What’s My Scene: Tom West wouldn’t trade away his young, cringe and clueless era
In our regular Q&A column What’s My Scene, InReview speaks to emerging and established local artists to get their take on the South Australian creative scene and their place within it. This week, folk journeyman Tom West reflects on his early years in Adelaide, and stepping out into the ‘unknown’ of North America.
Where was your first gig, and how did it go?
It must have been at high school. I think we played ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ –which is probably a pretty quintessential first-gig type song for someone who was coming of age in the early 2000s.
What is your artist origin story?
In 2017 I travelled to the USA with no real plans and a vague notion of trying my hand at some songwriting and networking-type activities to see what would happen. For better or worse, that act of stepping out into the unknown kicked off the next eight years of bouncing in and out of North America playing whatever gig I could get my hands on. I think that experience has probably had the most impact on me as an artist.
What was your impression of the Adelaide creative scene when you first started, and how has that changed?
When I started out my impression of the Adelaide creative scene was limited to dropping off my CD demos off to Jive, The Grace [Emily Hotel], The Exeter and the Music SA office to see if I could get a review.
I’m sure there were resources and opportunities for guidance as a young person trying their luck in the arts at that time, but I didn’t know how to access them and had no network. I can look back now at some of the things I did, or tried, and I cringe a bit, but I’m also pretty sure I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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I think falling in with other creatives who also didn’t really have a clue and then bumbling our way along is an authentic experience, and one that I’m glad I’ve had, even if it meant that I was never going to get played on Triple J during its glory days, or achieve some of the things that I thought were important at the time.
How has your own work evolved since you first started?
I listen back to my singing in the early days and that is something I notice. I think it took me a good 15 years to ‘learn’ how to sing – I’m still not sure what I’m doing, but people say they like it.
In recent times, I’m enjoying learning to be a bit less serious in my writing. I’m looking forward to sharing some of that work over the next year or so.
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What is it about your next release that you’re most excited or nervous to share with the world?
Next week I’ll be doing a recording session at Forest Range Studios with some really great people. I’m bringing a double bass player and drummer down from Chicago to team up with Ryan Martin John and Thom Kneebone. I’m amazingly excited, especially to see the interplay between Ethan [Philion] on bass and Tom on guitar.
I’m really pleased to be putting together a project where I can bring two really different worlds together. I will be somewhat nervous too, because the songs are a little bit different to what I’ve normally done previously, still introspective and contemplative, but with a little bit more cheek too.
Who are the artists around you that inspire or challenge you?
I’ve always been inspired by Naomi Keyte’s work. We often touch on similar themes but in different ways. I like looking at the world I know through Naomi’s lens.
Favourite venue to play?
Anywhere that is not in the corner of a restaurant or bar with a footy game playing behind me. Small, listening room type situations like the Grace and the Wheaty are my favourite.
Dream artist to perform alongside?
I actually don’t know! I like a lot of music, but would you want to play alongside your idols or big inspirations? Maybe!
Favourite artist to collaborate with?
I have loved collaborating with Nancy Bates the best. I’ve learnt a lot from Nancy and always find new ways to be impressed with her capacity to profoundly state the simplest of things.
Where is your next gig/exhibition/performance, and how do you hope it will go?
I’m sharing my new LP Chicago Versions at the Wheatsheaf on Sunday. In August last year I spent a day at Chicago’s Shirk studios recording some of my songs in a stripped back and raw format with Ethan on double bass. Playing live in a stripped back acoustic format is my bread and butter, and prior to this recording session I felt like a lot of my favourite songs to play were spread out over multiple releases with different band arrangements. It felt like it was high time to get some recordings that were reflective of the type of gig I play most nights.
Ethan will be joining me from Chicago on double bass and Liv Cartledge will be playing a set.
Tom West performs at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on Sunday May 17. Chicago Versions is out now.
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