in my songs that probably has a lot to do with me being a major Bowie fan.”
With the new album on sale now, Odell realises that only half the work is complete on this project.
“Now I've got the album out there I'm relieved and satisfied but now the real work begins. Playing the songs live is what I'm so looking forward to. That's what it's all about and I can't wait to get on stage with my band, hear the tracks really come to life and feel the audience's reaction.”
