Tom Odell on cloud nine

He has been called the “one-man Coldplay,” but that’s a bit too simplistic for Tom Odell. The young Brit and his melodious, heartfelt piano pop are nevertheless knocking at the door of fame.


“Tomorrow, I have to go on stage at the Late Show with David Letterman!” Tom Odell screams down the telephone while in the background, cars thunder down the streets of Philadelphia. The young Brit is currently touring the US, and is reaping great praise there. “But I’m just as happy with the applause in Belgium,” he says. Expectations of Odell are very high, especially since he saw his name appear in the prestigious BBC Sound of 2013 list, and succeeded artists like Adele and Emeli Sandé in winning the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award.

His debut, which is about to appear on Lily Allen’s label, is brimming with melancholy piano songs. Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road inspired him to write songs, but Odell is more rock ‘n’ roll than you might suspect from hearing his saccharine single “Another Love”. On stage, he likes to use the pedals barefoot and drink beer, he considers Springsteen a shining example, and in interviews he has been quoted saying Liam Gallagher is “full of shit”.

Your statement that “rock ‘n’ roll is dead” also made some waves.
Tom Odell: Unfortunately, those quotes were taken out of context. I was actually talking about the lifestyle. People don’t seem to tolerate that arrogance anymore. They have no interest in artists who quench themselves on drink and drugs. I only hope people can identify with my album; I try to be as honest as possible. Honesty is the most compelling thing at the moment, I think.

So, how sweet is the smell of success?
Odell: For the time being, it’s difficult to say. [Laughs] I try not to think about it too much. Anyway, at the moment I’m too busy writing songs, travelling, and performing. This is what I had always dreamed about. I’m on cloud nine.

Your music is based on the piano. What do you find so captivating about the instrument?
Odell: I’ve been playing the piano since I was seven; we grew up together. And yet, it is still incredibly mysterious, and that makes it a compelling instrument to play. And there’s a lot of freedom to a piano, it’s such a versatile instrument. You can play it very softly if you want to, but you can also hammer on the keys. I never get tired of it.

Is the piano more rock ‘n’ roll than the guitar?
Odell: O, that’s not for me to say. [Laughs] But I have to say, there is never a shortage of guitar bands, so it’s nice to do something different. But as I’ve been playing the piano my whole life, I don’t think twice about it.

You are one of the first signings to In the Name Of, Lily Allen’s imprint. Is it important for you to be on a “small” label?
Odell: Yes. It has the advantages of being an indie label, of carefully selecting their acts, and taking great care of them. Lily founded the label because she was sick of the way the music industry works. We talked about that a lot. She wants to operate in a totally different way, and I like that.

Tom Odell • 17/5, 20.00, SOLD OUT!, Ancienne Belgique, boulevard Anspachlaan 110, Brussel/Bruxelles, 02-548.24.24, www.abconcerts.be (13.00, free live session, BRUSSELS SOUTH STATION)