As Tom Odell gets set to celebrate World Poetry Day, he talks to Getintothis’ Cath Holland of a love of words both read and sung.
Tom Odell is the floppy haired singer songwriter of ballads for nice people.
At just 28 years old, he wouldn’t be out of place amongst songwriters from the 70s.
A fan of Elton John and Billy Joel, he sings of love – all kinds, but comfortable songs, centred around earnest vocals and piano.
Press shots and videos have him in vintage houses, barefoot like Carole King on the front cover of Tapestry, and surrounded by well thumbed books. The classics, of course.
And yet, it’s an interesting time for Odell.He’s inching, slowly, from romantic wistful sensitive singer-songwriter to one observing the world in deeper textures and colour. During the promotion for Jubilee Road, his third album released last year, he grinned amicably on the Good Morning Britain and Graham Norton sofas, but also sat down for a frank interview with The Line Of Best Fit.
We’re talking today because he’s part of a campaign to support Pay With A Poem, part of World Poetry Day in March. With this in mind he seemed an ideal candidate for Wrapped Up in Books, but as we chat – we’ve only got fifteen minutes, so the words come fast – it quickly becomes apparent there’s more to mull over.