Tom Misch, dancing as a “Water Baby”
Tom Misch is a beatmaker based in the United Kingdom. Son of an artist and a psychiatrist, he grew up in a home that encouraged creativity, and learned to play violin at a young age. While he was still a child, one day after school, his family also discovered Tom could sing. After listening to rock music for most of his childhood and teens, he discovered hip-hop during his sixth form years thanks to one of his sister’s boyfriends, and was particularly inspired by the work of J Dilla. Misch started making his own beats and took classes in music technology, and began posting tracks online in 2012.
Tom Misch, the 22-year-old songwriter, well known among fans for blending hip-hop-inspired beats with smoothly soulful vocals and guitar, has always held off releasing a full length, preferring instead to find other means of getting his material out there, doing everything possible to show the many facets of his art.
But 2018, could be a great year for Tom Misch, with a flurry of big live shows sold out, he has decided to meet an old friend. Last month, Tom Misch partnered with Loyle Carner to share a new song from his upcoming album “Geography”, which plays a variety of genres such as jazz, hip-hop and soul and is being announced as something special. Debut album “Geography” It’s a low key jammer, with those trademark guitar inflections set against vocals at the finale from Tom’s own sister, Polly Misch and arrives on April 6th, with Tom Misch sharing lead cut ‘Movie’.
“Water Baby”, the first single from Geography’s debut album, which arrives in early April, has a new video filmed in Georgia and directed by Georgia Hudson. It combines some warmer tones with images of an icy lake, where Misch, rapper Loyle Carner and some double-jointed dancers show the beauty and hostility of the winter nature, creating a dynamic mix full of choreography. Misch, performs his own aquatic stunts, floats just below the icy layers of an icy lake. The image is disturbing, but beautiful; there is a serenity in Misch’s body language as he sings.
Tom said about the video: “I’m a good swimmer and I love surfing, so that inspired the song. Me and Loyle chatted about the ideas for the video and he mentioned that he had been talking to Georgia, who had directed some of his videos. The three of us called to talk about some ideas and everything came together, it was quite difficult to shoot, but it was worth it, I’m excited for everyone to see it. “
The structure of the song “Water Baby”, although unorthodox, flows effortlessly as well. The first verse of the song goes to Carner, a frequent contributor to Misch’s, who offers a moving speech about being the backbone of his family. Then, against the production of jazz, heavy horn, the vocalist and producer sing by swimming through too relatable struggles: from loneliness and coffee scalds to lost opportunities and the lost Ubers.
“Water Baby” follows the simple “Movie” of the end of 2017 by Misch. Both tracks will appear on the artist’s next debut album, Geography, which he plans to release just in time for warmer seasons and his Coachella debut.
It’s been a remarkable success so far; a web-born triumph, Tom Misch has racked up millions of streams, an international audience that grows by the day.
“Water Baby”, the first single from Geography's debut album, which arrives in early April, has a new video filmed in Georgia and directed by Georgia Hudson. It combines some warmer tones with images of an icy lake, where Misch, rapper Loyle Carner and some double-jointed dancers show the beauty and hostility of the winter nature, creating a dynamic mix full of choreography.
