For Tom Walker, 2019 was an amazing year - he became one of the world's most famous stars. The debut album of the artist Tom Walker What A Time To Be Alive immediately took 1st position in the British chart. Almost 1 million copies sold worldwide.
His previous singles Just You and I and Leave A Light On reached the top 10 and were certified platinum. He also won the Best British Break Through award.
The singer-songwriter was born in Scotland. At 27, he rose to fame with his single Leave A Light On (2017). He was ready to take the States by storm with his new album What Time to be Alive.
Walker was interested in music from a young age, graduating from the London College of Creative Media. After many years of fuss, he signed a contract. Walker has become one of the most promising talents in the UK.
The artist received a Grammy Award and surpassed Ella May and George Smith.
Pianos are "fans" of Tom Walker
Last year, Walker spoke at the Royal Foundation's annual luncheon where he met Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
“It was just crazy. They were all so nice to me, they knew about my career and what I do, ”he said. "They were so elegant and knowledgeable and graceful and everything you would expect from royalty, they totally lived up to it."
Walker added: “It was the most nerve-wracking day of my life. I didn't know what to say to them. Just shook hands with them. I didn't know what to do with my hands in the photo. It was so embarrassing… It was so funny, I was talking to William and Kate and I was like, “Oh my God, you look so great, your dress is amazing!”.
And he joked: "It's okay, buddy, calm down!". And I'm like, "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm nervous." They laughed. They behaved like ordinary people, not just like members of the royal family - very down to earth.
Tom Walker will soon be a married man
Walker proposed to his girlfriend Annie, who was 27 years old.
About 6 years ago, Walker met his fiancée while on vacation. While he was in grief, he decided to go skiing with a friend in France, where he was introduced to Annie, who had just completed her master's degree in nutrition and was working as a health consultant.
“It was a 24 hour bus journey back to the UK from France and we ended up sitting next to each other because my best friend who I went with started dating a friend.
And it so happened that I stayed with Annie. She and I switched places, and then we sat together and chatted all the way back, ”he recalled. “I stayed at her house, and after three days I said, “Well, cool, I’m going back to London now, but if you ever want to come, just light on me.” And the next weekend she was there. And this is a completely different story ... ".
Walker and his future wife, who inspired his new music, might not have been as happy if they had seen each other as often as they would have liked.
“We have come a long way in two years. For two years I drove 200 miles every weekend to see her and back. That's what Just You and I means - we do long distances, it was very difficult, but we did it, ”he says.
“It's cool because we've been traveling long distances for two years, when I'm away on tour now, it's easy because we've been without each other for a while. And then when we see each other, we just dissolve and enjoy.”
He became interested in music at an early age
Walker is grateful to his father for introducing him to many artists from his youth.
“My dad took me to a lot of gigs when I was growing up. My first gig that I remember was AC/DC when I was 9 years old in Paris. It was a good first experience!” Walker said.
"He and I went to Foo Fighters and Muse and BB King and Underworld, Prodigy and Slipknot - went to Slipknot because he wanted to see the band, not because I wanted to see Slipknot," he added.
“We went to classical concerts, jazz concerts and more. My dad was a real inspiration. And obviously I had my friends listening to Sum 41 and Green Day."
Walker realized that he wanted to make his own music after one fatal rock show.
“Ever since that AC/DC gig, I've been asking for a guitar for two years. My dad ended up buying me a guitar for Christmas, and then it started. I bought a drum kit a few years later and bought a bass, started producing, started singing,” he says.
Walker added: “The city I grew up in had almost no musicians, it was just me; there were two stores, such as a store that sold confectionery, sweets and more, as well as farm supplies and a gas station. And that's really all. So there was nothing to do, so I spent all the time in my bedroom making music. I did it because it seemed to me that this is what I will do for the rest of my life. I just liked it."
He kept his cool when he met Ed Sheeran
When Walker was in college where he was studying songwriting, he got to know about Ed Sheeran.
“I went to London once a week, for eight weeks, by train back and forth and listened to Ed Sheeran,” Walker reflected. “He was just breaking through at the time. He came out on YouTube with I Need You, I Don't Need You." And I thought, "If this red-haired guy can write such cool songs and does it by pressing acoustic pedals, then why can't I do it?".
When Walker was creating his debut album, he met Sheeran in the recording studio through their collaborator Steve Mack.
“I was so nervous, I didn't know what to say. Looking back, I don't know if I should have said, "Hey, we should write a song together right now!" Walker said. “But I didn’t know what to say to him, since he was one of my heroes because of whom I started doing this. I was sweaty and nervous."
He used to be an assistant at weddings
After earning a degree in songwriting: “I traveled around London for a year, also working as an assistant. I'm the guy who goes to events, looks out for drunk people, shows them how to work in a photo booth."
Walker says of his previous experience: “So I did this for a year, and it was four five-hour events, several times a week. And when I wasn't doing it, I was just constantly working on the music, trying to break through."
He adopted his signature cap and beard look for good reason:
“Well, I shaved off all my hair because I was sick of it. I didn't have the best hair in the world, it was obviously thinning, and I decided to just accept defeat gracefully, very early. I definitely have two or three years left. So I just thought: “Oh, their, in general, this hair!” Walker laughed. “I saw pictures of my dad with some trickle of Donald Trump on the go – and I didn’t want that. I shaved it all to hell." Walker added: “God, it’s so easy now — I just wake up in the morning and put on my hat. It's great!"".
