Denuo Interview
Denuo aka Tom, has been one of my favourite artists for a few years now, ever since I heard his song, Dreamless. It became my go to song before, It’s You took joint spot.
I am so excited to share this interview that I did with him because I always love to find out more about the person/people behind my favourite songs and art.
Scroll down to read more about his new single, music video and upcoming projects as well as what tips he has for aspiring singers/musicians.
Nadine: What's your name, where are you from and what do you do?
Denuo: Hello! My name is Tom, and I’m a musician and songwriter from Conwy on the North Wales coast. I make indie/alt pop music.
N: Your new single, All I Need is absolutely stunning, same as all your work! And you have recently just launched the music video which is equally as beautiful. Tell us more about this song, what it means, the inspiration behind it and the video.
D: Thank you. I was so excited to release the video for this song, which was directed by an amazing filmmaker and photographer called Yohei Haga. The song was inspired by the Murakami novel “Norwegian Wood” and a Zelda game called “Ocarina of Time”. They both trigger a similar feeling for me, and have themes of loss and nostalgia. It’s my tribute to those stories, and I think Yohei’s video compliments the song beautifully.
N: Where do you get your inspiration from in general and do you ever suffer from periods of time when you just can't write? What do you do in those times to get motivated again?
D: Yeah, absolutely. There have been many times where I just couldn’t write anything. As cliché as it is, I feel that the inspiration comes in waves, so in those low moments I just have to remind myself that it will come back again. It can be frustrating but the lightbulb moment always happens eventually. I’m usually inspired by places and memories, or sometimes a great film or album. When I started writing this new material, I rediscovered Roxy Music’s “Avalon” album. It’s so classy, romantic, and sonically amazing. It definitely sparked my motivation and influenced my approach to a lot of my new stuff.
N: Walk us through a day in the life of Tom.
D: Life is obviously very different and quieter at the moment, but I think the space and time away from “normal” life has allowed me to be more creative and focused. I go for a walk in the countryside every day, which has been great. I think 90% of the time I’m thinking about music and release plans, so the fresh air helps to clear my mind for a bit. Oh, and I’ve been spending a lot of time with my cat!
N: Do you have any hobbies outside of music and what has been the highlight
of your musical career so far?
D: I love photography and videography, but even those hobbies end up being connected to music somehow. I’m not a huge gamer, but I do love my Nintendo Switch and replaying some of the old N64 games too. There have been some really cool moments in Denuo’s lifetime, but one of the main highlights for me was when I finished my album “Scarlet Sleep”. I see albums as being like paintings or photographs that will outlive us, and to make one is the best feeling for me.
N: What would you like people to take away from your music?
D: I hope it gives people a sense of escapism. That’s how I’ve always enjoyed music anyway. I’ve always been inspired by film soundtracks and cinematic pop music, so there’s a visual in mind when I’m writing or listening to music. M83’s album “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” will forever make me think of nice memories being in Paris in 2011, for example. So I hope my music can do that for someone.
N: So we've had a new single, does that mean there's an EP or Album in the works that we can look forward to hearing soon?
D: Yes! I finished an album at the end of last year with my good friend and producer Russ Hayes, so I’m really excited to release that. It’s been a long time in the making but I’m very proud of how it turned out and want to give it the release it deserves. Keep an eye out for details...
N: What tips can you give an aspiring musician/singer?
D: You do you! I think we all naturally compare ourselves to other musicians and how they’re doing things, especially now with social media. It can be good to learn from others and see what’s happening, but I think it’s really important to embrace your own style of writing/performing.
Thank you Tom!
Visit: www.instagram.com/denuomusic