Tom Skinner (drummer) explained
Landscape: | yes |
Background: | person |
Tom Skinner |
Alias: | Hello Skinny |
Birth Date: | 26 January 1980 |
Current Member Of: | The Smile |
Past Member Of: | Sons of Kemet |
Tom Skinner (born 26 January 1980) is an English drummer, percussionist and record producer. He co-founded the jazz band Sons of Kemet and the rock band the Smile. He has released two albums under the name Hello Skinny. His first album under his own name, Voices of Bishara, was released in November 2022.
Early life
Tom Skinner was born 26 January 1980.[1] He began playing drums at the age of nine. He enjoyed 1990s grunge and metal bands such as Napalm Death, before discovering experimental jazz musicians such as John Zorn and Ornette Coleman.[2]
Career
Jazz and Sons of Kemet
NPR described Skinner as "the sort of drummer who always locates the pivot point between chaos and clarity".[3] He emerged in the London jazz scene, playing with musicians including Finn Peters, Cleveland Watkiss and Denys Baptiste,[4] and the electronic artist Matthew Herbert. He was a member of the jazz trio Zed-U and the avant-garde soul group Elmore Judd.
In 2011, Skinner cofounded the jazz band Sons of Kemet. They released four albums and announced their disbandment in 2022.[5] In December 2020, Skinner joined several British jazz musicians to record a Miles Davis tribute album, London Brew. It was released on 31 March 2023 by Concord Jazz.[6]
The Smile
See main article: The Smile (band). Skinner first worked with the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood when he performed on Greenwood's soundtrack for the 2012 film The Master. In 2021, Skinner, Greenwood and the Radiohead singer, Thom Yorke, debuted a new band, the Smile.[7] They made their surprise debut in a performance streamed by Glastonbury Festival that May.[8] [9]
In May 2022, the Smile released their debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention, and began an international tour.[10] The second Smile album, Wall of Eyes, was released in January 2024, with a European tour that year.[11] Skinner contributed to Yorke's soundtrack for the 2024 film Confidenza.[12]
Solo work
Skinner has released two albums under the name Hello Skinny.[13] He released the first album under his own name, Voices of Bishara, on 4 November 2022.[14] It features jazz musicians including Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Kareem Dayes and Tom Herbert. The first single, "Bishara", was released in September 2022. Skinner released a live version of Voices of Bishara in May 2024.[15]
Personal life
Skinner has two children and lives in North London.
Discography
As Hello Skinny
- Hello Skinny (2012)
- Revolutions EP (2013)
- Watermelon Sun (2017)
As Tom Skinner
With Sons of Kemet
With the Smile
See main article: article.
With London Brew
With Floating Points
With Wildflower
- Wildflower (2017)
- Love (2020)
- Better Times (2021)
With Beth Orton
With Alabaster DePlume
- Gold (2022)[18]
- Come with Fierce Grace (2023)[19]
With Owiny Sigoma Band
- Owiny Sigoma Band (2011)[20]
- Power Punch (2013)[20]
- Nyanza (2015)[20]
- The Lost Tapes (2021)[21]
With Melt Yourself Down
Notes and References
- Web site: Tom Skinner on Apple Music . 2023-10-20 . Apple Music - Web Player . en-US.
- News: Kalia . Ammar . 2022-11-08 . Tom Skinner on the Smile, Sons of Kemet and going solo: 'It gives me a blank slate to explore' . 2022-11-08 . The Guardian.
- News: Chinen . Nate . 2022-09-07 . Tom Skinner, "Bishara" . 2022-09-10 . NPR Music.
- News: Graham . Ben . 16 November 2012 . Reviews Hello Skinny . . 2022-09-10.
- News: Richards . Will . 2022-06-02 . Sons of Kemet to break up after remaining 2022 live shows . . 2022-09-10.
- News: 2023-01-19 . Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, Tom Skinner, and More Announce Miles Davis Tribute Album London Brew . 2023-01-20 . Pitchfork.
- News: 2021-05-22 . Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood form new project, the Smile . . 2021-05-22.
- News: Hussey . Allison . A Look at Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's Debut as the Smile at Glastonbury 2021 Livestream . . 2021-05-23.
- News: Petridis . Alexis . Alexis Petridis . 2021-05-23 . Live at Worthy Farm review – beautiful music marred by technical meltdown . . 2021-05-23.
- News: Lavin, Will . April 20, 2022 . The Smile announce debut album A Light for Attracting Attention . . April 20, 2022.
- Web site: Lindert . Hattie . 13 November 2023 . The Smile Announce New Album Wall of Eyes, Share Video for New Song Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson . 13 November 2023 . Pitchfork.
- Web site: Harrison . Scoop . 2024-04-22 . Thom Yorke previews Confidenza film score with two tracks . 2024-04-22 . . en-US.
- News: 2022-09-07 . The Smile's Tom Skinner Announces New Album Voices of Bishara, Shares New Song . . 2022-09-08.
- News: 2022-09-07 . The Smile's Tom Skinner Announces Solo Album Voices of Bishara, Shares New Song "Bishara" . . 2022-09-08.
- Web site: Strauss . Matthew . 2024-04-17 . The Smile's Tom Skinner Announces New Live Album, Shares Song . 2024-04-22 . . en-US.
- News: Strauss . Matthew . April 17, 2024 . The Smile's Tom Skinner Announces New Live Album, Shares Song . April 18, 2024 . Pitchfork.
- News: Blistein . Jon . 31 May 2022 . Beth Orton Takes In a Gorgeous Day on Serene New Song Weather Alive . . 1 August 2023.
- News: Minsker . Evan . 2 February 2022 . Alabaster dePlume Announces New Album Gold, Shares Video for New Song . . 1 August 2023.
- News: Rettig . James . 31 July 2023 . Alabaster DePlume Shares Tom Skinner-Featuring Track "Greek Honey Slick" . . 1 August 2023.
- Web site: Owiny Sigoma Band . Bucks Music Group.
- Web site: Glover . Kemi . Owiny Sigoma Band's final instalment: The Lost Tapes . Brownswood Recordings . 2 August 2023.