I've just got tickets to see the BRITs Critics' Choice, Tom Odell, in Newcastle in October. Here, I explain why you should grab the opportunity to see him live in such intimate venues while you can.
I was introduced to the sound of Tom Odell a few months ago through friends and BBC Radio One, and instantly fell in love with his raw talent and the passion he conveys in each of his songs. I can't think of anyone comparable to Odell in his sound or the sheer effort he puts into the emotion of his performance, which makes him the obvious choice to receive the acclaimed BRIT award of Critics' Choice.
The winner of this award is coveted by producers and artists alike each year; from Adele to Jessie J, the award doesn't favour any particular genre of music, but rather rewards artist's hard efforts in getting noticed. The nominees for the 2013 award were all favourites of mine: AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula, and of course, Tom Odell. But despite my interest in all these new artists, I was rooting for Odell in this category from the start.
There is something very unassuming about Tom Odell. His lack of interest in the fame of the music industry is blindingly obvious; he is simply a man who loves music. This is why I was so shocked by The Guardian's feature on Odell, which stated that his songs are "so commercial you can almost hear the sounds of ringing cash registers behind the eerily layered backing vocals and pounding drums." (read the full article here.) The author of this piece obviously doesn't understand the difficulties faced by all new musicians trying to break into the industry.
And "commercial"?!
Odell is one of the few artists recently who has actually grabbed my attention for its individuality and lack of commercialism. 2012 was overwhelmed by the pop/hip-hop collaboration, and I'm relieved to see a deviation from this tedious route through artists such as Odell.
My favourite song from his EP Songs From Another Love is 'Can't Pretend';. it really exemplifies Odell's vocal range as well as his talent on the piano. It's not a monotonous song, it's very brooding and theatrical. And I'm obsessed with it. I've exhausted my Spotify through listening to Odell's debut EP, which was released in 2012. 'Another Love' is one of those songs everyone will have heard, but not paid the deserved attention to. It's already gaining popularity after being used on an advertisement for the BBC, and I can see this song, and indeed the whole collection, really gaining momentum in the upcoming months.
I was fortunate enough to purchase tickets to see Tom Odell in October earlier today. He is still an upcoming artist, and so is performing mainly in academies, which, in my opinion, is the perfect venue for an artist like Odell. His songs are so passionate that they allow an intensity to flourish in such an intimate environment, setting it up to be a phenomenal night.
The presale only opened today, and tickets go on general release on Friday. So if you are a fan, I strongly recommend buying tickets (I assume they will be available on the major ticket sellers: Ticketmaster, See Tickets etc). Make sure you take full advantage of such a personal set up while you still can; I predict a momentous future for this young artist which means you won't be able to see him in these kind of venues at this kind of price this time next year. Find your closest venue here.
If you haven't yet listened to Tom Odell's collection, please check out his soundcloud. You won't regret it.
Debut Album 'Long Way Down' out April 15.
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