SHROPSHIRE born, Thom Morecroft, now spends most of his life in Liverpool, producing absolutely bewitching music, worthy of making women swoon and males turn. Acoustically inclined, his sound has an efficacious omnipotentness, pushing a marvellous feeble tenderness to the forefront of Liverpool's music scene.
December 2012 saw the release of Morecroft's latest album, 'Moon Moon Shake It' proving the uttermost proficiency he possesses when music is concerned. Everyone who is anyone will listen in absolute awe of what is developing as the album flickers from track to track, how beautifully scripted and cleverly concocted it is to provide a powerful basis for an utterly radiant listening experience.
One track that caught my eye in particular was 'Daisy', with its charming vocals and pleasing acoustic vibes. A fanciful introduction makes for a sure vocal start from Morecroft, using his enticing, rustically versatile voice as a starter point to grow the track into a rather laid-back tune, leading the listener to imagine a late-night bar setting, candlelit and mysterious but most definitely full of dazzling inclinations of the power to come. Armed with the whisper-esque backing vocals from Elle Schillereff, the mystery around 'Daisy' grows and grows, charming all, then, with the sudden changing from quiet to loud, it captures imaginations even more so than before, taking the listener on a rather bewildering but thoroughly enjoyable listening experience, definitely a track you'd crave instantly.
'Moon Moon Shake It' is available to listen to via Thom's soundcloud.
Whether it's creating music, playing live or organising live nights, Thom Morecroft is certainly a man with many talents, achieving so much yet still having a lot more to give. The Music Manual managed to grab a quick interview with the man himself to find out about the marvellous creator...
When did you realise
music was what you wanted to do?
I would have been around eight years old and watching the
film ‘A Hard Days Night’. You know that scene on the train where they play ‘I
Should Have Known Better’…? For quite a while afterwards, it made me want to be
all three talented members.
Has music always been
a big part of your life?
I would say it has! I think we’re generally a very musical
people. You always see parents rocking their babies or toddlers to music when
there is something on. I wonder if it’s born out of some blind mad panic. "I
don’t mind about dirty teeth but I hope to God our Billy develops good rhythm.”
You're originally
from Shropshire, how does the music scene differ from Liverpool's ?
I can only really comment from the point of view of an
acoustic artist. The way I see it, Shropshire’s gig circuit is a lot about
traditional folk (and I mean folky folky folky) or blues. Liverpool’s acoustic
circuit seems to be more centred around the singer-songwriter-thing,
particularly Americana. I also haven’t been playing in Shropshire much up until
recently when I did a few things at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, so I wouldn’t
want to make too many comments about the music going on now down there.
Obviously, I think Liverpool is the greatest city in the universe and that the
current wave of singer-songwriters emerging from here is unmatchable…but what
do I know?
How has the response
been for your latest album, 'Moon Moon Shake It'?
I’ve had some lovely local reviews of the record. Additionally,
the ex-editor of NME, Q, Mojo and Word Magazine Paul Du Noyer has said it’s
“powerful stuff”, and apparently has it on sometimes when entertaining friends
at his London home. Two of the songs have been played on BBC6 by Tom Robinson
as well. It’s sold fairly well. However, the biggest response to come out of it
is for there to be more band songs like ‘Daisy’, the title track and ‘Holly’.
It plays like a (good) singer-songwriter album, and I’m definitely excited to
move on and do something bigger, darker and bolder.
How did The Fresh
Sessions at Schmooze Bar come about?
Graham Holland who runs Liverpool Acoustic was asked by the
couple that run Schmooze Bar if he knew anyone that could run live weekly
acoustic music there. Graham immediately recommended me and Sian Williams. We
had run a very successful but short-lived live event at a bar on Berry St
called ‘Unplugged at the Sink’. Unfortunately the name of the night was just
too hilarious so we had to look elsewhere. Sian, now in the band ‘Bird’, couldn’t
commit to the night in the end. I’ve been running it solo since July 2012.
Do you think a lot of
the more well-known artists take their status for granted?
Oh definitely - I always wake up in the mornings and think
“Picasso Picasso doesn’t know he’s born.”
Are there any other
local musicians that you're liking the sound of?
There are plenty worth mentioning, but I’d like to mention
two who aren’t that well known in Liverpool at the moment. One is Hannah Kewn,
who just has one of the most incredible voices I’ve ever heard. If you get the
chance to see her, take yourself up on it – she’s phenomenal. The other is
Matthew McGurty. It keeps me awake at night that Matt isn’t signed or on some
enormous tour – his voice and song-writing style are simply beautiful - I’ve
never heard anything like him in my life.
Your favourite tracks
to play live?
With my band behind me, it’s got to be the song ‘Holly’,
which is on the newest album. It feels like taking your biggest dog out for a
walk. I also really like playing a song of mine called ‘Pissing In The Rain’
with the band, which will be on the next record. For a solo gig in a silent
room with a bolt-up audience, it’s always ‘The Beast’ though (also on ‘Moon
Moon Shake It’).
Going back to when
you first started in your music journey, any advice you'd give to your younger
self?
Musically, I’d let him get on with it. But in terms of
promoting himself, I’d advise him to plan things out more, to think before he
speaks and to look people in the eyes a bit more. I met Natalie McCool this
year and ended up working with her in preparation for an interview with Paul Du
Noyer presented by Little Atom Productions, and I think I may have made a
terrible first impression due to the combination of talking too-much-too-loudly
and my eyes dotting across the room. I’ve fixed it now though - I seem to see
her around fairly frequently in the city centre, and she is always incredibly
friendly. So yeah, I’d tell 16-year old Thom to calm down a bit. I’d tell 22-year
Thom to as well.
What's on the cards
for the rest of this year?
Gigging, planning (for a change) and starting to record the
new material for an album coming out in September 2014. I’ve just started
running a monthly event at Unit 51 on Jamaica Street called ‘Shangri La La La’
which runs from 7pm-10pm every third Friday.
Beyond recordings or playing host, my next gig is on the 12th
of September at The Camp and Furnace, where I will be backed by the Full Moon
Band. I’m also going to be part of organising an art, poetry and music festival
called ‘Unfold’ in November with parts of the Lemon Collective and the Wild
Writers, particularly Laura Sullivan and Rebecca Brookfield.
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