Tom's island life

Tom, of Novelty Island. Inset, the new album Jigsaw Causeway. Main photo: Lens Of A Wool.

- ROB FIDDAMAN

This week chats to Tom, of Novelty Island, about songwriting, finding inspiration from Vic and Bob and Thomas the Tank Engine, and his forthcoming city gig

Hey Tom, big thanks for chatting to me. I understand you are from Liverpool. A little bit Liverpool/a little bit Newcastle...

Liverpool has produced some of the most iconic bands. Can you tell me who inspired you the most? The Beatles.

Who's your favourite Beatle and why?

Paul. He'll always be my favourite musician as he's the greatest songwriter and greatest singer of them all.

At what age did you start getting into music?

I loved Thomas the Tank Engine when I was very little and saw that it was narrated by Ringo Starr. I asked 'who's Ringo Starr?' and was pointed towards a shelf of records and music has been my life ever since. I started playing guitar and piano a few years later and did jazz guitar training, which as a moody teenager I wasn't a huge fan of, but I learned a lot of very useful chords.

Before Novelty Island had you been in any other bands?

Yes. I've had several projects. I started in 2012 and gigged under my real name for a few years, supporting Squeeze, China Crisis, Steve Cradock and many others. Then I had a brief spell on Deltasonic Records (The Coral / The Zutons) with a terrible stage name which I hated saying. I then had a project called TV ME which involved my love Frankie and pal Adam who both still play with Novelty Island.

How did you come up with the name Novelty Island.