London multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter Tommy Down’s soulful single ‘Mrs Blue’, off his 2024 album 21st Century Living, has garnered over 5.7 million Spotify streams alone, earning him support from the likes of Radio X and Earmilk – and a dedicated following which cemented his reputation as a rising talent in soulful music. Tommy is gearing up to release an EP later in 2025, recently releasing its first single, the dreamy psych rock track ‘Do You Want It All?’, which premiered with globally renowned tastemaker CLASH Magazine.
Tommy Down: From Jazz Roots to Soul Stardom
Tommy Down has worked with acclaimed producers such as Jeffrey Silverman and Grammy-nominated hitmakers Jon Shave and Jason Pebworth of Invisible Men. He has graced the stages of events like Camden Rocks Festival, headlined by Frank Turner.
Notably, Tommy has had six of his songs featured in just as many episodes across all three seasons of HBO’s hit drama series Industry, co-created by his brother Mickey Down.
Tommy Down is a Camden-based musician whose journey began at fourteen, combining influences from jazz, rock, and soul. Tommy has deep musical roots, with his grandfather singing for WWII troops. A former member of the Bristol-based jazz band BUJO that toured Europe, he later returned to London to produce a soul album. Tommy continues to perform across London, blending his rich UK-Ghanain heritage with a passion for storytelling through music.
The Sound of Heartache: Inside the Emotion of ‘Mrs Blue’
Known for his raw, heartfelt performances reminiscent of Paolo Nutini and Tame Impala, he draws inspiration from a wide array of artists including Marvin Gaye, Mazzy Star, Radiohead, Oasis, Blur, David Bowie, and Michael Kiwanuka, to name but a few. Now taking the reins and producing his own music and performing live with a backing band, his forthcoming EP promises a psychedelic rock and soul fusion inspired by Radiohead and Mitski.
The hype around ‘Mrs Blue’ will still not prepare a first-time listener for the stirring experience of the song. The gorgeously romantic number will ensnare fans of John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5. The track’s stripped-back instrumentation, consists of a steady, gently grooving Al Green-like rhythm section, carrying a delicate atmospheric organ occasionally interlaced with airy backing vocals, leaves ample room for Tommy’s timeless voice, controlled yet brimming with emotionality. ‘Mrs Blue’ exquisitely captures the pangs of yearning for someone, oozing with gooey warmth, adoration, and deep melancholy.
“The song was produced by Grammy and Brit award winning producer Jon Shave. I brought Jason Pebworth, one of the Invisible Men, a song I wrote about my girlfriend. I felt blue one weekend because I felt like my girlfriend was too but we hadn’t spoken about it. It felt like a sixth sense and I wrote a song about that feeling. Jason and I started writing a new version of the song and I completely changed the lyrics. Jason suggested getting a sort of Al Green ‘Lets stay together’ beat for the track, which worked very well.”
Tommy Down
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