There are just some songs that hit you right in the chest from the first time you hear it, and Tom Walker‘s most recent single, “Leave a Light On” is one of those. The track, which is also the lead single of his upcoming debut album, was written as a way for the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist to express his support for his good friend dealing with addiction. And with over 50 million streams on Spotify and 30 million video views already, it’s safe to say that the song resonates with listeners and strangers as well.
Hot on the heels of a successful 2017 which found him out on his first North American tour supporting The Script, Walker is already gearing up for an even busier 2018, with his debut album in the works and more tour dates planned throughout August. It’s safe to say that 2018 is going to be Tom Walker’s year, and you’re going to want to know his name. Read more about him and listen to “Leave a Light On” below!
Interview by Dom Vigil
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself for any readers who might be hearing you for the first time?
I was born in Glasgow then moved to Manchester when I was really young. For the past 2 years I’ve been traveling the world playing my songs to so many different people, it’s all been a bit mental to be honest!
What first inspired you to get involved with music?
It was my dad. He’s well into music so brought me up listening to a wide variety of different music. I went to see AC/DC in Paris with him when I really young and seeing Angus Young on stage just made we want to get a guitar and be as sick as him.
You recently wrapped up an incredibly busy 2017 full of new music and some of your biggest shows yet. What are some of your favorite memories from the past year?
There’s so many amazing things we’ve done over the past year. When I supported The Script on tour across the US last year, we drove ten thousand miles in 16 days across the tour and saw so much of America. That was pretty special!
Before the end of the year, you released your latest single, “Leave a Light On.” What goals did you have in mind for this song when you began working on it?
I wrote it with Steve Mac nearly two years ago now and everyone was always really excited about the track. It’s hard to think how well something is going to do before you put it out, especially as this song means so much to me. It’s been amazing to see the song help people through some darks times and I’m totally blown away by all the amazing messages I get from fans every day, It means everything to me.
“Leave a Light On” has a rather personal meaning to you, too. Can you tell us about the inspiration and story behind the song?
Yeah, I wrote it about a friend of mine who was going through a bit of a tough time and just wanted to write something that would be a message to him and any other person going through a dark time that there’s always going to be someone there who will be that light for you when you need it most.
“Leave a Light On” is the lead single from your upcoming debut album – can fans expect to hear some more new music soon?
It will come, that’s all I can say for now.
It being your debut full-length, what would you like to accomplish from this collection of songs? What would you like listeners to take away from it?
I just want to make the best album I possibly can. We’ve got some great singles coming out but It needs to all make sense as a body of work and be something that I’m really proud of. What we’ve got in the bag so far is amazing and I’m so excited to finish off the rest.
Right now, you’re getting ready for an incredibly busy year of touring, including some stops in the US later this year! What are you looking forward to in the coming months?
I’m so busy and love being out on the road but that also means I don’t get much time to spend with my family and friends, without them I wouldn’t be able to write the songs I have, so it’s really special when I get the chance to spend time with them.
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Listen to and purchase “Leave a Light On” HERE.
1 Comment
I love this song and hope it helps anyone going through this problem,but I also love the music.and I have a disabled son who doesn’t know what the song means but he is nuts about it and listens all the time and he loves the music too,☺