Mparntwe/Alice Springs artist Tom Snowdon is releasing his first solo material in the form of EP Channel. 

As a child, one of Snowdon’s favourite records was the covers album Messenger by Yorta Yorta artist Jimmy Little. He thought the songs were all Little’s, and it’s been a collection he’s returned to over the years. At the urging of a friend earlier this year, Snowdon has created a collection of his own cover versions – both as a nod to the influence of Little and as a way to transition into creating music solo, after a career-to-date of working collaboratively with bandmates and co-writers. As evidenced by these haunting versions of ‘Two Weeks‘ and ‘Unchained Melody‘ it’s clear Snowdon can take a song and make it his own.

Whether paying homage to the singers who most influenced him or stepping out of his lane, Snowdon followed his voice and recorded tracks that just felt good to sing, and carried a curious atmosphere he could explore. Some of his favourite singers include Björk, Nina Simone, Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) and Mark Hollis (Talk Talk). “They’re mesmerising for me because they take listeners on a journey with their voices. They’re deeply instrumental and rich with emotion, so the words they sing take on weight and power.”

The first track we’ll hear is an Australian classic ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head‘, released by Kylie Minogue in 2001. It has a bass line like something out of a Timbaland track, paired with earthy percussion and watery piano. Snowdon’s vocals wrestle the pressure and desperation of the story, layering his voice to thicken the headiness of obsession. Listen HERE.

Says Snowdon “I wanted to push myself to explore spaces I’d not normally work in and also to have fun with the arrangements. That Kylie track is such an Australian classic but is probably a bit outside the space in which I usually work … But everyone knows that song. The challenge putting it together, as with any cover, was keeping the soul of what’s special about the original but also freely interpreting it.”

‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head‘ by Tom Snowdon is out now, buy/stream it here.
For our friends at community radio, you can also download the track via AMRAP here.

The single is out 2nd September
The EP will be released 7th October
Out on Pieater

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