Updated on: 15/12/2019
In October I had news related to Keane and then, the most waited album of Tom Chaplin was released: The Wave. If there's someone who doesn't know, Tom is the vocalist of the British band Keane and this solo album was a project planned by him for a long time. Keane takes a long break of composing and touring after the release of The Best Of Keane in 2013, it happen because the members wanted to focus on their parallel projects and, of course, take time with their families. Therefore, in this period of time, Tom composed and produced his own songs for his solo album.
The album
The Wave was released on 14 October 2016, it has 11 tracks on the standard version and the deluxe version has 5 bonus tracks. Here the tracklist:
1. Still Waiting
2. Hardened Heart
3. The River
4. Worthless Words
5. I Remember You
6. Bring The Rain
7. Hold On To Our Love
8. Quicksand
9. Solid Gold
10. See It So Clear
11. The Wave
12. Better Way (Bonus)
13 Turning Back (Bonus)
14, Love Wins (Bonus)
15. Cheating Death (Bonus)
16. Bound Together (Bonus)
First Single
Quicksand
The Wave's official first single Quicksand was released on YouTube and later on sites/apps of music streaming or download. Tom devoted this song to his daughter Freya, furthermore, the lyrics' content is about the highs and lows in life, what means, suffering and failing is inevitable on life's course, however, we are not alone, everyone has someone special to count in. In this case, Tom refers to his daughter and he means he is going to be by her side when she needs the most.
According to Tom, the official video was inspired by the Stranger Things series, which has kids are main leads, so that's why the video has a boy as a protagonist. The video's message is about being able to get out of the comfort zone (the circle) and fighting what makes you keep inside of it.
Quicksand has a studio version (YouTube | Deezer | Spotify) and the acoustic version on YouTube. Tom released videos for his other songs: Hardened Heart, Still Waiting and See It So Clear.
Where to listen and download
Tom's life and The Wave
The album has an important meaning to Tom. It was composed in the time he was trying to recover from the addiction of alcohol and drugs and, because of this condition, Tom had familiar issues and had difficulties to recover. He and the other Keane members are known for not exposing personal life and issues on media, however, this was the first time Tom opened about his problem with drugs, even though he has passed through it in 2006 during the Under The Iron Sea Tour. On an interview to The Sun, Tom said making his album was one of the ways he found to deal with his emotional problems, and the use of alcohol and drugs, in this words: "There was a time I thought I'd die but making this album saved me".
It's interesting the fact that The Wave is a music album and it has a visual dynamic part made with photos, comments, and the song's lyrics. All of that makes clear the importance the album has and the relation with Tom's life. This visual dynamic can be seen on View The Wave.
Some Questions & Answers from the Live on Facebook
On 20 October, Tom went live on his official Facebook page where he listened to his album with his fans and, at the same time, he would answer some questions about the album's production and its tracks. Tom's official site made a recap of some of the questions and answers, so I selected some of them:
Fan 1: Why did you choose this [Still Waiting] as the first track on the record?
Tom: Because it's the darkest song and I wanted the record to start in the darkest place.
Fan 2: (...) How did you feel releasing these deeply personal songs to the world?
Tom: If it makes a difference to people to hear someone being open and vulnerable then that's the thing I could ever hope for from the album.
Fan 3: [About The River] What inspired it?
Tom: The desire to rid myself of nostalgia and live in the present and for the future.
Fan 4: [About Worthless Words] Have you learned to say sorry and mean it now?
Tom: That's the idea of the song in some respects - how the word 'sorry' had lost value in my life. I try to live my life now so I don't have to say 'sorry' very often, but it's certainly got it's meaning back. Although I am English so I do say 'sorry' a lot when it's not required!
Fan 5: [About I Remember You] Who are talking about?
Tom: It's a song to a lonely and lost part of myself - reclaiming that part of me, and allowing it to have a voice.
Fan 6: [About Quicksand] What do you feel when you sing it?
Tom: Quicksand makes me think of my daughter Freya every time I sing it.
Fan 7: [About Solid Gold] This song is about your wife too... (...) Weren't you able to see how much she meant to you before the darkest times?
Tom: I think that's the problem with addiction. It wants you for itself. It hates the people that you love.
Fan 8: [About See It So Clear] The song deals with your past - are you happy right now?
Tom: I've not found the key for everlasting happiness but at least I now give myself a chance of experiencing it more often...
Fan 9: [About Better Way] What's the meaning behind this song?
Tom: It's a song about moving forward and finding a sense of hope, about the energy I felt during the last year.
Fan 10: What is Turning Back about?
Tom: It's about a broken relationship, where the other person gave no answers.
Fan 11: [About Cheating Death] What is this song about?
Tom: It's about how life hangs on by a thread, and about realising that the only way to not be terrified by that idea is to keep pushing forwards and live to the full.
Fan 12: [About Bound Together] Was this one written to your wife?
Tom: It was written for both me and my wife! It feels like a good way to end the bonus tracks and the deluxe album!
Fan 13: Why did you decide to use such personal pics for the album artwork as you've always been so private previously?
Tom: My process in recent times has been one of opening up. Of course, there are parts of me that I keep private still, but I think life is more bearable and beautiful when we connect to others.
Fan 14: What's the first word that comes to your mind when thinking about your album?
Tom: Proud
Fan 15: What happened to "It's Over"? [the previous single - it can listen here]
Tom: Well, it just didn't feel like it fitted in the context of the album, but I do love it as a song and I do hope one day it will have a place.
My impressions
I could listen to all the tracks of The Wave and I think the melodies and the lyrics have a strong connection as if each one is about a specific content that involves the feelings of overcoming, hope, and the desire of having a happier life. There are different musical instruments (piano, violin, keyboard, sax, trumpet) and acapella choir on many songs of the album, like this each song demonstrate a unique meaning and feeling. My favorite songs are: Quicksand, Still Waiting, Hardened Heart, Hold On To Our Love, I Remember You, and Better Way. The last one has lyrics with strong meaning about overcoming and it has a special place in my heart.
In my opinion, the lyrics' content evolves the main themes: crisis, loosing, feeling of guilt, and overcoming. All of that compose the Keane's first album Hopes&Fears and the last one Strangeland. I think The Wave sounds similar to Strangeland because of the great role of the classical piano.
In fact, The Wave means a lot to me because of its content shown through the lyrics, also the musical instruments on the songs. I like to listen to this album because it gives me a feeling of hope and a desire for overcoming the hard times, which are better exposed to the songs Better Way and I Remember You. I think this album became so important to me because Tom's main message makes a lot of sense when I relate it to my personal issues. I suppose this is the way Tom wanted to touch people who listen to his music: to identify with the so human content.
See you at the next post!
Photos
Tom Chaplin Official Facebook Page
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