Tommy Villiers Explained

Tommy Villiers
Birth Name:Thomas George Villiers

Thomas George Villiers is an English musician from Saffron Walden. After being introduced to dance music via his brother, he began producing drum and bass tracks and uploading them to SoundCloud. While at the Royal Northern College of Music, he joined See Thru Hands and cofounded Porij, with whom he released one and two EPs respectively. In mid-2020, he formed Piri & Tommy with Piri, with whom he released the mixtape Froge.mp3, which they promoted with Froge.tour, and several singles including "Soft Spot", "Beachin", "On & On", "Feel It", "Updown", and "Nice 2 Me". He also played Scotty in the music video for Wet Leg's "Ur Mum" and has released several singles including a remix of LF System's "Afraid to Feel".

Life and career

Early life

Thomas George Villiers[1] grew up in Saffron Walden, and was a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[2] He attended Saffron Walden County High School,[3] at which he would proffer his grade eight[4] trumpet skills to any high school band that would entertain him. While there, he started a funk rock band, Room C. In 2016, he played at that year's Justice Service for the County of Essex.[5] When he was in sixth form, his older brother began taking him to house parties, where he developed an interest in dance music. After receiving a Mac and deciding he wanted to replicate what he was hearing,[6] he began producing drum and bass tracks, uploading them to SoundCloud, and DJing at house parties.[7]

Bands

Villiers attended the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM),[8] from which he holds a degree in popular music. While there,[9] he joined the bands See Thru Hands and Porij,[10] the former after being recruited at a jam session to join four personal friends of the band's vocalist.[11] By January 2019, See Thru Hands had released an EP, Hot City/Connectivity, which David Sue of Manchester Evening News compared to Prince, Chic, Hot Chip, and New Order.[12] A reviewer for DIY later described "Hot City" as "disco-inflected post-punk"[13] and Paul Carr of PopMatters compared its introduction to that of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition".[14]

Villiers set up Porij in early 2019[15] with other students from his RNCM course.[16] Just before the second United Kingdom COVID-19 lockdown,[17] he matched with Piri on Tinder; a couple of weeks later, one of Porij's photographers retweeted one of their photoshoots, prompting Piri to locate his Instagram account and ask him out. Their first date was at Piccadilly Gardens, at which they bonded over a shared love of disco. After it was realised that Piri could sing and Villiers could produce, they set about writing together. The first song they recorded, "Sunlight", was a house song.[18] She later moved into his student house[19] in Manchester and formed Piri & Tommy with him. Porij released the Breakfast EP in November 2020 and the Baby Face EP in September 2021.[20] Villiers left this band in early 2022[21] to concentrate on Piri & Tommy, remaining in Porij long enough to gain writing credits on their third EP, Outlines.[22]

Piri & Tommy released "It's a Match" in March 2021,[23] a disco song made after both experimented with numerous genres. Their second song, June 2021's "Soft Spot", went viral on Spotify and TikTok,[24] prompting EMI to sign them, re-release "Soft Spot", and release the singles "Beachin" in January 2022[25] and "Words" in April 2022.[26] They then signed to Polydor Records,[27] who released "On & On" in July 2022[28] and then the mixtape Froge.mp3 in October 2022. The latter took its name from a nickname they used to give each other and featured "Sunlight", "Soft Spot", "Beachin", "Words", "On & On", and "Player 2", with Villiers providing lead vocals on the last of these.[29] They promoted the mixtape with Froge.tour, which ran from 2 to 19 November.[30] A week after the tour finished, the pair split up and did not talk to each other until April 2023, though Robin Murray of Clash reported in January 2023 that Piri and Villiers would release previously recorded music and planned to work together in the future.[31]

Later that month, they featured on MJ Cole's "Feel It", to which Villiers contributed a guitar solo.[32] Piri and Villiers followed this with "Updown" in February 2023[33] and "Nice 2 Me" in May 2023.[34] In July 2023, the pair released "Lovergirl" as independent artists,[35] followed by "Bluetooth" in October[36] and "Christmas Time" in November.[37] In August 2024, they announced an EP and released the liquid drum and bass track "99%" from it.[38] The following month, having remixed Lucy Tun's "Come to My House", they announced that the EP would be called About Dancing and released the dance-pop track "Dog".[39] About Dancing was released that November.[40] In February 2023, he played as part of Ninety One Living Room's house band Dojo Dojo[41] and in April 2024, he performed as half of Toast Club.[42]

Solo career

In April 2022,[43] Villiers played the anti-hero,[44] Scotty, in the music video for Wet Leg's "Ur Mum", directed by Lava La Rue; in an interview in June 2023, he stated that he got the job after supporting Nine8 Collective, a group composed of Lava La Rue, Mac Wetha, Bone Slim, Biig Piig, Nayana Iz, Nige and LorenzoRSV,[45] and after being interviewed for the role in the venue's green room by La Rue. By September 2022, he had released a remix of LF System's "Afraid to Feel";[46] that month, he signed a solo publishing deal in September 2022 with Tim & Danny Music.[47] In November 2022, he released a remix of "Noodle Poodle" by Nine8 Collective.[48] By July 2023, he had released "Not Puzzled" featuring Ceòl-Min; that month, he released "To the Moon" with Hertfordshire-based rapper Mustbejohn, a song about the possibilities of a night out.[49]

Artistry

In May 2021, Villiers cited Coco Bryce as an inspiration on the grounds that no two of his breaks were the same.[50] "To the Moon" was inspired by the UK garage and Brazilian music he and Mustbejohn were listening to during studio sessions,[51] while Toast Club were inspired by yacht rock and California sound. Dork wrote in August 2024 that Villiers took inspiration from "everything from Daft Punk music videos to black midi press shoots".[52]

Discography

Singles

As lead artist

Title! scope="col"
AlbumYear
"Change a Thing"2019
"Poinciana"2020
"Soft Spot"
(Piri & Tommy Villiers)		Froge.mp32021
"Beachin"
(Piri & Tommy)		2022
"Words"
(Piri & Tommy)
"On & On"
(Piri & Tommy)
"Unlock It"
(Piri & Tommy)		rowspan="9"
"Not Puzzled"
"Updown"
(Piri & Tommy Villiers)		2023
"Nice 2 Me"
(Piri & Tommy Villiers)
"To the Moon"
"Lovergirl"
(Piri & Tommy)
"Strangers to Lovers"
"Bluetooth"
(Piri & Tommy)
"Christmas Time"
(Piri & Tommy)
"Marmalade (For Your Love)"
Embrace2024[54]
"Top Bins"
"99%"
(Piri & Tommy)
"Dog"
(Piri & Tommy)

As featured artist

Title! scope="col"
YearAlbum
"Feel It"
(MJ Cole featuring Piri & Tommy Villiers)		2023
"Garage Talk (Ur Dun Out)"

Writing credits

SongYearArtistCo-writers
"It's a Match"2021PiriSophie McBurnie[55]
"Morning Blues"2023EmzoEmilion Buckz, Sophie McBurnie[56]

Remixes

SongYearArtistCo-producersAlbum
"Boxes"2018Darcie
"Tiptoeing"2021Hope Tala
"Border Control"2022See Thru Hands
"Motions"B-ahwe
"Afraid to Feel"LF System
"Noodle Poodle"NiNE898 Nights[57]
"Looking for Love"2023DisclosureAlchemy (The Remixes)[58]
"Head"Maisi, Piri
"Come to My House"2024Lucy TunPiri[59]

Other credits

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Updown . 10 July 2023 . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
  2. Web site: 30 September 2021 . Piri & Tommy Villiers - 1883 Magazine . 4 August 2023 . en-GB.
  3. Web site: 5 September 2014 . Saffron Walden Blues & Rock Weekender preview: Introducing...Room C . 7 August 2023 . Saffron Walden Reporter . en.
  4. News: Helm . Jake . Piri and Tommy: meet the rising stars of pop . . https://archive.today/20221108175213/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/piri-and-tommy-meet-the-rising-stars-of-pop-xbsjrwl8t . 8 November 2022.
  5. Web site: 2016-10-12 . High Sheriff of Essex brings Justice Service to Saffron Walden . 2023-09-26 . Dunmow Broadcast . en.
  6. Web site: Miz w/ Piri & Tommy Villiers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223113044/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih_vgk6f_kg%3Ft%3D394 . 23 February 2023 . 1 February 2023 . Reprezent Radio.
  7. Web site: 29 October 2021 . The Zoomer Embrace of Drum 'n' Bass . 4 August 2023 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  8. Web site: Rising highs for popular music artists - Royal Northern College of Music . 4 August 2023 . RNCM . en-GB.
  9. Web site: The Daisy Adams Show w/ Piri and Tommy Villiers 27th October 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213093946/https://www.mixcloud.com/reformradio/the-daisy-adams-show-w-piri-and-tommy-villiers-27th-october-2021/ . 13 February 2023 . 13 February 2023 . Reform Radio.
  10. Web site: Best New Artists . 2024-09-13 . www.complex.com . en.
  11. Web site: 2022-01-01 . a/s/l: See Thru Hands . 2024-09-05 . Birthday Cake For Breakfast . en.
  12. Web site: Sue . David . 2019-01-16 . Made in Manchester: See Thru Hands . 2024-09-13 . Manchester Evening News . en.
  13. Web site: 2019-10-24 . The Neu Bulletin (Role Model, Zack Villere, See Thru Hands and more!) . 2024-09-13 . DIY . en.
  14. Web site: 2019-10-28 . Brits in Hot Weather #18: Novacub, Johnny Kills, See Thru Hands, Brooke Bentham, Søren Lorensen, PopMatters . 2024-09-13 . www.popmatters.com . en-US.
  15. Web site: Sue . David . 2020-03-05 . Made in Manchester - Porij . 2024-02-23 . Manchester Evening News . en.
  16. News: Hutchinson . Kate . 2020-11-28 . One to watch: Porij . 2024-01-26 . The Guardian.
  17. Web site: J . Trixie . 4 April 2023 . Piri And Tommy Rose From Viral Rookies To UK Dance's Next Big Ace. Nexus Radio . 22 July 2023 . en-US.
  18. Holden . Finlay . 30 November 2022 . Hype List 2023: piri & tommy: "You've just got to take one thing at a time" . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124232749/https://readdork.com/features/hype-list-2023-piri-and-tommy/ . 24 January 2023 . 24 January 2023.
  19. Web site: Jolley . Ben . 1 December 2021 . Piri and Tommy Villiers: ambition and reinvention from vibrant drum 'n' bass duo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221209194257/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/piri-and-tommy-villiers-soft-spot-tiktok-interview-2021-3108691 . 9 December 2022 . 15 January 2023 . NME.
  20. Web site: 2021-12-15 . Class of 2022: Porij . 2024-02-04 . DIY . en.
  21. Web site: Reilly . Nick . Richards . Will . 2024-03-22 . Rolling Stone UK's Future Of Music: see the full list . 2024-04-03 . Rolling Stone UK . en-GB.
  22. Web site: Williams . Sophie . 12 September 2022 . Porij: dynamic Manchester gang with festival season's most fun live show . 5 August 2023 . NME . en-GB.
  23. Web site: 20 September 2023 . Piri – Going Viral, Sustaining A Career in Music and Making OnlyFans Content . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016093708/https://open.spotify.com/episode/6oM9yoF8JlHxprs9CzRpje . 16 October 2023 . 11 October 2023 . Utopia Talks.
  24. Web site: Zhang . Cat . 29 October 2021 . The Zoomer Embrace of Drum 'n' Bass . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310111143/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/drum-n-bass-pinkpantheress-tiktok-column/ . 10 March 2023 . 10 March 2023 . Pitchfork.
  25. Murray . Robin . 28 January 2022 . Track Of The Day 28/1 – piri & tommy . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230228174014/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/track-of-the-day-28-1-piri-tommy/ . 28 February 2023 . 28 February 2023.
  26. McCarthy . Neive . 7 July 2022 . piri & tommy: "I remember when I first discovered dance music. Once you're in, there's no going back" . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20221117150943/https://readdork.com/features/piri-and-tommy-july-2022/ . 17 November 2022 . 25 January 2023.
  27. News: Kemp . Ellie . 23 June 2022 . The Manchester acts worth watching at Glastonbury 2022 . . live . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201064057/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/manchester-acts-worth-watching-glastonbury-24291188 . 1 February 2023.
  28. Web site: 29 July 2022 . piri & tommy Share Joyous New Bumper 'on & on' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230525124555/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/piri-tommy-share-joyous-new-bumper-on-on/ . 25 May 2023 . 25 May 2023 . Clash Music.
  29. Web site: Matos . Michelangelo . Piri & Tommy: "Froge.mp3" . 2024-09-27 . The New Yorker . en-US.
  30. Holden . Finlay . 21 September 2022 . piri & tommy have announced their debut project, 'froge.mp3' . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230304081850/https://readdork.com/news/piri-tommy-announce-debut-project-froge-mp3/ . 4 March 2023 . 4 March 2023.
  31. Web site: Murray . Robin . 11 January 2023 . piri & Tommy Reveal "Amicable" Break-Up . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230115182951/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/piri-tommy-reveal-amicable-break-up/ . 15 January 2023 . 15 January 2023 . Clash.
  32. Web site: McCarthy . Neive . 20 January 2023 . MJ Cole has joined forces with piri & tommy for new track, 'Feel It' . 11 July 2023 . Dork . en-US.
  33. Web site: 20 February 2023 . piri & Tommy Share Ecstatic New Blaster 'updown' . 20 February 2023 . Clash Music.
  34. Web site: O'Connor . Siobhain . 24 May 2023 . piri & Tommy Villiers have dropped their new "summer banger", 'nice 2 me' . 7 August 2023 . Dork . en-US.
  35. Web site: BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Future Sounds, with Jack Saunders: Chase & Status and Bou Hottest Record . 28 July 2023 . BBC.
  36. Web site: Peters . Jo . 26 October 2023 . Piri & Tommy Share New Single 'Bluetooth' Ahead of 'Extra Hot' Tour . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231026121740/https://www.withguitars.com/piri-tommy-share-new-single-bluetooth-ahead-of-extra-hot-tour/ . 26 October 2023 . 26 October 2023 . WithGuitars . en-GB.
  37. Web site: Hussain . Shahzaib . 24 November 2023 . piri & Tommy Share Slick Holiday Offering 'Christmas Time' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129004249/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/piri-tommy-share-slick-holiday-offering-christmas-time/ . 29 November 2023 . 27 November 2023 . Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews . en-GB.
  38. Web site: Taylor . Sam . 2024-08-07 . piri & tommy pay homage to partying with their new single, '99%' . 2024-08-07 . Dork . en-US.
  39. Web site: Palmans . Lucas . 2024-09-27 . Nieuwe single piri & tommy - "dog" . 2024-09-30 . Dansende Beren . nl-NL.
  40. Web site: Taylor . Sam . 2024-11-08 . piri & tommy have unveiled their new EP 'about dancing' . 2024-11-08 . Dork . en-US.
  41. Web site: Five Points presents: dojo dojo ft. Tommy Villiers . 2023-10-09 . Ninety One Living Room . en-US.
  42. Web site: Tickets for The Cav Presents: 11.4.24 on 11/04/24 in The Cavendish Arms, London . 3 September 2024 . Eventim UK.
  43. Web site: Promonews . Wet Leg 'Ur Mum' by Lava La Rue Videos . 6 August 2023 . Promonewstv . en.
  44. Web site: 3 March 2023 . Awards, Harry Styles, and 'hand dick': the songs that scored Wet Leg's wild year . 6 August 2023 . Double J . en-AU.
  45. News: 8 June 2021 . Radical pop collective Nine8: 'Anyone who thinks like us is part of the gang' . en-GB . The Guardian . 6 August 2023 . 0261-3077.
  46. Web site: 7 September 2022 . How LF System's Ecstatic "Afraid To Feel" Became The UK's Biggest Hit Of 2022 . 6 August 2023 . Stereogum . en.
  47. Web site: Thraves . Lucy . Pop dance duo Piri & Tommy sign with Warner Chappell and Tim & Danny Music . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201062211/https://www.musicweek.com/publishing/read/pop-dance-duo-piri-tommy-sign-with-warner-chappell-and-tim-danny-music/086609 . 1 February 2023 . 1 February 2023 . Musicweek.com.
  48. Web site: Holden . Finlay . 14 November 2022 . NiNe8 Collective have shared a remix of their recent single, 'Noodle Poodle', from Tommy Villiers of piri & tommy . 6 August 2023 . Dork . en-US.
  49. Web site: Tommy Villiers releas collaboration with mustbejohn, 'To The Moon' • WithGuitars . 6 August 2023 . www.withguitars.com . en-gb.
  50. Web site: 2021-05-13 . Get To Know… Porij . 2024-04-03 . DIY . en.
  51. Web site: Taylor . Sam . 2023-07-14 . Tommy Villiers has collaborated with mustbejohn for new single, 'To The Moon' . 2024-09-03 . Dork . en-US.
  52. Web site: Ackroyd . Stephen . 2024-08-09 . piri & tommy: 99% and rising . 2024-09-03 . Dork . en-US.
  53. Web site: Tommy Villiers - Discography . 19 October 2024 . Spotify.
  54. Web site: Flourish - Discography . 2024-10-30 . Spotify . en.
  55. Web site: Piri . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20210721123556/https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DpmPt7gfAAq7WEx0E1X8s . 21 July 2021 . Spotify.
  56. Web site: Emzo - Discography . 2024-10-05 . Spotify . en.
  57. Web site: NiNE8 - Discography . 2024-10-30 . Spotify . en.
  58. Web site: Disclosure - Discography . 2024-10-30 . Spotify . en.
  59. Web site: Piri & Tommy - Discography . 2024-10-30 . Spotify . en.
  60. Web site: 2019-10-31 . DJ SPOONY . 2024-10-12 . Official Charts . en.

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