Tom Aspaul

Thomas Paul Frederick Dutton, known professionally as Tom Aspaul is a British singer and songwriter from Wolverhampton.[1] He released his debut album, Black Country Disco in 2020 to critical acclaim.[2] His songwriting credits include Kylie Minogue, Snakehips, Celeste and AlunaGeorge, amongst many others.

Tom Aspaul
Birth nameThomas Paul Frederick Dutton
BornSeptember 15
OriginWolverhampton, West Midlands, United Kingdom
GenresPop, R&B, dance, disco
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2013–present
LabelsOn Repeat Records (2013)
BLK&WHT (2016)
Associated acts

Early life

Tom grew up on a council estate[3] in the Black Country.[4][5] Writing songs from an early age, he would play ideas to family and friends, but was not involved in the local music scene.[6] Instead, Aspaul went on to study Architecture,[7] followed by a master's at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.

Music career

Songwriting

Tom's career in music began in earnest whilst still studying at University in London. Encountering several A&Rs and music managers during his shifts working in an East London pub, Aspaul was eventually drafted to help write new material for the newly reformed Sugababes (then known as Mutya Keisha Siobhan) in 2012.[8] In October 2013, after uploading a demo to SoundCloud, his song "Indiana" was signed to Little Boots' label, On Repeat Records.[9][10] Produced by MNEK, the single attracted support from Popjustice[11] and Pitchfork.[12] A remix of "Indiana" went on to top the Hype Machine Chart.[13] The original version of the song was covered and renamed as "Feels So Good" by Australian singer Kylie Minogue.[14] Minogue included it on her twelfth studio album, Kiss Me Once, with Aspaul contributing backing vocals.[15] Tom signed his first publishing deal soon after.[16]

In September 2015, Tom co-wrote and featured on XYconstant's single, "Do It Well", released on FFRR Records/Parlophone in September 2015.[17] The track was featured on several 'Best of 2015' lists,[18][19][20] eventually being nominated[21] for the 2016 Popjustice £20 Music Prize, an annual prize awarded by music website Popjustice, recognising the "best British pop single of the previous year". During this time, often in five songwriting sessions a week,[22] Aspaul's other credits include writing singles for AlunaGeorge, LIZ, The X Factor thirteenth series winner Matt Terry (and the runner-up Saara Aalto), Snakehips and current Brit Award for Rising Star winner, Celeste, amongst others. He became unpublished in 2018 and left London in 2019.[23]

2014–2019: Revelation, LEFT and collaborations
Main article: Revelation (EP)

After the initial success of "Indiana", on 10 December 2014 Tom premiered "Good Together", his second official single and the first from his debut mixtape.[24] The song, produced by GRADES, received support from Huw Stephens and was named by former BBC Radio 1 DJ, Zane Lowe as his "Next Hype".[25] Revelation, the mixtape, was self-released via YouTube 19 May 2015, receiving acclaim from billboard.[26] In November 2015, Tom was chosen by BBC Radio 2 DJ, Jo Whiley as one of three acts from the West Midlands to perform at her BBC Introducing showcase, preceding the BBC Music Awards in Birmingham.[27] Also in 2015, Tom released his collaboration with Aeble (alias of producer Starsmith), "Better By Your Side", which went on to eventually amass over 10 million streams.[28]

Tom released his first full EP, LEFT on BLK&WHT records on 4 November 2016, featuring work with frequent collaborators MNEK and GRADES.[29] 2017 saw more collaborations, with Tom's vocals featuring on several EDM/dance and house tracks, including songs by Viceroy,[30] Bronze Whale and Sleepy Tom, the latter of which became one of BBC Radio 1's "Dance Anthems".

In 2018, a new song, "Going Down", co-produced by George Reid,[31] was to be the start of a "new untitled project".[32] After Tom contracted appendicitis suddenly, the project was scrapped and instead followed by another mixtape of demo material named Lamentations.[33] Aspaul returned 3 May 2019 with "Back 2 Earth", his first proper single in three years, described as "refreshing", "uplifting" and "inspiring".[34][35][36]

2019–present: Black Country Disco

On 14 September 2019, Tom announced the beginning of a new project, Black Country Disco - named for the area in which he grew up (and had since moved back to) and inspired by disco from the late 70s and early 80s.[37] The project would culminate in the release of his debut full-length album.[38] In October 2019, the first single “Traces”, produced by Gil Lewis,[39] was released, followed by “Close 2 Me” in November. Critically acclaimed[40] third single “W.M." was released 27 March 2020. Described as "upbeat, positive retro-futuristic disco at it’s [sic] finest",[41] the song was picked by Entertainment Weekly as one of "the five best tracks of the week" as well as being chosen by Spotify to highlight LGBTQIA+ creators for their 2020 Pride Campaign.[42][43][44][45] To accompany the project, in December 2019 Tom released a cover of fellow Wolverhampton band Slade's song, “Everyday”.[46]

In December 2019, Tom supported Saara Aalto at her Christmas show in London, his first live performance in three years. Aspaul also supported Louise on the Birmingham leg of her UK Tour in March 2020[47] before being announced as one of the main stage performers[48] at Birmingham Pride 2020, postponed to 2021.

The album itself was self-released in September 2020 to critical acclaim,[49] hailed as "queer disco album of the year" by Gay Times,[50] and named "easily one of the best albums of the year",[51] the record was supported by a short-film titled Black Country Disco: The Movie, shot in and around Wolverhampton.[52]

Aspaul was awarded the PPL Momentum Fund in October 2020,[53] sponsored by PRS, Spotify and Arts Council England to help fund his second studio album. He also performed the entirety of his debut album at Birmingham Symphony Hall[54] as part of SHOUT Festival of Queer Arts & Culture.[55]

Artistry

Aspaul is a pop singer and songwriter, though his music has straddled pop, R&B[56] and electronic/dance.[57] Aspaul is noted for using vocal harmonies extensively and his songs often feature his own voice layered several times.[58] His vocals have been described as having an "unapologetic queerness"[59] as well as being "unique", "soulful", "smooth", "versatile" and "effortless".[60][61][62] He frequently cites Rodney Jerkins, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez amongst his favourite musicians,[63][64] although more recently, the likes of La Roux, Empire of the Sun and Daft Punk have influenced his work stylistically - as well as Chic, Grace Jones and ELO.[65]

Other work

Tom launched a music and pop culture podcast, Bottle Pop with Tom Aspaul in 2017. He is the host, with fellow singer/songwriter guests including MNEK, Becky Hill, Siobhan Donaghy, Anita Blay and Clare Maguire; as well as music journalist guests such as Popjustice.[66][67] Since 2018 Tom has been sporadically presenting on the internet only radio station, FUBAR Radio. In 2020 he began hosting a weekly show on Gorgeous FM, an LGBTQ+ station for Birmingham, the Black Country and Shropshire.[68][69]

Personal life

Aspaul is gay.[70][71] He lived in London for eleven years, before splitting with his partner of five years and moving back to the West Midlands in 2019.[72]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details
Black Country Disco
  • Released: 14 September 2020
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, cassette

EPs
Title EP details
LEFT
  • Released: 4 November 2016
  • Label: BLK&WHT Records
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes
Title Mixtape details
Revelation
  • Released: 19 May 2015
  • Format: Digital download
Lamentations
  • Released: 11 December 2018
  • Format: Digital download

As lead artist
Title Year Album
"Indiana" 2013 non-album single
"Good Together" 2014 Revelation
"Never Complaining" 2016 LEFT
"Burnt Out"
"Going Down" 2018 non-album single
"Back 2 Earth" 2019
"Traces" Black Country Disco
"Close 2 Me"
"W.M." 2020
"Tender"
"01902"
Year Title
2015 "Better By Your Side"
(Aeble featuring Tom Aspaul)
"Do It Well"
(XY Constant featuring Tom Aspaul)
2017 "Imagine"
(Bronze Whale X Popeska featuring Tom Aspaul)
"Improvise"
(Viceroy featuring Tom Aspaul)
"Why Won't You Call"
(Joe Hertz featuring Tom Aspaul)
2018 "Plans"
(with Sleepy Tom)
2019 "Don't Think"
(Pat Lok featuring Tom Aspaul)

Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s)
"Black Country Disco: The Movie" 2020 Sam Taylor-Edwards

Songwriting credits

  indicates a background vocal contribution

  indicates an un-credited lead vocal contribution

  indicates a credited vocal/featured artist contribution

Year Artist Album Song Co-written with
2014 Kylie Minogue Kiss Me Once "Feels So Good" No additional writers
2015 Karen Harding Say Something EP "Those Girls" Karen Harding, Daniel Traynor
Little Boots Working Girl "Working Girl" Viktoria Hesketh, Daniel Traynor
Hannah Lucia Non-album single "Don't Hold Out" Hannah Lucia, Thomas AD Fuller
Alo Lee Videos EP "Videos" Alo Lee, Liam Howe, Exmoor Emperor
2016 Alex Newell Power EP "Shame" Karen Harding, George Tizzard, Richard Parkhouse
AlunaGeorge I Remember "Mediator" Aluna Francis, George Reid
Liz Cross Your Heart "Want U to Hate Me" Elizabeth Abrams, Shane Tremlin, Thomas Foley
Aanysa Non-album single "Burn Break Crash"
(with Snakehips)		 Caroline Furoyen, Daniel Traynor
2017 Celeste The Milk & the Honey EP "Chocolate" Celeste Waite, James Edward Jacob
Joe Hertz Non-album single "Simple"
(with Jones)		 Joseph Hertz
Charlotte OC Careless People "In Paris" Charlotte O'Connor, Martin Sjølie
GotSome Non-album single "I Don't Know"
(featuring Lisa Kekaula)		 Adam Gorsky, Alexander Holmes, Ian Griffiths, Thomas Griffiths, Rebecca Hill, Jimmy Hogarth, Lisa Kekaula
Matt Terry Trouble "Try" Matthew Terry, Daniel Shah, Skylar Adams
2018 Saara Aalto Wild Wild Wonderland "Queens" Saara Aalto, Farley Arvidsson, Charlie Walshe
Olivier Dion Exposed "Curious" Sabina Ddumba, Daniel Traynor
MOKS Non-album single "Do So Much"
(featuring Vinchenzo)		 Rijad Rahmouni, Carlos Vroljik, Aaron Gill, Daniel McDougall
Mae Muller Frankly EP "Maybe" Holly Muller, Anthony Esterly
2020 Louise Heavy Love "Villain" Louise Redknapp, Hannah Robinson, Josef Page
Jay Pryor Non-album single "Aside" Jay Pryor, James Bairian, Jesse Thomas, Louis Castle

Awards and nominations
Year Nominee/Work Award Result
2016 "Do It Well" (featuring Tom Aspaul) Popjustice £20 Music Prize[73] Nominated
2020 Tom Aspaul PPL Momentum[74] Won

References
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  4. Cragg, Michael. "'You associate it with metal, not flares': will the West Midlands embrace disco-pop?". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  5. Best, Lloyd. "INTRODUCING: TOM ASPAUL". GodIsInTheTV. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
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