Ahead of his forthcoming album IT COMES IN THE MORNING, IT HANGS IN THE EVENING SKY set for release on November 25th via Xtra Mile Recordings, we caught up with TOM JENKINS to chat about him, his music, the new record, meeting his heroes and shearing sheep……read on to find out how we got on.

 

You’re called Tom Jenkins, you’re a musician from Wales, please tell me something about you that not many people know….

I'm also a Hill Farmer from the South Wales Valleys and a Contract sheep shearer, traveling about shearing sheep, sometimes as far as New Zealand. Though I don't tend to go that far anymore.

You’re renowned for blending country-tinged melodies with jangling indie-rock guitars, who would you say had a major impact on this sound?

I've been obsessed with heavier music most of my life like some favourites would be At The drive-in, Silverchair, Nirvana, early Biffy Clyro and all that British underground rock scene in the early 2000's, the mellow stuff came a bit later in life and American bands Like Band Of Horses, The Shins, Ryan Bingham, Charley Crocket mixed with more british influences like Mystery Jets, The Maccabees, Frank Turner and so on. 

Have you ever met any of your heroes? If so, who was it and how did it go?

I've been pretty lucky to be fair, I once met Dave Grohl and completely froze up. First time I ever went to a strip club (at 17) was with Lemmy. Spent most of my childhood jamming 'Peaches' by The Presidents Of The USA in classrooms and my old band went on tour with them and had a wild night with them in Amsterdam, that was a highlight. Most recently, I was invited by Oscar/Grammy winning songwriter Ryan Bingham to join him on a few shows in Ireland, I was such a huge fan and was only standing in the crowd at one of his shows a few months previous to the invite. I was so nervous meeting him but we had a great time and I learnt a lot from him.

Your second album IT COMES IN THE MORNING, IT HANGS IN THE EVENING SKY is out on 25th November, via Xtra Mile Recordings, please tell me how you came to be part of the Xtra Mile family?

I've been releasing music with Xtra Mile through different bands for many years. I wasn't really sure how serious i wanted to take this new solo venture but when I decided to give it a go, they were the obvious choice. I feel very lucky to be working with a team at the label, who are just lovely, hard working people who have built this amazing roster of bands and artists. It's a great position to be in. Hopefully I can make them proud.

Did you approach the process of creating your new album differently to that of your debut? If so, what did you change?

It was a completely opposite approach, the first album was recorded in Fort Worth Texas, and was a project I dreamed about and saved up for, for a long time. I flew out there with my band, we had rehearsed so much and demoed as we were under a time limit. It was an amazing, joyful adventure. It was only meant to be that album that I would release as a solo artist as I had no ambitions of pursuing it.

Album 2 - i started recording it in an old barn on the farm on a 2010 version of garage band and one mic through the depths of lockdown. There was no plan to do an album but the songs kept coming and I was completely out of my depths with recording, so I turned to my good friend Todd Campbell, who has a studio not far from me. I would go there after work most evenings in the winter of 2020 and we just built this record together. It was so strange because full band songs were never jammed, we just smashed them out in the studio and my band mates sent over their parts that they recorded at home. It was like putting a huge puzzle together but not actually knowing what it was gonna turn out like. Even roped in , Phil Campbell of Motörhead, Marc Ford of The Black Crowes, and Paul Mullen of YOURCODENAMEIS:MILO by the end of it. The record has so many influences, it's an interesting listen. I still haven't played some of the songs live in a practice room yet with a band.

I read that you wrote and recorded it during the lockdown period, had we not been in a lockdown situation, do you think the album would have sounded different to what it does?

I think it would've sounded a lot different, as i said it was all built in the studio. I think if we had the time to really go through the songs in a room with a bunch of people giving different inputs it would've taken a different course. But that is the beauty of this album. It was just a project to pass through some dark times. The communal writing process is such an enjoyable process to me, I can't wait to be in a room with my friends drinking cans and thrashing out some songs. No more Lockdown albums, please.

You worked with your lifelong friend and producer Todd Campbell to create the album, was this the first time that you have worked together?

Not at all, myself and Todd have done about 4 albums together including this one and 3 of our old band Straight Lines, we have such an understanding and respect for each other there was probably no one else i could have gone to, to record this record under the circumstances. We had so much fun doing it. I feel very blessed to have Todd as a friend and an incredibly talented producer/engineer in my life.

Are you a ‘hands on’ kinda guy in the studio or do you just do what you have to do and let the producer do their thing?

I'm all for taking a step back and also being hands on. The first album I Completely let go, I specifically went to an American Producer by the name of Elijah Ford to capture his vision of the record but on this second album I produced a lot of it myself and was guided by Todd along the way. I really don't take myself too serious to be super precious about things.

Might sound a strange question but did any of your songs change from the time you wrote them and recorded them? Did the producer suggest any changes that altered the makeup of the song itself?

Not on this second album. For example, I was just taking home demos into the studio and the drummer was just laying drum tracks straight off them and that was that. The drummer was Todd's brother Dane Campbell and we've all been playing with each other for 15 years. We kind of know where we're going with our playing. It was a strange process but we just went with it and built  the songs off the foundations. The album is basically all finished demos. haha

I read all about you in a press release and I was intrigued about the section on potato farming, please expand on this for me….

I'm from a family of Hill farmers In Wales, I have no musical background at all and somehow ended up playing music. I love farming and it's a huge part of my life. The potato farming was a new venture, I finished recording the album in April 2021 and then thought I'd have a go at farming spuds with my family. Kind of underestimated the work involved and it completely took over my life for a few months. It was great though having that connection with the local community coming to the farm to buy potatoes fresh from the soil. I've got another field of spuds in this year, so i might have to sell them on tour, this Nov/Dec. 

It’ll soon be Halloween, if you were attending a party, what would you go dressed as?

My friends are having a halloween, housewarming party and me and my partner are going as Erin Brockovich and her boyfriend in the film, as you do.

We're all coming to yours for a 3 course dinner, what will you be serving us?

It'll be all home produced Lamb, beef and potatoes i'd imagine and blackberry crumble depending on what season. We'll Have some other veg for vegan options.

You’re touring with Cardinal Black and Skinny Lister, what are you most excited about, the shows or hanging out with these guys whilst on the road?

I genuinely love hanging out with other bands on tour, just finished the Cardinal Black tour and we had such a laugh. It's also just nice to see how other bands and musicians function. It's a tough life on the road, so it's always really lovely and interesting how other people deal with it. I take a lot from that and also the playing part.

Have you worked with any of the other Xtra Mile bands in the past? If so, who and when?

My old band used to play withThe Xcerts a lot, they are still one of my favourite bands. So that was great.

They also shot a music video on my farm and Jamie Campbell Bower from Stranger Things was in it. That was a wild weekend.

It’s a shame that you won’t be able to sell your new album whilst on tour this year, I guess you’re hoping that people will be suitably bowled over and go out and pre-order it? Where can people do this?

The Album Comes out the 25/11/22 and im told the physicals will be there a few weeks before, so we're going to be all good on that side of things and have plenty of vinyl and cd to sell on tour.

Tell me 3 things that you simply cannot live without whilst away from home?

I've been told i'm a very basic man, i've literally gone on tour with my stuff in a plastic shopping bag before. Probs just your general, phone, wallet and my Fiancé Drew who comes to most of the shows. We have a lovely time.

I hate to say that it won’t be long until Christmas is upon us, any ideas what’s on your list this year (assuming you’ve been a good boy?)

To be honest, i'm just one of those people who hates receiving gifts, Just get me a couple of cans from the shop and i'll be happy as a pig in shit. Or if we're gonna push the boat out.. a £10 bottle of red. job done!

Social media remains to be a double edged sword, which channels are best to keep up to date with your musical happenings?

Probably Instagram, it's mainly me posting a lot of farming stuff and my sheepdogs. Now the album is coming out i’m obviously doing more music stuff but i try to stay active on facebook and twitter. Did have a go at tiktok too.

Lastly, please share the names of 3 bands or artists that we should be checking out (apart from you obvs!)

Tough one! Gonna have to mention the two bands that my backing band play in and some welsh speaking Rap.

• Safari Gold

• Wynt

• Sage Todz

We’d like to thank Tom for sparing the time to chat to us and we wish him every success for the future. To keep up to date with his musical whereabouts and general shenanigans, follow him on the socials below.

Socials

Twitter

Instagram

Spotify

Catch Tom Jenkins at the following live dates.

OCTOBER

23 - SWN Festival, Cardiff

NOVEMBER

18 - The Globe, Cardiff*

23 - Old Fire Station, Bournemouth*

24 - Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes*

26 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham*

DECEMBER

1 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth*

2 - Forum, Tunbridge Wells*

3 - O2 Academy, Oxford*

7 - Caves, Edinburgh*

8 - Gorilla, Manchester*

9 - University, Newcastle*

10 - Thekla, Bristol*

14 - Y Theatre, Leicester

15 - KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton*

16 - Stylus, Leeds*

*Supporting Skinny Lister

Tickets on sale now.