ALFITUDE

Tom Dibb seems to be one of those people living the musician’s dream. He spends his days travelling across the country performing his music. And that’s his life. Ahead of his upcoming EP ‘Lost’, I managed to send over some quick questions to Tom.

For those who have not heard of you before, can you describe what you’re sound is?

There’s folk, reggae, latin, loads of different vibes from things I’ve heard through out my life, it just depends on how I’m feeling at the time. What ever the genre though I reckon there’s constant rootsy thread of story telling binding it all together.

When did you realise that you wanted to be a musician?

From early days I was well aware I wasn’t going to get on too well in a 9-5 kind of role, I had other things on my mind. I tried a load of different roles, but I think it was about a year after moving back London way that I really found direction.

Who are your current influences?

I’ve been getting some good vibes from Ben Howard’s tunes; some really cool things happening there, Natty, Passenger. I think it’s a really exciting time for music there’s some awesome influential artists about.

What song do you find hardest to perform, and why?

There’s a group of a few, one of which is called “Homes Where The Heart Is” the first reason I don’t really play it is because its a bugger to sing. But mainly due to the time in which I wrote them, I wasn’t in a great place with myself and some times its tricky revisiting.

You’re currently travelling around the UK in a VW T25 writing and performing music. What made you come up with the idea, and how are you finding it?

I’d been working in a phone shop for years whilst attempting to make a career in music but it wasn’t happening. So rather than continue allowing my soul to die a little more each day doing something I’ve no interest in I took the dive. I took a couple of weeks off for the Caffe Nero camper van tour and just didn’t go back, now I can commit 100% to the music. Yea there’s ups and downs, for instance I’ve just spent the last three days stranded in Acton under the van trying to get her going again but its an adventure and I’m doing what I really dig, making music, learning new things and meeting new folk all the time.

What’s the nicest thing a fan has done for you?

I’d been busking in St Albans and met a couple of girls who booked me to come play at their house warming which was flattering enough but a few evenings later it was about -6 and I got a message from the guys saying Tom you cant stay in the van tonight we’re worried for your life, come stay with us. How diamond is that? These guys had found me singing on the streets, I’d spoken to them for 10 minutes, I could have been any one and they offered to put me up. I’ll never forget that.

What can we expect from you over the next year?

I’m going to continue touring in the van, got loads of Volkswagen shows and some awesome festivals coming up including Beach Break Live. Look out for The Lost video due any time now, and another video to follow shortly. The Lost EP launch party is on July 3rd at The Troubadour and then it’ll be released on the 8th. Other than that I’ll just keep writing, playing, and taking it straight to the people.

Tom Dibb releases the Lost EP on July 8th on Little Fan Records.