News
It Took a Woman ft. Rissi Palmer
28.5.21
Well hello, you!
I'm delighted to let you know my new single, It Took a Woman, will be released next Wednesday, the 2nd of June!
This song is a love letter to my husband's grandmother, who raised him. It was the first song I performed at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville back in 2018, and the first song I set aside for my album. I'm so happy it's finally going out into the world.
I still can't quite believe that Rissi Palmer is singing on this song with me! I’ve been a fan of Rissi’s music for 14 years. Her advocacy for BIPOC country artists has made her a role model, and this song has made her a friend. If I could go back and tell the 16-year-old me, who was reading the lyrics and liner notes to her first album, that someday we’d be singing together, it would blow his mind.
If you've pre-ordered the album, you'll have access to the song and the videos now! You can pre-order at any time to receive access before the official release: www.tommyatkinsmusic.com/shop
I'm also delighted to say that my radio series, Proud to Be Country, returns for a second season on ARC Radio this June. Tune in every Thursday throughout Pride Month at 7pm GMT to hear the very best music from my queer country peers. Guests this season include D'orjay the Singing Shaman, Jake Blount and Philippa Cookman. And don't forget to check out the show's playlist on Spotify!
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Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x
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Happy Pride Month!
3.6.21
Well hello, you!
I’m delighted to tell you that my new single, It Took a Woman ft. Rissi Palmer, is OUT NOW! This song is so very personal, and even now I still get a little scared putting something like this out into the world. But as always, your response has been so beautiful. Thank you for supporting this song. I’m delighted that the single hit the top 5 over in New Zealand, and the top 10 here in the UK. The videos are out now too – head to my Youtube channel to watch the Lyric Video, and the Story Behind the Song: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8XsUKb5Di6SUpBdl3eazuA
I also woke up on release day to find out that Kiss Me, Cowboy had been added to the CMA’s official Country Pride playlist. As someone who’s followed the ins and outs of country music for almost 20 years now, it’s quite emotional to see a leading organisation like the CMA show support by actually promoting music by LGBTQ+ artists, as well as changing their logo to the rainbow colours. To be included on the playlist alongside some of my best friends in this industry is heart-warming. Check out the playlist on all platforms: https://lnkfi.re/CMATw
And finally, Season 2 of my radio series, Proud to Be Country, returns to ARC Radio today (June 3rd) at 6pm GMT. It’ll be on every Thursday this Pride Month. Download the app, or head to https://arcradio.online
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Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x
Truth Be Told hits #1!
1.9.21
Well hello, you!
I'm DELIGHTED to announce that Truth Be Told, my debut album, is OUT NOW! And you've sent it #1 on the country download charts in both the UK and New Zealand!
I've been building to this release for two years now, and YOUR support has made it such a special journey. From playing at the Bluebird Café, to the numerous awards we've won, this has all been possible because of you. As well as these two #1 chartings for the album, you've achieved four #1 chartings with the singles, thirteen Top-5s, and a further seven Top-10s across the UK, Canada and New Zealand. And in 2020, we made history with the first country hit in the UK and Europe to feature overtly gay lyrics. ‘Freedom’ was playlisted by hundreds of major country radio and pop stations. That's crazy! I'm eternally grateful for every vote, download, radio request.
The main reason I began a recording career was because I didn’t see myself fully represented in country music, and I figured there were a lot of other people out there who didn’t see themselves either. I wish I’d heard this kind of album when I was a kid.
It was recorded between Nashville and the UK. I executive produced the album with Dr Ford, working with GRAMMY-award winning fiddler Michael Cleveland, guitarist Chris Condon (Billy Ray Cyrus), dobroist and pedal steel player Smith Curry (Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift), harmonica player Will Wilde (Blanco Brown, Diplo), singer-songwriter Anna Pearson, and GRAMMY-nominated mastering engineer Pete Lyman (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). The collection also includes features by trailblazers Rissi Palmer and Hollier.
I connected with country music at a young age through Alan Jackson cassette tapes and Shania Twain CDs, and I think these influences are clear on the album. There’s a real mix of 90s-style honkytonk and country-pop on show here. It was important to me to feature fiddle and steel and prominent harmonies. It was also important that, lyrically and musically, there was an arch from the first track to the last. All of the songs feed a bigger story about my love-life and finding my place in the world. I hope you can see parts of yourself in that story when you listen.
The album is available on every platform, and there are still some limited edition CDs available in the shop, along with the Story Behind the Album e-book. I'm thrilled that you all are the first to hear this album.
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Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x
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The Singles - 1st September 2022
17.8.22
Well hello, you!
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I hope you're well and enjoying the summer. I can't believe we're coming up on the one-year anniversary of Truth Be Told! Thank you for your continued support. It's been great to see the streaming numbers and radio spins still going strong, especially on the back of the BBC6 documentary.
To celebrate, I'm thrilled to say I have a Singles Collection coming out on September 1st. It's a little mind-blowing that we had a whopping SEVEN singles off the album (including four #1s across the UK, Canada and New Zealand!), and it's even crazier to look back on all the work that went into those cycles.
It'll be available on all streaming and download platforms, and we're going to be posting some fun memories of the single cycles over on social media, so make sure we're connected on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter and come join the party!
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Sending love,
Tommy x
New greetings card range - Thortful
27.10.23
Well hello, you!
I'm DELIGHTED to announce that new greetings card range has launched, exclusively with Thortful! The first mini collection from this range is entitled Heartsongs, and the designs are inspired by three of my dearest songs: Freedom, Kiss Me, Cowboy & It Took a Woman.
All three of these songs served openly gay lyrics to country radio, so it was important to me that these card designs were queer-leaning and an offering to a market that still only serves a limited choice for LGBTQ+ weddings and celebrations.
I'm sharing the stories behind each design over on our social channels, but they’re all available now, exclusively on Thortful.
I hope you love them as much as I do: https://www.thortful.com/creator/tommyatkinsmusic?utm_source=social&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=heartsongs
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Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x
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Hitting #1 in Canada, New Artist of the Year Award + My First Radio Show!
4.1.21
Well hello, you!
And Happy New Year! I hope you’re keeping well and managed to enjoy the Holidays as much as was possible. My husband and I managed to take some time off, which was much needed.
Firstly, I would like to thank you for your support of Kiss Me, Cowboy. Just before Christmas, the single hit #1 on Canada’s Q32 Chart, making this the third country in which it’s hit the top spot. To still be charting like this, three months after release, is mind-blowing! The radio play it's received has been so crazy that we actually lost track of the number of stations it was in rotation with in October. We believe our best week was 268 stations worldwide. I hope you’re still enjoying the music. If you want to catch up on any interviews or reviews about Kiss Me, Cowboy – you can find them all here:
https://www.tommyatkinsmusic.com/read-all-about-it
Secondly, I was delighted to win the award for “New Artist of the Year” with the good folks over at Country Queer in the USA. To even be mentioned alongside people like Waylon Payne, Jaime Wyatt and Brandy Clark is wild. Thank you so much for voting. You can see all the winners here:
https://countryqueer.com/stories/country-queer-all-star-poll-winners/
And lastly, I was so excited to host my first ever radio series on ARC Radio! A huge thank you to those of you who tuned in. The first series of “Proud to Be Country” has now aired in full, and will be re-played on several more radio stations in 2021. Let me know if you want a second series and if there are any artists you want to hear! 100% of the artists played identify as LGBTQ+, and as far as we’re aware this is the first country show to ever achieve that in the UK: https://www.arcradio.online
Fingers crossed, I’ll be back out on the road late summer/early autumn to see you all again! We've only announced The British Country Music Festival appearance so far as we're re-booking the tour tentatively and I don't want to release any tickets prematurely. Stay tuned on socials for announcements.
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Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x
Kiss Me, Cowboy Hits #1
24.9.20
Well hello, you!
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Today, my first EP - Kiss Me, Cowboy - hit #1 on the Country Album Charts in both the U.K. and New Zealand! It also reached #2 on the All-Genre Album Chart in New Zealand, and #6 in the U.K.
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On the back of this success, Freedom (Stripped) has also re-entered the Country Singles Chart at #2 in the New Zealand at #3 in the U.K.
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I am so, so grateful to every one of you that downloaded the EP and for supporting my music. It still feels a little surreal! I am so proud of these songs and it's moments like these that make me feel like I might be making an impact somewhere in this crazy world.
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The EP features my hits Wild in the Wind, Cinderella’s Had a Drink and Freedom, and the title track will serve as my next radio single. It premiered on Chris Country - the UK's biggest country radio station - last night. I’m so proud to have had my trusty team of Dr Ford, Michael Cleveland, Chris Condon and Anna Pearson back in the studio to work on this track. I hope you love it!
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I sat down for an exclusive interview with Country Queer (one of my favourite U.S. publications!) to discuss my career and the EP, and they are also premiering two of the videos we are releasing with the EP: the Cinderella’s Had a Drink (Lyric Video) and the Freedom (Cassette Tape Visualiser). Check it out! https://countryqueer.com/exclusive-preview/kiss-me-cowboy-tommy-atkins/
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Stay tuned on socials for the premiere of Kiss Me, Cowboy by another publication and the other videos we are launching. And if you’re able to support the EP by downloading it on iTunes, I would appreciate it so much!
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On a side note, one of the loveliest surprises of this summer has been the success of Freedom (Stripped) internationally, particularly in the Philippines. Thank you for your support and for making Freedom my biggest single cycle to date.
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Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x
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New Shop, NDA Nomination + 100k on Spotify
1.7.20
Well hello, beautiful visitor!
I hope you and yours are well. Personally, I can’t believe it’s July already! It’s been tough to look at the calendar and think about the shows we should have been performing this summer, but some really cool stuff is happening anyhow, so here’s a little update…
NEW STORE
I’m delighted to launch my new store! The shop is now exclusive to this website and I just love the new look of it. Although our tour has been cancelled for 2020, I’m very excited to now offer Private Gigs (virtually, of course!) and re-launch my greetings card and handwritten lyrics. Check it out by clicking the 'Shop tab from the menu up top or by clicking here: https://www.tommyatkinsmusic.com/shop
100,000 STREAMS ON SPOTIFY
To those of you that stream on Spotify, thank you for your support – we have now passed a total of 100,000 streams! We’re still a way off Wild in the Wind’s first anniversary, so to achieve this in such a short time is very exciting. If you’re a user, be sure to give my artist profile a follow and ‘Like’ the singles so far! https://open.spotify.com/artist/3oJxd0R3hdsN9XJrTJrHPu
NATIONAL DIVERSITY AWARDS 2020: LONG LIST NOMINATION
I was delighted to receive a nomination for the Positive Role Model Award (LGBT) at the National Diversity Awards 2020, and also receive enough supporting nominations to be considered for the shortlist. Although anonymised, I got to read the supporting nominations and would like to thank everyone for their kind words. ITV announce the shortlist nominations later this month, but again, this early in my career as an artist I am beyond thankful to have made the longlist.
FREEDOM (STRIPPED)
Thank you for your support for Freedom (Stripped)! It’s been added to some really cool playlists on Spotify and is connecting us to people all over the world. 52 countries no less in the last month! The full studio version continues to receive radio play and has now been added to over 70 stations internationally. If you haven’t heard it on your local BBC or country radio station, please feel free to request it!
Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x
Pride Month
1.6.20
Well hello, you!
The 1st of June marks the beginning of Pride Month. It’s been so wonderful to be welcomed wholeheartedly by the LGBTQ+ community as a performer, but also to connect with other LGBTQ+ country artists. To celebrate, I’ve launched the ‘Proud to Be Country’ playlist over on Spotify, featuring these amazing artists all in one place. We’ve got a long way to go before we’re well-represented in country music, but I think this playlist proves the community is putting out world-class music that deserves to be heard.
It’s available exclusively on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4OCEAUN63tQ9058nVecBY4?si=o3XHFyRnSUaOhk7DBcVHVQ
And the Q Review over in Canada has ran this story about it: https://www.qreview.ca/proud-to-be-country.html
I want to say a huge thank you for joining me last month at the Freedom Launch Event and for supporting this single so fiercely. I’m delighted to say it’s been a hit internationally (#2 New Zealand Country, #4 Q32 Chart Canada, #5 UK Country, #6 LGBTQ Music Chart), that’s it’s been added to over 50 radio stations worldwide, and that it’s had a considerable amount of press coverage. All of this has been possible because of good folks like yourself downloading and streaming my music. Thank you so much and I hope you’re still loving the track!
This Friday, 5th June, a stripped-down version of Freedom will hit all major platforms. As my recording schedule has been delayed this year, I thought it would be cool to give you something extra from this single cycle. I love how this version highlights Chris Condon’s gorgeous work on the acoustic guitar as well as Anna Pearson and Dr Ford’s harmonies.
As I say, it’s been a great month with the press and I was so pleased to receive a nomination last week for Best Song at the Silverball Country Awards. Cinderella’s Had a Drink has been such a blast and it’s awesome to receive a nomination so soon after its release. If you would like to read any of the interviews and podcasts I’ve appeared on this last month, all the links are listed on the new page of this website, ‘Tommy in the Press’. Keep your eyes peeled throughout June too, as there are several more interviews to come!
Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x
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Freedom - 1st May 2020
24.4.20
2020 has been a breakout year for country music’s newest star, Tommy Atkins.
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After scoring his first #1 hit, Cinderella’s Had a Drink (#1 LGBTQ Music Chart, #2 U.K. iTunes Country, #2 Q32 Chart Canada, #3 New Zealand iTunes Country), the freshly crowned Male Artist of the Year (CMS Listener’s Choice Awards) is set to release a heartfelt cover of Wham’s 1984 hit, Freedom.
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“George Michael is one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and this is my favourite song by Wham. I really wanted to make it my own, so it’s laden with fiddle and steel and harmonies, and it’s now sang from an openly gay perspective. It’s real country heartbreak and I hope people love this new take on a classic.”
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The track was recorded in Nashville by producer Dr Ford and features 2020 GRAMMY winner, Michael Cleveland, on fiddle, legendary pedal steel player, Smith Curry (Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift), and Chris Condon on guitars (Billy Ray Cyrus). The song was mastered by GRAMMY-nominated engineer, Pete Lyman, for Infrasonic Sound (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson).
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Freedom is available on all major platforms May 1st 2020.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Tommy’s upcoming tour and festival appearances have been postponed. Freedom: The Single Launch Event will take place exclusively on Facebook on Saturday 2nd May at 8pm. Follow Tommy’s page for more details: https://linktr.ee/tommyatkinsmusic
Cinderella Hits #1 on the LGBTQ Music Chart
10.3.20
After a month bouncing round in the top 5, this week (9/3/20), Cinderella's Had a Drink hit #1 on the LGBTQ Music Chart! This is my first #1 charting, y'all!
Thank you so much for supporting the single and voting for it! To be at the top end of this chart for a month alongside LGBTQ icons like Adam Lambert and Calum Scott has been quite surreal.
Voting will continue weekly, so if you have two seconds to spare, please head to https://lgbtqmusicchart.uk/lgbtq-music-chart-voting/ to keep it at the top of the chart!
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I'm absolutely thrilled that this is the THIRD chart on which Cinderella has managed to crack the top 5.
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I hope you're loving the single and raising a glass or two when you listen to it!
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Much love,
Tommy x
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Cinderella Tops the Charts
31.01.20
COUNTRY music’s newest star, Tommy Atkins, has topped the download charts with the release of his new single which celebrates nights out in his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne.
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Cinderella’s Had a Drink was released on the 31st January 2020 and has already hit #2 on the U.K. iTunes Country Chart, and #3 in New Zealand. The 90s throwback track has drawn comparisons to Shania Twain and Garth Brooks, and Tommy describes it as “a love letter to my friends from my early twenties: to the drunken nights, the hellish hangovers and the poor life decisions we made together.
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“It was inspired by a particular friend of mine who I nicknamed Cinderella, as she would always end the night with one shoe less than she started with. Newcastle knows how to party, and the honkytonks on Nashville’s Broadway reminded me of my hometown: they were full of hard-working people just out to have a good time.”
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The track was recorded in Nashville by producer Dr Ford and features 2020 GRAMMY winner, Michael Cleveland, on fiddle. Chris Condon (Billy Ray Cyrus) is credited on guitars and the song was mastered by GRAMMY-nominated engineer, Pete Lyman, for Infrasonic Sound (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson).
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Cinderella’s Had a Drink is the follow-up to Tommy’s hit debut single, Wild in the Wind, which peaked at #2 on the New Zealand iTunes Country Chart, #5 in the U.K., and went on to receive worldwide radio play and media coverage. The success earned Tommy five nominations at the U.K. Country Listener's Choice Awards, where he was crowned Male Artist of the Year 2019.
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Much love,
Team Tommy x
Cinderella's Had a Drink - 31st January!
03.01.20
Cinderella’s Had a Drink is the new single from British country music star, Tommy Atkins.
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The 90s throwback track has drawn comparisons to early Shania Twain and Garth Brooks, and Tommy describes it as “a love letter to my friends from my early twenties: to the drunken nights, the hellish hangovers and the poor life decisions we made together. It was inspired by a particular friend of mine who I nicknamed Cinderella, as she would always end the night with one shoe less than she started with.
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“We know how to party in Newcastle, and the honkytonks on Nashville’s Broadway reminded me of home: they were full of hard-working people just out to have a good time.”
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The track was recorded in Nashville by producer Dr Ford and features ten-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year and 2020 GRAMMY nominee, Michael Cleveland. Chris Condon (Billy Ray Cyrus) is credited on guitars and the song was mastered by GRAMMY-nominated engineer, Pete Lyman, for Infrasonic Sound (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson).
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Cinderella’s Had a Drink is the follow-up to Tommy’s hit debut single, Wild in the Wind, which peaked at #2 on the New Zealand iTunes Country Chart, #5 in the U.K., and went on to receive worldwide radio play and media coverage. The success earned Tommy five nominations at the U.K. Country Listener's Choice Awards, where he was crowned Male Artist of the Year 2019.
Cinderella’s Had a Drink is available for pre-order NOW exclusively on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1491729213?ls=1&app=itunes
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Much love,
Team Tommy x
Male Artist of the Year, 2019
18.12.2019
Well, you guys went and did it… This weekend, I was named Male Artist of the Year at the U.K. Country Listener’s Choice Awards! Aaaah!
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Thank you so, so much for voting. Your support has been overwhelming this year, not only for these awards, but at my live shows and for my debut single, Wild in the Wind.
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Since September 27, Wild in the Wind has peaked in the top 5 in two countries, received worldwide radio play and gone on to be streamed 30,000 times in 36 countries on Spotify. Not bad for a debut single from an independent artist, huh? I know I owe its success to you, my fans and supporters, so again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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My next single has officially been shipped to 150 stores worldwide and is ready for its release… I am so freakin’ excited about this one. I’ll be making an announcement early in the New Year and have a lot of fun stuff planned, so keep your eyes peeled and make sure we’re connected on socials.
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I hope you are able to spend some quality time with loved ones this Christmas, and I wish you nothing but the best for 2020.
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All my love,
Tommy x
''It's been a 'Wild' Week!
17.10.19
It’s been quite a week for Team Tommy! Not only did we have Tommy’s biggest headline show to date at The Cluny 2 on Saturday 12th October, but we also launched his first range of merchandise which will hit online retailers later this month! Keep your eyes peeled for the ‘Store’ icon which will appear on the website very soon…
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And after peaking at #2 on the iTunes Country download chart in New Zealand and #5 in the U.K., Wild in the Wind is going on to enjoy streaming platform success thanks to radio play and press exposure.
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"I can’t thank people enough for the support they’ve shown this song.” Tommy beamed. “From our first write up by Sophie Brownson in the Shields Gazette, to our first single review by Keren Morrall for Forever British Country – it’s been humbling to read such kind words and see my little song make tracks out in the big, bad music world.”
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“I also want to personally thank the following DJs and radio stations for adding Wild in the Wind to their playlists. I know that radio play is really picking up as of this weekend, so make sure you tune into these stations either on FM or online!
Ian Hornsby at Radio Tyneside
Lee Williams at CMR Nashville
Simon Birds at Red Road FM
Ian Johnson at Chat & Spin Radio
Alan Foulkes at Radio Broadgreen
Sonny at The Little Country Radio (in New Zealand!)
And a special thank you to Mel Crawford for featuring me on Soundwaves for Pride World Media!”
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Be sure to head to your favourite download or streaming platform and spread the word about Wild in the Wind!
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Love,
Team Tommy x
''Wild in The Wind'' Storms The Charts Worldwide
27.09.19
Wild in the Wind, the debut single from rising British country artist, Tommy Atkins, has stormed onto the iTunes Country Charts across the world, reaching #2 on the New Zealand and #5 in the U.K. Tommy also cracked the top 20 on the New Zealand iTunes All Genre Chart.
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‘‘My heart is busting at the seams,’’ Tommy said on an emotional release day. ‘’As an independent artist, these chart positions seemed impossible. We’ve had no radio play or PR company promoting it… I think I’m in shock! I want to thank every single person that has supported this song, taken it to their hearts and made it their own. This song means so very much to me, but now it is yours. This song, these chart numbers – they belong to those who have supported it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.’’
Wild in the Wind is available now on all major download and streaming services.
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In support of the single, Tommy will play The Cluny 2 on Saturday 12th October. Head to the Tour page or seetickets.com for more information.
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Team Tommy x
''Wild in The Wind'' - Dropping September 27
20.8.19
Wild in The Wind is the debut single from rising British country artist, Tommy Atkins.
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The singer describes the ballad as “emotional, but celebratory. It mourns the loss of a friend but focuses on being grateful for that person ever being in your life. I hope this song can provide comfort and make you smile, even if there is a tear in your eye.”
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The track was recorded in Nashville by producer Dr Ford and features legendary steel guitar and dobro player, Smith Curry (Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Little Big Town), guitarist Chris Condon (Billy Ray Cyrus) and Tommy’s co-writer, Anna Pearson, who sings a beautiful harmony part. The song was mastered by GRAMMY-nominated engineer, Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Sound (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile).
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“I couldn’t have asked for a better set of musicians to lend their talents to this song. Dr Ford let me have a say in so much of the production and I’m extremely proud of what we’ve created.”
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Wild in The Wind is available for pre-order now exclusively through iTunes and will be released to all major download and streaming platforms on Friday 27 September.
Team Tommy x
Welcome to tommyatkinsmusic.com!
19.8.19
I am so excited to launch my official website, y'all! Have a look around - you will find tour dates, information about upcoming releases, links to videos and interviews and so much more.
Be sure to check out the 'Ask Tommy' page where you can submit questions directly to me and sign up to the mailing list to receive important news straight into your inbox.
And while you're here, mark down September 27th in your diary...
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Tommy x
Stuck Behind a Tractor - May 6th
28.4.21
Well hello, you!
I'm delighted to let you know my new single, Stuck Behind a Tractor, will be released next Thursday, the 6th of May 2021!
Out where we live, we get stuck behind tractors all the time, and I thought that was the perfect metaphor for where I’m at right now. Between the Covid lockdowns, turning 30 and moving out to the country, I’ve learned to slow down and not lose my shit when things aren’t happening as quickly as I’d like.
If you've pre-ordered the album, you'll have access to the song and the videos from today! You can pre-order at any time to receive access before the official release: www.tommyatkinsmusic.com/shop
I also want to say a huge thank you to those who've nominated me for Positive LGBT Role Model at ITV's National Diversity Awards 2021. I'm so proud to be representing the LGBTQ+ community in country music. If you'd like to support my nomination, you can do so here: https://nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/nominate/33102/
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Stay safe and speak soon,
Tommy x