Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TOM’S TIPS FROM THE TOP
Help from Elton John and honing his performances on the road have developed singer songwriter Odell
’He’s very sweet and there is no agenda, which is quite pleasant in the music industry’
Having a great mentor can make a career truly sing, but Tom Odell admits he has struck gold by getting help from Elton John. Tom is one of several singersongwriters the pop legend has taken under his wing, alongside Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and James Blake. He says: “Elton has been incredible and so supportive. He’s very sweet and there is no agenda, which is quite pleasant to find in the music industry.
“I have a little cupboard at home where I write my songs, and there is a record he gave me hanging on the wall in there, with a message from him on it. If I can’t seem to finish a song, it can offer some words of inspiration.”
Tom is not quite so keen to discuss another famous connection, Taylor Swift, whom he was linked to in 2013 when the pair were spotted out for drinks.
“No I don’t see her. I don’t speak to her. I haven’t heard her latest song,” he says.
The 26-year-old has just finished a busy 18 months of touring, including an impressive 30-odd festivals over the summer. One of the last was Awake
Festival, (awakefestival.ro), held in the grounds of an old castle in Transylvania in Romania.
But despite the continual live work, Tom is modest about his stagecraft. “I still wouldn’t say I am at home on stage, but I am certainly more comfortable than when I started out.”
Tom, who is heading back into the studio to work on his third album, admits it is the writing that drives him more than performing.
“I’ve never been that person who danced in front of a mirror, singing into a hairbrush. I am not in this for entertainment, I would not even get through the first round on X Factor! I am a bit obsessed with songwriting. I can’t not finish a sing, even if it is crap, or I’ll never know if it could have been great.”
Tom started writing at 13 and admits to having dozens of unused songs waiting on his laptop.
“It depresses me when I have put so much time and effort into a song, if it just sits there.
“I have tried to write for others, but failed miserably – you lose the instinctiveness of it. But I have enough money to live. I’ve never been driven to earn lots – if I can just keep playing and touring, and spend the odd afternoon reading a book, then I’ll be happy.”